After The Ball

Painting children presents a unique challenge. Rarely does a portrait artist find a child who is excited about posing as well as one who possesses the discipline necessary to perform the task. Rather than focus on a prim and proper pose; the goal of Leslie Adams is always to portray the innocence, playfulness, and curiosity of children by capturing a precious moment in time. In After the Ball, the children have just arrived home from a formal affair and have quickly tossed their shoes aside to play with their puppy, an aristocratic but affectionate Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - a breed portrayed in paintings since the beginning of the Renaissance. Allowing the children this freedom to collaborate with the Artist, by choosing how they want to engage their time during the portrait process, reveals a more truthful and accurate work of art.