Portrait Paintings

Portrait Artists. How to select one.

There are several options for having a portrait painted. A common shortcut is sending a photo to a portrait artist who then reproduces the photo as a painting.

You don’t want a painting that looks like it is done from a photograph because the colors are often times generic and plain while the figures looks flat. I focus on making the portraits as realistic as possible by working from real life in my downtown studio. If traveling is a concern, I can always come to your house and work on site.

How to Paint a Portrait

The process consists of an initial meeting ideally in my studio to decide upon the subject matter. If that is not possible, we can speak over the phone or wherever is most convenient. We will go over examples of beautifully painted portraits from famous painters to get an idea of what your tastes might be as far as the setup and look of the work. We will then do a session where I sketch a preliminary pencil drawing or drawings to further establish an understanding of the desired portrait composition. Once the composition is established, we may begin the sittings at the sitter’s convenience.

Ideally, a session last 3 hours with 5 minute breaks every 25 minutes. It normally takes me between 10 and 15 sittings to complete a portrait. During the sessions, I love to talk to the sitter and listen to music the sitter desires because I understand that for some, the idea of sitting for a portrait isn’t fun. It is also okay to take breaks outside of the break period and to stretch whenever needed. I want the sitter to be comfortable.

I must say that I have had a wonderful time with each person who has sat for me thus far and many of us have become friends and stay in touch. I do my my best to keep the atmosphere as lively as possible.
Please contact me via phone or email if you wish to have me paint a portrait or if you would like more details.