Official first family portrait unveiled

[daniel green]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/23/official-first-family-portrait-unveiled/

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The official first family portrait was unveiled Thursday on the White House Flickr page. The photo was snapped by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz on September 1, 2009 in the Green Room of the White House.

[annalyzer]

Nice but where's the dog?

[Jayne]

Nice but where's the dog?

LOL Bo should have been in it..he is part of the family, I think.

I like the photo. Will this be painted in oil? Or is it already in oil? when I hear portrait, I think of painting..not a photograph.

jmo

J

[daniel green]

No--it's a photograph.

I don't think First Fam official portraits include the pets.

[Jayne]

Well I just had to look it up to be sure.

por⋅trait
  /ˈpɔrtrɪt, -treɪt, ˈpoʊr-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [pawr-trit, -treyt, pohr-]

–noun
1. a likeness of a person, esp. of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph: a gallery of family portraits.
2. a verbal picture or description, usually of a person: a biography that provides a fascinating portrait of an 18th-century rogue.
Origin:
1560–70; < MF: a drawing, image, etc., n. use of ptp. of portraire to portray

I saw a Chinese waterdog on the beach last summer. They are WILD and wide open. I couldn't see one sitting for a photograph. LOL

Thanks, BB...for the corrections. Yep..I live in the Old World..:)

Bo is not a Chinese but a Chilean/Portuguese waterdog. (Chinese is a Shar Pei, as I know it.) A friend's family has a Portuguese waterdog, he is very well behaved as he has been trained properly. Will sit in a car seat/strap (doggie specialized) and sit for a photo or sit by my chair during class. I could see Bo sitting, if trained properly.

Sen. Kennedy (RIP) gave Bo as a gift to Obama. Portuguese Water Dog, whose original name was "Charlie", a puppy from their Portuguese Waterdog.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-obama-puppy-13-apr13,0,2536424.story

yes..there are some dogs called a Chinese breed - the Chinese Zodiac speaks of dogs that are Water Dogs..years 1922 + 1982..but that isn't Bo.

jmo

J

[birdwatch]

They look great - an attractive, loving family. I, too, would have loved to see the dog in it.
By the way Butterbean; its a Portuguese Water dog. Maybe a Chinese water dog would be a Shar Pei? Just kidding. edit: OOps I see Jayne already caught that one.

[Jayne]

No--it's a photograph.

I don't think First Fam official portraits include the pets.

Thanks..I thought it was a photograph...I'd guess they will eventually make an oil painting out of it. The WH is filled with them from years past. This one will be Great!

It's a very nice photograph, as I said. If they don't include pets..OK. But he's a beautiful dog and he is very important as a "family member" I think. But..heck, I don't know the protocol of First Family Photos.

:)

J

[Jayne]

Ooooops, wrong country. Sorry.

It's OK. I take no offense, whatsoever. And, I'm sure you don't either.

J

[daniel green]

Thanks..I thought it was a photograph...I'd guess they will eventually make an oil painting out of it. The WH is filled with them from years past. This one will be Great!
snipped

I doubt it. It is a stunning photo and the WH has similar photos of past first families throuhout the halls and rooms.

It's a lovely picture, particularly with young children!

[daniel green]

The official portrait of the Obama family dog, "Bo", a Portuguese water dog, on the South Lawn of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) This official White House photograph is being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph.



Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/19/bo-obama-gets-official-wh_n_217882.html

He is absolutely the cutest thing! :smile:

Love this pic of the President, the girls and Bo!
http://babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/2009/04/bo.jpg

[Jayne]

I doubt it. It is a stunning photo and the WH has similar photos of past first families throuhout the halls and rooms.

It's a lovely picture, particularly with young children!

Look..I understand that..but oil paintings last longer..don't they? I'm not having a problem with the picture or the kids..I think is is GREAT. I was simply asking about OIL PAINTINGS.

I've been there..many times...and I've seen a lot of oil paintings, along with photographs.

Why do you think no one will make an oil painting of this? Heck..if I were a painter..I would...for no cost.

jmo

J

[daniel green]

snipped
Why do you think no one will make an oil painting of this? Heck..if I were a painter..I would...for no cost.

jmo

J

Because it's a LIEBOWITZ portrait. A work of art.

[theal3]

http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww248/bigswigg/image.jpg

I suppose this is suppose to be humorous. ;) or snarky?

[Jayne]

Because it's a LIEBOWITZ portrait. A work of art.

I think it's Leibovitz, not that it matters..I make up my own spellings too! :) She did the photo of Michelle for Vogue..and she's pretty much in debt. She did the naked photo of Lennon with Yoko, and Demi Moore's naked pregnancy photo..all very beautiful,and many many more. Very talented photographer.

That doesn't change my "question" as to whether this first family photo would be done in oil, eventually. I figured with all your posts you are much more "in" with the WH doings and protocol?

Heck..I was just asking a question about oil painting..not on the photographer..but yeah, you are correct as to the 'clicker'. Another poster did note that poor Leibovitz is so deep in dept, perhaps this photo shoot got her back into the economy? That would be a Great thing for the First Family to do - to pay someone who really really needs the money to do their first portrant. If it was for the talent, only, then hope she was paid a lot for this - she certainly deserves it.

She is Wonderfully talented, had a lot happen in her life, but didn't handle money well, apparently. Sad for her.

jmo

J

[birdwatch]

Is her commission on this enough to pull her out of
bankruptcy? I have no idea what she might make for a photo shoot such as this - but whatever it is - it would be a drop in the bucket wouldn't it? She owes 24 million.
I love the photo, and personally think it would be a great oil painting for the Obama's home.
I would think that "official" oil paintings might be more formal. Maybe she also took some with the President wearing a jacket and tie.

[daniel green]

I think it's Leibovitz, not that it matters..I make up my own spellings too! :)

Heck..I was just asking a question about oil painting..not on the photographer..but yeah, you are correct as to the 'clicker'.
J

Thanks! I knew I was using creative spelling!!!! :laugh:

I think the Obamas are more modern--their taste in art is modern. Some people prefer oil, some don't. I am happy that the First Family chose Leibovitz for the Official Portrait and it is an awesome photo.

As to her being in a debt--a great many great artists throughout history died broke. It doesn't mean much in terms of their artistic talent.

[birdwatch]

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't like it. I don't care for
how the oldest girl is sitting on the arm of the chair and I find the
background asymetrical and distracting. You might like a more formal portrait probably. Everyone properly seated or standing centered against a background. I'm sure people will take photographs like that. Maybe Annie Liebovitz took shots like that too, but its not really what we would expect from this particular artist/photographer. This looks, to me anyway, more like life as it really is - not perfect and symetrical. It is bright and warm and loving.
Please understand I'm not trying to argue with you. No reason at all why we should all have the same taste.

[birdwatch]

Does every First Family have an official picture done? I can't find any for former presidents but I'm sure I'm just not looking in the right place. I've been looking around too BB.
I'm know all the Presidential families approved photographs, (I've been around for a really long time and I've seen them) but they are hard to find.
On the JFK Presidential Library and Museum site there is a souvenir guide book they call a Keepsake Albumn - and there is a lovely photo of the Kennedys when the kids were little.Its a relaxed and casual photo taken on the porch of the summer place, I guess.
The Nixon Library has 14 boring pages of photos. There is one of the family sitting at the dinner table on page 4 and a formal one on page 8. Both are with the girls and their husbands. Didn't see any of the family when the girls are younger. That is a statement in itself, isn't it?
THe Johnson Library has photo archives, but denied me access.

[Clara Harris]

No--it's a photograph.

I don't think First Fam official portraits include the pets.


IDK about pet portraits. I don't recall Macaroni being in the JFK family portrait though. Do you?


I know Millie had a best selling book. So maybe Bo is saving himself for a more lucrative opportunity. I'd hate to find out he was abusing the system and living high on the hog. Bo shouldn't be allowed to abuse socialist programs & outstanding benefits from public assistance just b/c of his family ties. He should work for his wages just like the rest of us law abiding, tax paying citizens do.

Bo knows milkbones. But where was Bo born?
JMT&OO

[Jayne]

IDK about pet portraits. I don't recall Macaroni being in the JFK family portrait though. Do you?


I know Millie had a best selling book. So maybe Bo is saving himself for a more lucrative opportunity. I'd hate to find out he was abusing the system and living high on the hog. Bo shouldn't be allowed to abuse socialist programs & outstanding benefits from public assistance just b/c of his family ties. He should work for his wages just like the rest of us law abiding, tax paying citizens do.

Bo knows milkbones. But where was Bo born?
JMT&OO

HAHAHA..very witty, Clara!

Bo (originally named Charlie by his first owner) was born in Massachusetts, btw, very swanky area on the Cape! (both canine parents MA/USA citizens, too - owners were Senators, too.)

jmo J