Painting a leader is never simply about politics or presence, it's about perception !
This portrait, titled The Power of the Palette, explores the armor of command — the strength, confidence, and control it takes to lead. It isn’t about praise or criticism; it’s about the act of projecting leadership itself. It’s about standing in the storm of public attention and holding your ground, no matter what comes your way.
In 1954, artist Graham Sutherland painted a portrait of Winston Churchill, Britain’s wartime Lion. Commissioned for Churchill’s 80th birthday, it was intended as a tribute — a gift of gratitude from a nation. But when unveiled, it did something far more daring. Sutherland’s painting revealed not the roaring hero of history, but a weary old man — slumped, heavy, and unmistakably human. Had Churchill been smoking in the portrait, his cigar would surely have been half-burned, its ember gone cold — a subtle symbol of exhaustion and the fading spark of power.
It was a brutally honest work, and that honesty came at a cost. Churchill despised it. His wife, Clementine, eventually had it destroyed. In doing so, the world lost more than paint and canvas — it lost an artist’s unfiltered truth.
That story has always fascinated me. It raises a question every artist faces: Do we paint what we see, or what we want remembered?
Sometimes the truth lies in the wrinkles, the weariness, the weight of time. Other times, it lives in what remains untarnished — dignity, resolve, and presence. As artists, we decided which truth to tell. Sometimes you paint the frailty; sometimes you paint the flame.
My portrait of Donald Trump stands as a counterpoint — the yin to Sutherland’s yang. Where Sutherland revealed the exhaustion behind leadership, I sought to portray the focus that sustains it. The light here glows with intent — warm, commanding, unwavering. The expression is firm, centered, and deliberate. It represents not the man in retreat, but the man who refuses to bow.
Leadership, in every era, is a performance of composure — a balancing act between who a leader truly is and what the world needs them to appear to be. For decades, Trump has embodied that duality — business and politics, image and impact, confidence and controversy. Whether loved or despised, his presence is impossible to ignore. And that magnetic pull — that force of persona — is what I wanted to translate to canvas.
This is not a political painting. It’s a study in power — in how leadership is projected, perceived, and preserved.
Sutherland’s brush revealed the ember fading; mine seeks the flame still burning. Both are true. Both tell a story about how we see power — and what it costs to carry it.
Because art, like leadership, lives in tension — between truth and perception, between strength and vulnerability, between what’s fading and what endures.
And in the end, art, like leadership, walks the line between love and hate. Both come from passion — both mean you’ve struck a nerve. Sometimes people hate something so deeply only because they once loved it fiercely. That’s the power of presence — to move, to divide, to make people feel. And that, to me, is what art is all about.
ORIGINAL WORKS
Each original painting is unique and a one-of-a-kind creation. A great amount of time and detail goes into every piece of art, from hand-painted brush strokes in acrylic and oil medium, to the unique art of airbrushing done with only the best of paints — Crea-tex Auto-Air Colors and House of Kolors Automotive Paint. Aspects of geological layering, almost like sedimentary rock, are imparted with mixed mediums such as metallics, gold and silver flaking, coppers, and iron magnesium powder, as well as glass resins, pearls, and industrial candy coats seen on high-end automobiles. Certain masterpieces also use elements of sculpture with molding paste, crackling, and organic materials to highlight low and high points in the picture, creating a dimensional embossed image that lifts off the canvas.
ARTIST PROOFS
With the addition of these materials and techniques in the original, you may ask: What does an Artist Proof look like, and how does it differ from the original painting? Due to this unique style of artwork, normal prints are not an option. An Artist Proof is painted in the same manner as an original, and all of the techniques used in the original are also imparted in the Proofs — with one exception. Artist Proofs are derived from the original image, professionally photographed by Rob Ryan of Render DC prior to completion. The Artist Proof file is digitally remastered with a spectrometer and color-balanced before printing. It is then printed and stretched on canvas, creating a mapping for the new proof. This archival pigment print is then re-airbrushed to retain the vibrant colors of the original. Molding paste, pearls, metal flakes, candies, and neon paints are incorporated and sealed with glass resins. The Artist Proof equals the Original. The Proof is of the same quality, with expressive variations — essentially a new painting based on the original. The price point offers substantial savings, providing collectors access to a truly unique piece of art.
11" x 14" Metal Prints – Limited Edition
Create a unique addition to any home or office with a sleek metal panel infused with your favorite image. All Metal Prints feature a glossy coating and rounded edges for a clean, beautiful display. Every piece comes with a sturdy fixture for wall-mounting.
8" x 10" Dye-Sublimation Prints – Limited Edition
Fine art metal printing is a relatively new industry. Metal prints are created through dye sublimation — a process where inks are turned into vapor before becoming liquid. These inks infuse directly into the specially coated aluminum surface, resulting in high-definition, durable photo panels that resist fading, scratching, and wear. Unlike traditional inkjet prints that sit on top of canvas or paper, dye-sublimation images become part of the surface itself, ensuring longevity and clarity for generations.
8" x 10" Art Resin Block Prints – Limited Numbered Edition
Art resin blocks offer a unique and personal way to showcase artwork. Each block begins as a professionally remastered photo of the original painting, mounted onto an 8" x 10" pine wood canvas block. It is then sealed with a lifetime ultraviolet-protective Art-resin coating, giving it a glass-like finish that enhances depth and detail. Only 250 prints of each image are ever created.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GO TO THE CONTACT PAGE FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS ON THIS SITE. SOME CUSTOM ARTIST PROOF PRINTS MAY TAKE UP TO A MONTH FOR PRODUCTION AND SHIPPING.
