5/01/2014

Reasons To Commission A Portrait Painting

By Essie Osborn


When searching for a potential artist, two questions are usually uppermost in the mind - which artist to select and how much he or she will charge? If you have decided to commission a portrait painting, it is important to choose a skilled artist as you will probably only do this once in a lifetime. This means you will possess a true work of art that can preserve memories for generations to come.

One of the ways to determine the skill of an artist is to examine a portfolio of work already completed. Artists doing portraiture work in different mediums such as pastels, oils, water colours, oils, charcoal or even a combination of mediums. The styles of artists all vary too and you may prefer one style over another.

Through the ages, many famous individuals have been captured in portraits. These portraits were so skilfully done that the character of the person is conveyed. Many of them were done by artists trained in the classical tradition and the individuals had to sit for hours. Portraiture has changed over the years, particularly with the introduction of photography. There is no longer a need for extensive sittings.

The problem with the advent of photography, however, is that it has become easy to use a photograph as more than just a reference point. This means that the true meaning of portraiture can be lost. If a mere copy of a photograph is created, this does away with any real creativity and imagination. Many artists today still use life sketches together with photographs. Some use only photographs but these are ones they take themselves in a special session with the client. Others use both photographs and sketches.

One of the main considerations when commissioning portraiture is price. Most artists are prepared to negotiate prices. However, one must expect to pay more for an artist with great skill and experience. This is often worth the expense for a piece of art you will only commission once in a lifetime and that is intended to be cherished for the memories it carries.

The price is also affected by such factors as the background chosen, the medium used and of course the size. Smaller portraits of a head only or head and shoulders are more popular than full sized ones today, mostly due to the smaller size of rooms today. All the details are noted in a contract signed by both parties and a part payment is usually required upfront.

Before starting on the painting, the artist usually produces a small sketch. This is used to give the client some indication of what the final product will look like. Minor changes can be suggested by the client at this point. Some artists prefer that clients have no input after this point. Others like the client to be involved throughout the process.

Choosing the right artist to do a portrait can make the difference between a mere copy and a work of art. An artist with skill, training and experience knows exactly how to bring out the true essence of the individual. It is worth the expense to have a painting like this that evokes memories and can be passed down to future generations.




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