A portrait is more than just capturing a likeness. It is a unique blend of appearance, personality, and the vision of the artist. It would be an honor to be chosen to create a portrait of a special person, pet or place for you. Read on for more information about this process.
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Portrait Procedure
The Initial Meeting: Normally, the process of beginning a portrait starts with a meeting, either in person, by phone, or through email, between the client (you) and the artist (me) to make some basic decisions about the painting. At this time, we will discuss the subject(s) of the painting, the pose and other features of the painting, the background, matting and framing details, and other specifics about the painting.
I strive to paint not only the person or animal, but to capture the spirit of the subject. Since I may not know the person or pet who will be painted, it would be very helpful if you could share information about him/her, such as dislikes, favorite things to do, etc.
During this initial meeting, I will also give you an estimate of how long it will take to complete your portrait. The estimate will depend on the complexity of the subject and how many other paintings are “in front” of yours in my schedule. Generally, it takes me about 4 to 6 weeks to complete a painting – sometimes more, sometimes a little less.
Photographs: Normally, I use photographs as references when painting. The photos can be those you take, or they can be photos I take for an additional fee. Obviously, the better the reference photos, the better the portrait will be because I will paint what I see in the photos. When I see your photos, I will be able to determine whether I can paint a portrait using them as references. Because of copyright laws, I must have permission of the photographer to use the photo for a painting.
Tips for choosing good photographs for reference photos:
- Clear, high resolution photos are best. It is VERY difficult, if not impossible, to use blurry photos for painting a realistic portrait.
- Photos taken in natural light work better than those taken with a flash.
- The colors in the photo should not be too bright or too pale. The colors should match the coloring of the animal or person to be painted.
- The pet or person should be a main focus of the photo. If the face is too small, I won’t be able to see the details to get a good likeness.
- Sometimes it is possible to combine photos of different people into one painting, but only if the lighting is the same in all the photos. For example, if one person is in full sunlight and another is in the shade, or if the light is coming from the right side in one photo and from the left in another, they can’t be combined easily.
- Photos taken from the eye level of the pet or child usually make better portraits. We are taller than our pets and children, so when we look at them, we are usually looking down at the tops of their heads and bodies. Photos that are taken from their height level are more
- Avoid photos taken by professional photographers. These are protected by copyright laws and I can’t use them without express permission from the photographer.
- If you can provide several good photos of your pet or the person, we can decide together which will work best.
Deposit: When you order, a 30% nonrefundable deposit is due to hold your spot in the schedule. The balance is due upon delivery of the painting when it is completed.
If you are ready to find out more or to commission a portrait, please fill out this form: