Jeannine Rainbolt Portrait Commission

I am ususally called because it has been decided that a portrait is needed for an institution or organization that wants to memorialize the contributions or achievments that a special person has shared with that organization. In this case my Alma Mater, the University of Oklahoma. In October 2008 it was announced that the College of Education had received a $8 million gift from H.E. (Gene) Rainbolt in honor of his late wife, Jeannine Rainbolt. Because of that contribution, the OU Board of Regents unanimously voted to rename the college in Rainbolt's honor. It is the only college at OU to be named for a female. Although the name had been changed some time ago, they felt that they needed some point of information or memorial. I was contacted by the current Dean Stacy Reeder to talk about the possibility of me painting the portrait. I am always first and foremost concerned with the person I am painting, and then their legacy. I want to know where the portrait will hang, what size are they thinking, is it to be a formal portrait, etc. When I asked where the portrait was to hang I wanted to make sure that the portriat would also reflect the prominence of the person being honored. This was a quick photo of the space that the portrait was to be hung. I thought it would be just another painting over a bookshelf un this situation so I took it upon myself to design a better display of the honor deserved. See below. 

So here I am delivering the portrait. I can't wait to see it in its proper place after the dedication.