VITALII RUBAN

The portrait of Mark and Diana is the second one commissioned by Diana's parents from the artist. It was created as a gift for their beloved grandparents. These grandparents are well-versed in art and already have portraits of themselves by renowned Ukrainian artists, including works by T. Dzhus. This placed a special responsibility on preparing the materials for this new addition to their collection of children's portraits. Discussions about this project began during the commissioning of the first portrait. The artist suggested that, if possible, a professional photoshoot of the two children would be ideal. The client, Olena, agreed. When Mark traveled from another city to visit Diana in Kyiv, the photoshoot was successfully arranged. After receiving the photographs from the photographer, Vitalii prepared a preliminary draft. However, there wasn’t a single “perfect” photo suitable as a direct reference for the portrait. This is understandable, as capturing two children with ideal expressions simultaneously is a challenge, even for professionals. The final project was compiled from multiple photos. The artist made adjustments to Diana's dress, her left leg, the chair, the flower pot, the curtains, the parquet, and the windows. Even the children’s faces were drawn from different photographs. At the clients’ request, Mark’s left eye, which has a congenital feature, was portrayed open. The family believes this unique trait will become a distinctive strength as he matures. Significant attention was given to the background’s accuracy. None of the original photographs provided enough detail, so Olena took additional pictures to help the artist better understand the children’s room in the house where they posed. At the clients' request, the portrait was painted in a broad-brush style reminiscent of the technique used by the aforementioned renowned artist. This careful process resulted in a meaningful and highly personalized artwork that beautifully complements the family's collection.