Sonia is an acclaimed portrait artist, having received Finalist & Best of Show awards and recognition for her portrait paintings in prominent national and international portrait competitions. Her work hangs at the Harvard Club of Boston, Lowell City Hall and SUNY Plattsburgh, as well as in libraries, hospitals and numerous private collections internationally.

Her portraits were published in “Best of Worldwide Figurative and Portrait Artists,” as well as “Fine Art Connoisseur” Magazine. She studied and was mentored intensively for five years by Presidential portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler.

Portrait Artist Sonia Hale

In her portrait commissions, Sonia is known for bringing out the very best in her portrait subjects. She is able to convey both her portrait subjects’ personality and vitality — this has led to numerous family oil portrait commissions and institutional portrait commissions, including commissions from prominent institutions nationwide.

Contemporary portrait artist Sonia is a graduate of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she double-majored in English and Art. Her painting style was favorably noted upon by her teachers at the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston, Massachusetts.

She studied at the New York Art Students’ League in New York City, as well as at the Copley Society in Boston, Massachusetts, and on a national basis at workshops with some of the most famous portrait painters of our time including Everett Raymond Kinstler, the beloved painter of eight U.S. presidents, who mentored her for five years and who’s lineage goes back to John Singer Sargent. Therefore, Sonia is proud to be a third-generation student of John Singer Sargent.

Recent Portrait Commissions

Sonia’s recent portrait commissions have included of the first female President of the Harvard Club of Boston, Karen Van Winkle; the President of SUNY Plattsburgh; Mayor Sokhary of Lowell, MA, Doctor Zakir Dhange of Dhange Hospital in India and the several portraits (namesake and benefactor/donor portraits) for the Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library in Dudley, Massachusetts. She currently has eight 5-star Google reviews and many glowing testimonials, which can be read on her website.

Portraits hang in Collections Worldwide

Sonia’s portraits hang in collections internationally. Her portraits have hung in top portrait competitions in Georgia and New York, where they received Finalist Awards; thus gaining her national attention and acclaim.

Studying and Mentoring with top portrait artists of our time

Famous portrait artist Everett Raymond Kinstler (1926-2019) said of Sonia’s adult portrait painting, ” Your portrait looks very accomplished and appealing,” and of her children’s portraits, “You have a charm and lovely quality in painting children.”

Sonia also studied pastel portraiture intensively with Master Pastel Artist, Constance Flavell Pratt, by working from life for full weeks at a time. Sonia also took a weekly portrait workshop for several years with Robert Cormier, a renowned Boston School artist and student of famed portrait artist R.H. Ives Gammell, who was the longest serving president of the Guild of Boston Artists.

Memberships/Affiliations

Sonia’s memberships have included of the Portrait Society of America, the National Arts Club of New York, the Portrait Society of Atlanta, Oil Painter’s of America, the Artist’s Fellowship of New York, the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists and Wellesley Society of Artists. She has enjoyed attending events such as the annual conference of the Portrait Society of America, Connecticut Society of Portrait Artist events and participating in national portrait events time-permitting.

Getting on Sonia’s Portrait Commission List

Sonia’s portrait and landscape work is sought after by many private and corporate collectors. As she maintains a list for portraits, it is important to check in with her regarding her current availability for your commission. She resides in Wellesley, Massachusetts— just outside of Boston, Massachusetts.