June Elizabeth Blackstock recently unveiled her portrait of the Hon. Charles F. Crisp, 37th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. The painting was commissioned by the Sumter County, Georgia Historical Society. This was her second commission from the society for whom she also painted former United States Attorney General Griffin Bell. The painting was unveiled at a gala black tie reception at “Graymoss”, the plantation home of the Speaker’s grandson, Mr. Charles R. Crisp. June is pictured here with members of the Crisp family in front of the portrait.

June Elizabeth Blackstock cannot remember a time when her primary interest was not art. She is a second generation beneficiary of the Ashcan School of painters (Henri, Luks, Sloan, etc.) having been taught and mentored by one of their students.

After marriage to a fellow artist, she decided to give her full attention to art as a career. Shortly thereafter, her affinity for people and her fascination with the human face and form led her to devote herself exclusively to portraiture.

She claims as her artistic influences both the master portrait painters of the past, including William Adolphe Bouguereau, John Singer Sargent and Robert Henri whose works she has closely studied at the great museums of Europe and the United States; and the masters of contemporary portraiture, such as Daniel Greene and Richard Whitney.

Her works, whether they be corporate, family or children's portraits, show her commitment to capturing not only an accurate likeness, or even a valuable moment in a life or career, but to putting the personality and those crucial inner characteristics that define the subject. She strives to give each of her paintings that quality which transforms a mere portrait into a work of art which will endure for generations.

Ms. Blackstock's work has been exhibited at many of America's leading shows including three of New York's finest, the Professional Artist League Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club, the Allied Artist of America Exhibition and the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club Open Exhibition, both at the National Arts Club.

In addition to being a finalist in the 1998 Washington Society of Portrait Artists "Portraits Only" Competition and the Portrait Competition of "The Artist's Magazine" in both 1993 and 1995, she was awarded the prestigious Ralph Fabri Bronze Medal by the Allied Artist of America in 1994.

Ms. Blackstock is a Signature Member of the American Society of Portrait Artists and a Member of Excellence of the Portrait Society of Atlanta.