Reverence
40″ x 20″, oil on canvas
A figurative painting from travels to India. The site of this work is the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi.
Painting is gallery wrapped, ready to hang.
$4,000
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figurative
This project has ended! We appreciate your support!
Follow any of these links to participate:
- Write:
- Posts:
Post to Facebook, Twitter, include @seamusberkeley #pofh @FamilyHouseSF
- Volunteer at the Studio:
Help us in various roles at the studio in Berkeley
- Financial:
Please consider supporting this project with your tax-deductible donation now.
Portraits of Family House is fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions for the purposes of Portraits of Family House are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Fractured Atlas’s fiscal sponsorship program helps artists and arts organizations raise money from charitable sources.
‘I have been yearning for my artwork to serve a more meaningful purpose. The Portraits of Family House is a perfect match.’ ~ Seamus Berkeley
PORTRAITS WITH A PURPOSE
The Portraits of Family House project is a series of oil paintings showcasing the courage of those involved with Family House, a nonprofit providing free housing for families of children being treated at the Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco for serious illnesses.
The project plans for the creation of 24 oil paintings by Seamus Berkeley, a fine arts painter with decades of portraiture experience. The paintings capture the compassion of those who make Family House the wonder it is: the children, families, caregivers, organizers, volunteers and health care professionals.
The project is creating a visual legacy of the faces and spirit of the people who transform Family House into a supportive community and home away from home for families in need.
So far 8 of the 24 oil paintings have been completed and are already on display at Family House. (You can view the finished portraits in the gallery tab.) As each portrait is completed, it is donated to the Family House organization. The full set of portraits will be compiled into a book documenting the compelling stories of these families, volunteers, and more.
This is a painting of Lahoma and her son Demetrius, one of the families featured in this project. Demetrius suffers from IPEX syndrome, an autoimmune disorder where the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body’s own tissues and organs.
IPEX syndrome is an extremely rare disease. So rare, in fact, that when Lahoma’s first son died of it nearly thirteen years ago, they didn’t have a name for it.
Lahoma’s story, a fight against the seemingly impossible, is one of the many inspiring narratives found at Family House and one of the many we want to express.
The goal of this project is to use art as means to shine a light on the goodness of humanity as seen at Family House by all the people caring for families in their time of deepest need.
Please help us share the compelling story of these everyday heroes.
How it Started
In fall of 2012, Seamus Berkeley was in downtown San Francisco speaking with small business vendors at a condo development. He was looking to sell his art. There, he met a woman named Karen Banks. When she found out he was an artist she said, “Forget about my business. Let me tell you what I’m really passionate about.”
What Karen was passionate about was none other than Family House. She inspired Seamus to visit Family House shortly after their first meeting. What Seamus saw there transformed his view on life, love and loss.
“It blew me away,” Seamus says. “I saw children in comas, a newborn with a brain tumor. It was a whole aspect of life I hadn’t considered.”
But tragedy wasn’t the only thing Seamus saw at Family House. He saw compassion, courage, and kindness. He saw a community of individuals—who in any other situation would only be strangers—supporting each other in the face of looming death. Yes, there was suffering at Family House, but there was also hope.
This hope which awed him also inspired him. It was within the walls of Family House that he witnessed deep empathy in the face of despair, and he wanted to paint the empathy which moved him in a way that would also move others.
Seamus began the Portraits project shortly after his first visit to the homes. He began talking with the families and the volunteers, learning about their hardships and their uphill fight to triumph over these same hardships.
“This capacity for people to care for one another in the most distressing circumstances encourages me to persist in my mission to share these stories through my ability as a portrait painter,” Seamus says.
These stories will work as a reminder that yes, others have been here, have experienced this, and have made it through.
Simply talking about their personal story can be therapeutic for these families. In this project, they are encouraged to talk freely about their situation–the ups, downs, fears, and uncertainties. The Portraits of Family House project is about giving this community a voice and faces to go along with the stories. We want to share these stories, convey emotion, and bring about an even stronger awareness of the compassion and community associated with Family House.
About Family House
Founded in 1981, Family House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing temporary housing to families of seriously ill children who are receiving treatment at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Children’s Hospital. Family House currently operates two residential buildings with a total of 34 rooms located in the vicinity of the hospital and is currently constructing an additional 80 room residence adjacent to the new UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Mission Bay.
Their locations sustain a nearly 100% occupancy rate and accommodate up to 107 people per night. Over a year, they serve more than 2,000 families, many of whom live at or below low-income status.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Your support is essential in completing this project. We have 17 more portraits to create along with the design and printing of the corresponding book. Your tax deductible contribution will help complete this project by covering items such as paint, canvas, gesso, transportation expenses, studio space, labor, design & printing of the book, promotional materials, and other costs associated with completing the remaining portraits and accompanying book.
Our Immediate goal is $20,000, but this is just a starting point. It will actually cost around $135,000 to complete the project, so we’d love to spread the word and go far beyond the initial $20,000 goal. Any amount raised will help us continue work on the next portraits, but we need a lot of help to complete the entire project and leave this visual legacy of and for the community at Family House.
MEET THE TEAM
Seamus Berkeley is a fine arts portrait painter who has painted hundreds of people, from life. While living in Taos, New Mexico where he founded the Taos Society of Portrait Artists, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the art portrait painting. Since moving to the Bay Area, he has continued to create commissioned portraits and other works while also offering art instruction. For this project, Berkeley is working with a small team to tackle all of the logistics involved with the Portraits of Family House project.
Robyn Comfort is one of the founding team members and continues her ongoing support of the project through social media updates.
Danielle Kreie has recently moved to the Bay Area bringing her program coordination skills developed while working with the Sun Foundation, a nonprofit arts and science educational organization. “I heard about the project and knew right away that I wanted to get involved. Art has the unique ability to relate to people on so many different levels and I think this project exemplifies that. I really like that Seamus is stepping out of the box and actually using very personal paintings and stories as a way to enhance Family House and promote a sense of community.”
Ezequiel Calderone, Jr., marketing specialist and consultant for PwC.
Theresa Le Phung is a multimedia journalist with a passion for people and storytelling. As a reporter, she aspires first and foremost to authenticity, diligence, and making a difference no matter how small. For the Portraits of Family House project, she is writing the stories of the portrait subjects.
Your tax deductible contribution will help complete this three year art project benefitting Family House by covering such items as paint, canvas, gesso, travel expenses and overhead for the complete set of portraits. Support this project now!
Thanks to our sponsors:
A few examples of my oil portrait paintings. View other work on the Portfolio page.
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Working magic: making your paintings always appear to be from life
November 7-9, 2014
Painting from life is a key to successful painting and a skill to practice as much as possible. While working from life is essential, it is not always possible, so it is also useful to know how to work from photograhs when necessary. We will then learn how to integrate life painting skills into studio paintings from photographs in order to maintain the aliveness that comes from working from life.
We will cover topics such as how to:
- Compose a photograph for use in a studio
- Adjust a photo for the most vivid color & value range
- Add color & value from memory of life paintings
This workshop is useful for both intermediate and advanced painters. Prior painting experience necessary. Group and individual instruction provided, with demonstrations throughout; emphasis on oil painting, all media welcome. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.
Instructor: Seamus Berkeley is an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.
Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.
Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.
For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.
“Seamus has the gift of artist and instructor and is able to project his experience for the student to understand. He is patient and funny and it is a pleasure to be in his class.” ~Amy W.
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Where:
Dates:
November 7-9, 2014
Time:
Friday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Tuition:
$325; ($295 paid in full by October 31, 2014)
Use any card, PayPal optional
Use any card, PayPal optional
Painting the one you want—in one weekend!
October 10-12, 2014
In this workshop Seamus will be working individually with each artist, helping you to set up your own composition and to work toward a finished painting. With demonstrations throughout, group instruction will focus on topics such as using thumbnails and composition, as well as beginning, reaching a mid-point, and finishing a work. Each phase can provide different challenges but also refreshing insight to your work; how each of these phases affect and transform the final product will be discussed.
This workshop is for you if you are looking to concentrate on:
- Refining your end result from step one
- Fully utilizing thumbnails
- Generating important reflection points throughout a painting
This workshop is useful for painters who have some confidence in their abilities and are looking for direction with their ongoing work; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.
Instructor: Seamus Berkeley is an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.
Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.
Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.
For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.
“Seamus’ classes are fun and conducive to learning and wanting to succeed. He encourages the students to learn from each other and there has been a lot of good will and friendship built up among the students.” ~Patricia B.
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Where:
Dates:
October 10-12, 2014
Time:
Friday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Tuition:
$325; ($295 paid in full by September 30, 2014)
Use any card, PayPal optional
Use any card, PayPal optional
Where in the world is that elusive vanishing point?
August 15-17, 2014
Perspective is important for everything you paint because in every subject, there is a point of view and a horizon line. At this workshop, learn simple techniques for identifying and capturing a perspective that adds great interest to your paintings. Seamus will cover how to identify the vanishing point, horizon line, create perspective in foreshortening, shadows and ellipses. This is an opportunity to approach your paintings in a whole new way.
As with all classes instructed by Seamus Berkeley, the intent will be on learning the fundamentals, leaving you, the artist, to develop your unique expression and vision. Focal points of this workshop will be:
- Orchestrating a cohesive composition
- Proper set up & measuring
- Perspective from every angle: vanishing points, foreshortening, shadows & ellipses
- Expanding your confidence painting still life and real world environments
Join Seamus Berkeley in order to learn from a lifetime of painting, and to better orient yourself in front of the canvas; Seamus’s skillful advice and delight in teaching might just push you toward surmounting hurdles within your work which have been (knowingly or not) holding you back from accelerating to the next level.
This workshop is useful for painters at all levels; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.
Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.
Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.
Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.
For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.
“He gives good attention to each student and the individual work during the class, as well as occasional painting technique demonstrations. The location is convenient with plenty of parking. The other students have a range of abilities, and they add to the overall class atmosphere.” ~Gina P.
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Where:
Dates:
August 15-17, 2014
Time:
Friday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Tuition:
$325; ($295 paid in full by July 31, 2014)
Use any card, PayPal optional
Use any card, PayPal optional
Putting all of Manhattan onto your eight inch canvas!
July 18-20, 2014
How do you transfer the composition that you envision onto your canvas? This is one of the trickiest skills to learn, without which, your painting will not materialize according to your expectations.
In this workshop, you will learn how to correctly measure, transfer measurements to the canvas, use vertical and horizontal drop lines, and to relate shapes to each other in order to maintain the original composition. By applying these useful techniques, your paintings will get closer to coming alive in the way that you want them to!
Join this workshop in order to:
- Perfect measuring techniques for a truly life-like appeal
- Learn what the heck drop lines are and how to use them!
- Approach your canvas with fresh eyes & expand your field of perception
- Add new tools to your artistic arsenal of skills!
This workshop is useful for painters at all levels; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.
Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.
Seamus has mastered the tricks necessary for his compositions to achieve desired results, and he thrives off of sharing his knowledge with eager artists. As a lifelong student and enthusiastic teacher, he looks forward to enriching your painting expression, which his workshops can bring to you.
Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.
Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.
For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.
“With gentle coaching, he empowers each student to fully express their inner vision. Don’t miss The Fundamentals of Painting video produced by Seamus! You’re gonna like the way you paint!” ~Maggie C.
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Where:
Dates:
July 18-20, 2014
Time:
Friday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Tuition:
$325; ($295 paid in full by June 30, 2014)
Use any card, PayPal optional
Use any card, PayPal optional
Occupy your canvas!
June 20-22, 2014
Continuing in this fundamentals series, this workshop will concentrate on composition: how to organize your ideas for a painting, on the canvas. Areas covered include planning the setup, measuring, and placement of desired subjects on the canvas. Thinking outside the box is always welcomed! Studying composition with an experienced painter and alongside other students may help inspire and challenge you to push the limits of your personal palette of creativity.
Attend this workshop if you want to:
- Learn specific tools for measuring space on your canvas
- Be exposed to new techniques for placing and orienting your subjects
- Think differently about your blank canvas: the opportunities are endless!
The workshop will include demonstration, as well as group and individual instruction.
This workshop is useful for painters at all levels; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.
Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.
Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.
Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.
For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.
“Seamus Berkeley’s oil painting classes are well organized, clear and provide a supportive atmosphere for learning.” ~Gina P.
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Where:
Dates:
June 20-22, 2014
Time:
Friday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Tuition:
$325; ($295 paid in full by May 31, 2014)
Use any card, PayPal optional
Use any card, PayPal optional
Lights, darks, and the mysteries in between
May 23-25, 2014
We often tend to focus on the beauty of the color of objects and light and shy away from investigating the darks. Overlooking this aspect of our environment tends to limit the range of our expression.
We will explore how to assess values, and then how to create that corresponding value with the paint. We’ll also practice letting go of the hesitancy to use the full range of values. This practice creates more dynamic paintings.
In this workshop, you can expect to:
- Redefine contrast among lights, darks, shadows & find balance on a canvas
- Differentiate between hue values and the end result values of your materials
- Challenge your understanding of contrast in a painting
Taking a deeper look into the darks and learning how to integrate them correctly, according to your artistic vision (and regardless of subject) can enrich and enliven all of your paintings. Definitely fun… and a bit of a challenge!
The workshop will include demonstration, as well as group and individual instruction.
This series is useful for both beginning and intermediate painters; emphasis on oil paints, other media welcome. Some painting experience necessary. Please see materials list for suggested supplies – some easels are available.
This workshop is useful for both beginning and intermediate painters. Some painting experience necessary. Group and individual instruction provided, with demonstrations throughout; emphasis on oil painting, all media welcome.
Instructor: Seamus Berkeley as an international award winning painter and portrait specialist with studios in Berkeley, CA and Taos, NM.
Please register online now—class is limited to 12 students.
Convenient bicycle friendly Berkeley location, bus stops within 2 blocks and available street parking.
For more information, call 510.984.1850 or email.
“The opportunity to study with Seamus Berkeley is a gift. An accomplished Fine Artist, Seamus shares his vast knowledge by effectively demonstrating a wide variety of oil painting techniques and tools..” ~Maggie C.
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Where:
Dates:
May 23-25, 2014
Time:
Friday, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Saturday and Sunday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Tuition:
$325; ($295 paid in full by April 30, 2014)
Use any card, PayPal optional
Use any card, PayPal optional