Rabu, 12 Maret 2014

What To Consider When You Commission A Portrait Painting

By Leticia Jensen


If you want to commission a portrait painting, there are many artists today who are doing this kind of work. Going online and searching for such an artist brings up numerous results. It is therefore vitally important to know what to look for in an artist and what to expect when commissioning such a work.

When choosing an artist, it is most helpful to look at a portfolio of work already done to determine the level of skill of the artist. Work may be done in many different mediums like oils, pastels, watercolors, charcoal and even a combination of mediums. Artists all have their own styles and you will naturally be drawn to one with a style and working in a medium that best suits your tastes.

In past centuries, the individual having his or her likeness painted was required to sit for hours. Now the process can be simplified with the use of photographs. All artists have different methods and some prefer to work from a single, detailed photographic sitting. Others like to work from real life, producing quick sketches and studies and several sessions of this nature might be required. Yet others use a combination of photographs and real life sketches.

The size of the artwork and the way the individual is posed needs to be discussed. Not many individuals request full length portraits anymore, as these are often overbearing in smaller rooms. A head and shoulders version is often preferred, with some including arms and hands. A small one of a head only can make a great gift that is not too expensive.

The background chosen can vary too. A simple, abstract toned background can be chosen or a more complex one containing some still life objects or even a scene related to the sitter. A more complex background obviously increases the price as does the time required to paint more elaborate clothing.

It is important to have a contract drawn up once all the details have been settled. This should be signed by both parties before any further work commences. Most artists require some kind of deposit at this stage which may be up to half of the total amount.

Finally, the artist can get to work on producing a preliminary painted sketch. This is presented to the client and helps them to visualize what the final artwork is going to look like. They are able to make certain minor changes at this stage if required. The artist charges for this sketch which is kept by the client.

People are often unaware of the price of portraits, thinking that they are very expensive. This is true of some but not of all of them. Price depends upon factors like size, background, medium used, clothing worn and many other details. A small painting of the head of the individual against a simple background is not that expensive and it makes a wonderful gift for someone you care for that can be passed down through generations.




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