Portrait gift shows essence of Christmas Artists’ generosity allows kids to cheer up mom with unique gift BY MARY ANNE ROSS Correspondent PHOTOS BYMIGUEL JUAREZ staff Above: Photographer Deborah Anne Nero shows the original picture she took of Nick and Emily Eucaliptus. Students Lisa Kellerman (far left) and Miriam Staloff work on their projects. At right: Marcel Franquelin is the owner and artistic director of the Van Liew Avenue studio. Below: Polly Siegel (c) and Gerrie Vergona, students at Marcel’s Art Studio, discuss details of the portrait last week, just a few days before it was presented as a Christmas gift. MILLTOWN — Nicholas Eucaliptus wanted to give something really special to his mother this Christmas. The 12-year-old noticed that his mother, Catherine, was feeling sad and wanted to cheer her up. He would discover one afternoon on Van Liew Avenue just how he could accomplish that. “One day while my sister and I were out riding our bikes, I saw Marcel’s Art Studio and I thought maybe we could get a portrait for my mom,” Nick said. What he didn’t realize was the usual cost, and effort, involved with such an undertaking. “He came by when I wasn’t here,” said artist and studio owner Marcel Franquelin. “One of my students who is over 6-foot and has a gray beard answered the door. Nicholas wasn’t the least bit intimidated. He said he wanted a portrait done.” Nick was told to come back on Saturday, when Franquelin would be there. Nick did come back, bringing with him a $20 bill and his 8-year-old sister, Emily. He told Marcel that he wanted a portrait of his sister and himself and explained why — his mother was sad because his parents were going through a divorce. Despite the fact that commissions for portraits can easily cost over a thousand dollars, Marcel invited him into the studio. When the women working there heard his story, they were touched. “I told him to look around and see if anyone would be interested in doing this, and he did,” Franquelin said. “He was very brave, that’s what impressed me. Deborah Anne Nero, a professional photographer and a student at the studio, offered to do the photograph if someone else volunteered to do the portrait. Someone else did. In fact, nine students volunteered to work on the project. And so, Nero and the nine students — Gerri Vergona, Carol O’Neil, Polly Siegel, Vimala Arunachalam, Lisa Kellerman, Tanya Ramirez, Michael Whaley, Miriam Staloff and Nancy Dunn — plus Franquelin himself, set out on a unique group effort. “He wanted to give me the $20,” Franquelin said. “I told him no, I will take 10, and the other 10 when the portrait is finished. I had him sign a contract,” he said with a smile. Nero photographed the children and let them pick the pose they liked best. Franquelin created the initial layout. Then came the long careful process of rendering the portrait. Rendering is an artistic technique using fine pencil to fill in the shadows and outlines of a drawing. It has to be gone over repeatedly. The students collectively donated more than 1,000 hours of their studio time to complete the 12-by-14 image. Deck the Walls, Freehold, donated the frame. The portrait, which was started just before Thanksgiving, was completed by Dec. 23, the day of a family gathering, when the children presented the portrait to their mother. “I was absolutely thrilled,” Catherine Eucaliptus said. “It made be believe in angels. Most people would have just told these two kids to get out, and instead they did something so kind and generous. It really did lift my spirits. It’s something I will always treasure.” She was also moved by her son’s concern. “He is very unselfish and kind, thinking of how I was feeling the way he did,” she said. Nick and Emily’s father, Leonardo, is also proud of his son. “He’s always had a lot of initiative,” he noted. Emily and Nicholas said they enjoyed their experience of working with the artists. “I had butterflies at first,” Emily said. “But everyone was really nice.” Most of all, Nick feels he succeeded in his mission. “My mom was so happy she cried,” he said. This is not the first time the artists at Marcel’s studio have worked together and donated their time for a special project. The group created an image in oils of a very familiar landmark in Milltown — the former Michelin Tire Co. plant. The painting was given to the borough on Pride in Milltown Day in 2003 and is now displayed at Borough Hall. Franquelin, who is from France, is an award-winning artist with two arts-related master’s degrees from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, of Lille, and the University of Lille. His work is displayed in a variety of galleries and has been featured in the magazines American Artist and School Arts. Marcel’s art studio follows the model of the Renaissance atelier. Students of all levels and interests are welcome. “I don’t believe in making things complicated. I break things down into simple steps. They get the basics and then they can do what they want and I’m here to help them,” he said. “I am just amazed at what I have learned to create,” Nero said. “I was actually able to give a portrait I made as a gift. This is the kind of classical training that’s hard to find outside of Europe.” While the training may be classical, the atmosphere is anything but stuffy. The studio itself is bright and open. The walls are lined with students’ work, many bearing prize ribbons they’ve won. There are many different mediums on display, and the themes range from the mundane to the surreal. Students learn basic drawing, oil painting, airbrush, pen and ink, charcoal and watercolor. “It’s the kind of place where your abilities can just flower,” said Miriam Staloff. “We are very supportive of each other. “ “My students come from all different backgrounds. Some are doctors and college professors, others are homemakers and grandmothers. They come from different countries, too. We’re like the U.N. but we all get along,” Franquelin said. He also noted the wide range of ages. “One of my students, Fred Baser, is 86, and he has regularly been winning art contests. He was a B52 bomber pilot during World War II, so he has no trouble driving his Mercedes down here from West Caldwell a couple of times a week.” Franquelin’s youngest student started at the studio when she was 12. Franquelin has published two books, “Eye Candy: Still Lifes” and “Eye Candy: Nudes and Figures.” The studio’s Web site is www.marcelfineart.com. Visitors to the Web site can see samples of the artists’ works and learn more about the classes available.