Commission A Portrait Painting From A Skilled Artist

By Leticia Jensen


Portraits were very popular at a certain time in history, with artists capturing likenesses of individuals in artworks that are still seen today. Many individuals are not aware that they can easily commission a portrait painting today from the numerous artists doing such work, including those found at online websites. Artists use different methods and mediums and have varying levels of skill, so it is important to choose wisely.

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.

Artists who painted portraits in days gone by needed a sitter to remain in a certain pose for hours on end. Photography has changed this to a large extent and artists follow many different methods. Some artists still prefer to draw from life, making sketches and studies. Others like to work from photographs they have taken themselves in a single session. Many like to combine the use of photographs and on the spot sketches.

Some people may be under the impression that when commissioning such an artwork, it has to be a full length one. This is not true and many artists are happy to work on much smaller ones, such as those consisting only of a head or a head and shoulders. In fact, not nearly as many full length portraits are requested today as they were more suited to large banquet halls and enormous rooms.

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.

Preparation of a painted sketch is usually done before the actual work commences. This allows the client to gain some idea of what the final work will look like and certain changes can be made at this stage. Artists do charge for this sketch which the client can keep.

If you think that commissioning portraits costs a great deal of money, you may be surprised. A small head portrait with a simple background can be reasonably priced and can make a wonderful gift for a loved one. Can be. Portraits can be kept for a lifetime and passed down to future generations, keeping memories alive.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment