Few portrait-makers can stake any serious claim to art. Ron Oliver, who has been delighting his parent-customers and their children for well over a decade, is one such portrait-maker. In tastefully portraying the attitudes and poses of his subjects for loved ones, Oliver has captured for posterity the fragil period of childhood, as well as the intimate bond between parent and child. That he does this without ever over-sentimentalizing his subject matter (and avoiding the cliches typical of “child-portraiture”) shows a keen sense of observation and an emotional sensitivity.

Although Oliver’s subjects may sometimes appear serious, it is a seriousness based on self-reflection and infused with joy. The clear gaze of his subjects is at once captivating and uplifting, full of tenderness and promise – in short, a celebration of life.