91ÖÆƬ³§

Andrew Stokes: Can you describe the process you went through to paint Chancellor Dodge 91ÖÆƬ³§ ’s portrait?

Daniel Hughes: I didn’t have David sit for the portrait because it took a very long time and he 91ÖÆƬ³§ ’s a busy man, so instead I worked with a photograph. Together with a photographer, we had him strike a number of poses and we captured a picture of him that would be a good representation. Working from a photo allows me to get the right lighting and contrast that I need for painting. 

AS: What were you trying to capture in the photo?

DH: More than anything, I wanted to get a shot where he looked truly relaxed. I also wanted to find a posture that showed something about his personality. As soon as you meet people, things come out about them, and it was quickly clear to me that he 91ÖÆƬ³§ ’s a charming and likable person. I had a chance to meet with David and his wife Chris to talk about what they were hoping for, and they wanted something a little more contemporary — they didn’t want a reserved Victorian pose. After sketching out a few of the options I found one where the smile was just right that managed to capture both his likeness and his personality.

AS: How long did the entire process take?

DH: Once I started painting, I think it took somewhere between 60 and 80 hours to finish, and then some tweaking at the end as well. I paint portraits through a series of layers, starting dark and then working to a glaze layer. Getting details right like the pinstripes on his clothes takes time.

There 91ÖÆƬ³§ ’s always a strange effect when working on a portrait. You begin with a very abstract shape until suddenly a face starts to emerge. Once the likeness of the person is developed, they begin to give off their energy and you can feel their personality. While I was working on the painting, my sister came to visit me at my studio and the first thing she said was that he seems like a really pleasant and approachable person. It was great to get that feedback.

AS: What choices did you make to give the portrait a contemporary feel?

DH: Many of the previous chancellor portraits make use of a fairly dark colour palette, so I went for lighter colours. Rather than having him inside, standing by a bookshelf or something like that, he 91ÖÆƬ³§ ’s seated outside so you can see the sky, and there 91ÖÆƬ³§ ’s a silhouette of Grant Hall in the background. I typically paint contemporary subjects in modern clothing, but since David was wearing his robes and regalia, it felt a little bit like I was painting Henry VIII.

AS: How did you get this commission?

DH: I owe thanks to Jan Allen (Director, Agnes Etherington Art Centre) for suggesting me to do the painting and to David and Chris for selecting me. It 91ÖÆƬ³§ ’s been an honour to do a painting of a prominent Canadian that will hang for 100 years.

Chancellor Dodge 91ÖÆƬ³§ ’s portrait will be unveiled Saturday, Nov. 8 at the University Council Dinner. More of Daniel Hughes’ paintings can be seen on his .