One of the first things that I tell people when inquiring about commissions is that I don’t do the standard head & shoulders portrait. There is nothing more uninteresting to me than the same old dime-a-dozen paintings of dogs just sitting there, looking at the viewer. [yawn]
I can’t explain why Betty is portrayed in this way, except that the royal portrait style was how she presented, and is apt in contrast to how Addie presents.
I do assume, however, that this will be the only portrait that I paint in this way!