OXFORD, Miss. – Jason Bouldin has painted portraits of a number of
distinguished leaders, but he can’t imagine himself being asked to
paint the president’s portrait.
“I’m not in that league,” he said with a laugh.
But if presented with such an opportunity, Bouldin most likely would begin the creative process with his usual handshake.
“Just being in physical contact with a person can give you a feel for who they are,” he said. “With portraits, a physical likeness is only part of the story. You have to get beyond that.”
As part of the University of Mississippi’s slate of free, public events leading up to the first 2008 presidential debate Sept. 26, Bouldin plans to discuss his portrait painting techniques at 2 p.m. Sept. 23 in Meek Hall, Gallery 130. Bouldin’s talk “Representing Our Leaders: The Process of a Portrait” is scheduled in conjunction with an exhibit of his work, which runs through Oct. 10 in Gallery 130. A reception follows the program.
“I am delighted to be able to share … the thought process behind imagining, developing and executing a portrait designed for the public arena,” Bouldin said. “It’s quite an honor to be able to do so in conjunction with the campus excitement surrounding the upcoming presidential debate.”
The exhibition features portraits of several notable leaders, including former Mississippi Gov. William Winter; Lenore Prather, the first woman to become chief justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court; and noted minister and theologian the Rev. Peter Gomes. Besides the finished portraits, the exhibit also showcases Bouldin’s preliminary sketches – his early efforts to capture the essence of his subjects, said Sheri Rieth, chair of the Department of Art.
“There’s a sampling of preliminary sketches of each portrait sitter, depicting different gestures, attitudes and postures, and changes of color schemes,” Rieth said.
“Each sketch captures a view of the sitter’s personality in a moment in time. They illuminate, to some degree, the hours of work and thought that goes into each portrait and makes us aware of the process of a portrait.”
For Bouldin, that process involves trying to incorporate visual cues that illuminate not only his subject’s leadership position but also character.
For his portrait of the late John Kramer, an activist, lawyer and former dean of Tulane University School of Law, Bouldin wanted to capture Kramer’s gregarious personality and sharp mind. So the portrait presents Kramer sitting at a desk with a large dictionary, “to show activity of the mind.” In the background, artwork is shown, depicting Kramer’s love of art, and a door behind him is open, “to show that what he does goes out into the world.”
“I look for symbols like that to try to give a visual perception of who the person is,” Bouldin said. “I always try to look for personal cues that might tell the viewer something about the subject – not just the office they hold, but who they are in that office.”
American Artist magazine has described Bouldin as “a gifted artist who has already established himself as a portrait and landscape painter.” He was featured in The Artist’s Magazine as one of 20 contemporary artists “on the rise” in America, and he received the Portrait Society of America’s top prize in 2002. Bouldin also enjoys painting landscape and still life studies, and he has been nationally recognized for works in those genres as well.
“Jason Bouldin’s vision and deft artistry gifts each of his subjects with the honor that is their due,” Rieth said. “His is a labor of love in the search for the image that captures the true personality of the sitter. It is a gentle, beautiful and timeless vision.”
For more information or to request assistance related to a disability, call 662-915-7193. To learn more about the art department, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/art . For more about UM’s presidential debate-related events, visit http://www.debate.olemiss.edu .