(Please click on the tab above "Portfolio" to view my paintings.)

I was born and raised in New Orleans, but have been living in Alabama since 1971. I worked as a social worker for 25 years, retired and took a portrait painting class the summer of 2004 from Sergei Shillabeer an art professor at Troy University. I had no training in art. I had never used oils, but I was immediately hooked, and have spent the last 5 years doing everything to develop my skills.

At present, I paint portraits by commission. I take my own photographs. Occasionally I use photographs from a client if the photograph has special meaning as in the case of a deceased relative or friend.

As you will see on this site, I paint other paintings besides portraits and have entered some of the EBSQ shows. I have done work in acrylic, colored pencil, collage, charcoal, pen and ink, and block printing, but I continue to be most captivated by oil.

Although my style would be classified as realistic, my use of color and composition are not what you would find in a traditional portrait. At first, I fought my tendency to be realistic, but now, for the most part, I am happy with the way I paint and my clients have been happy, too. It is interesting how realism is now making such a big comeback.

I continually refine my portrait painting technique through intense study of portraiture, gathering instruction from workshops, instructional DVD's, museums, art magazines, art sites on the internet, and my library of art books.

I feel that I have been given a gift and I love sharing this gift with others. I hope you enjoy looking at my work.

Sandra Bordelon Butler

Birmingham, Alabama