Announcing Our Sixth Annual Portrait Contest: A Parisian Picnic
A treasured spring tradition, my portrait contest with the children’s dress brand Charlotte sy Dimby is a way to bring together art and traditional handcrafted fashion to celebrate the beauty of childhood. Each year, the theme is different. For 2025 we decided on : A Parisian Picnic.
After many requests, this year we welcome boys to our contest! We’re excited to see children of all ages dressed in Charlotte sy Dimby fashion enjoying the simple delight of a picnic under the blue skies of spring .
As always, I’ll share photography tips along the way to help you capture your moments with the same warmth and artistry that inspire my own portraits. And together, we’ll celebrate a shared love of beauty, tradition, and timeless childhood joy.
We can’t wait to see your Parisian Picnics unfold!
All the details of the submission process can be found here! The contest will run until the 3rd of June.
Why a Parisian picnic? The answer lies in both art history and personal inspiration.
After earning my degree in Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee, I began my portrait career in Europe. Studying the Old Masters, I was instantly captivated by their aesthetic and style which still shape my work today. This spring, I am returning to those roots — traveling to Paris, France, to once again immerse myself in the world of the French Impressionists. From the luminous halls of the Musée d'Orsay, to the cobbled charm of Montmartre, and the flower-filled serenity of Monet’s gardens in Giverny, my journey will be one of color, light, and artistic renewal.
Of course, no trip to Paris would be complete without visiting with my dear friends from Charlotte sy Dimby in their Parisian shop L’Ile aux Fées. Their dresses have long been a favorite of classic portrait artists like the renown pastel artist, Sally Gates, and myself! The full skirts of their dresses, delicate smocking, and sweet details like their butterfly bows, seem lifted from a painting themselves. Each one is a hand-sewn masterpiece, brimming with charm and craftsmanship. I began a friendship with Charlotte, based on our shared faith and love of beauty. It has been growing ever since.
The Parisian Picnic thus seemed a most fitting theme! We invite families from around the world to join us on this journey and create their own French-inspired magic. Whether in a backyard, a city park, or a blooming garden, all it takes is a blanket, a basket, perhaps a few macarons — and of course, a Charlotte sy Dimby outfit — to bring the vision to life.
DEEPER REFLECTION ON OUR CONTESTS
The launch of this contest has also been an opportunity to look back on the previous ones and reflect on the true meaning behind these projects. Beyond the joy and beauty, there’s even deeper significance behind each one!
The birth of the contests : A way of bringing beauty to uncertain and challenging times
When the world slowed down during the pandemic, so did travel for my portrait commissions. Like many artists, I found myself in a time of stillness and uncertainty. But rather than let that silence dim the creative spark, I saw it as an opportunity to find new ways of spreading beauty and light into the lives of others.
Confined to my studio, I turned to the Impressionists — Monet and Renoir in particular — diving deep into their palettes of soft violets, glimmering pinks, and luminous greens. Their ability to capture light and joy on canvas felt like the perfect antidote to the heaviness of the world. Inspired by their radiant work, I dreamed of a way to celebrate innocence, femininity, and timeless charm — and thus, the Charlotte sy Dimby portrait contests were born.
The last four years have also been the most difficult period of my life. During this time, I lost both of my parents, and our beloved daughter, Maloy. I've realized that sometimes God does indeed seem to give you more than you can bear, but through our unwavering faith in His saving grace through Jesus Christ, constant prayer, and deciding to find joy amidst the sorrow, my family and I have become stronger than we were before facing these challenges. Throughout these life changing losses, our yearly contests continued to inspire and uplift me.
The First Contest: Tea Party
During the quiet days of lockdown, our mutual love for tea parties provided the perfect theme.
We invited mothers around the world to dress their daughters in Charlotte sy Dimby and capture magical tea party moments at home. I offered simple photography tips to help them use natural light and thoughtful compositions — echoes of the same light and color that had captivated me in Monet and Renoir’s work.
The response was overwhelming. We received entries from across continents, each one a window into tender family moments and the joy of childhood. Seeing girls twirl in their dresses, pouring tea from tiny porcelain pots, surrounded by lace and flowers — it was a reminder that even in uncertain times, beauty is powerful!
The Second Contest: Princess and Posie
What began as a small way to stay creative during a global pause blossomed into a global celebration of art, childhood, and handmade craftsmanship. It remains one of the most joyful projects I’ve ever taken part in — and a testament to the idea that art, even in the simplest forms, can bring light into the darkest days. A second contest seemed only natural.
We themed it around flowers. Just like impressionist artists, nature and in particular gardening is a passion of mine! Little girls were asked to pose among their favourite flowers. What beautiful blossoms of joy and color we received!Â
Maya, whose parents are originally from Ukraine, was our winner. Maya's portrait photo was taken at Belmont University and Mansion Grounds. It is her family's favorite place in Nashville. After moving from NYC in the middle of the pandemic, it soon became their little oasis of peace and beauty where they would come for picnics, riding scooters, feeding squirrels, and dipping their toes in the creek on hot summer days. There is also a beautiful rose garden that they always took time to admire, especially in spring.
The Third Contest: Twirling into Spring
Our 2022 contest, Twirling into Spring, was one of our most enchanting yet. Charlotte sy Dimby’s signature circle skirts naturally inspire twirling and this contest was so enthusiastically received! We invited parents to photograph their children spinning among spring blooms, and we were amazed by the joyful entries from around the world. Our winner, Anna Alicia from Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands, captured hearts with her radiant twirls and blooming backdrop — a perfect embodiment of the season’s charm.
The Fourth Contest: Curtsy and a Smile to Light Up the World
The Curtsy and a Smile contest was held during the most difficult time of my life, after the loss of our middle daughter. Seeing all the sweet, happy entries brought joy and comfort into dark days. Our winner, "Twinkle" lives in the beautiful Rosewood Manor in Marion, South Carolina. I delivered their portrait myself and loved spending time with this beautiful girl and her family.
The Fifth Contest: Princess and Pet
Some of my favorite portraits that I have painted have been of children with their pets or stuffed animals. Our Princess and Pet contest entries included pets of all kinds, but this winsome pose of Sophie really captured my heart! I absolutely love this portrait! It was a joy to get to know her sweet family and I was delighted that they chose a beautiful frame by AMCI Regence. It will look beautiful in their new home in Dallas! Charlotte sy Dimby wrote the most beautiful article about the unveiling of Sophie's portrait. Read it here.
May this sixth contest be just as wonderful as the previous ones!
“It is truly useful since it is beautiful." The Little Prince
