It was almost as if James Merrill, Virginia Beach school superintendent, was gazing into a mirror when he first saw his portrait.
The painting, by Virginia Beach artist Mary Thumma, was unveiled at the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School during a master class she conducted earlier this month.
Academy students are required to complete 70 hours of master class or seminar work prior to graduation. Nfon Asuquo, 16, said, "The master classes enable me to learn new things and further my artwork skills."
Sophomores and juniors in Chris Buhner's and Janet Walsh's classes listened and watched as Thumma shared details of her career and discussed the business of portraiture, technique and palette.
The artist, whose business is called Thummprints, is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University. She has studied in Italy and the United States under artists including Raymond Everett Kinstler at the Arts Students League in Manhattan. She and her husband, John, and their children, Lily and Jack, live in Kings Grant.
Thumma's friend, Shannon Dechert, sat in as a model while Thumma demonstrated her technique, using charcoal to sketch followed by oil paints. The students took their turns painting Dechert's portrait, too.
"There are many phases to a painting," explained Thumma, "One, two, three... 20; you keep going until you feel the painting is complete."
Her painting of Merrill began with a photo shoot at First Landing State Park. "I shot 185 pictures," said Thumma, who then spent 100 hours with brush in hand.
A modest Merrill was speechless but all smiles as he gazed upon his portrait. The finished piece will be donated to the city and displayed at the school administration building, 2512 George Mason Drive, in May after it is framed.
Thumma believes that paint on canvas will have staying power.
"I don't think this will be something that will die because people always want heirlooms," she said. "My life's dream is to bring the joy and beauty of art back into our lives."
Sandra J. Pennecke, Pennecke@cox.net