Frequently Asked Questions About Commissioning a Work From a Portrait Painter

Must I sit for a portrait, or can you work from photos?

In a perfect world, all portraits would be painted from life. In the present, imperfect one, however, I frequently need to paint from photos. Usually this is because of the limited amount of time that distantly located subjects can spend sitting for me. Sometimes the subject is too young and wiggly, sometimes the subject is the dear departed. I do insist, however, on extremely high quality photos, usually shot by myself.

I have a photo I’d like to use for the basis of a portrait. Would you consider that?

I’ll take it into consideration, but frankly, most photos that people have offered to me have not been adequate. Most have been what I would call snapshots. To begin to replace the plethora of visual information that a posed sitter provides, not only do I need a great quality photo, I need a lot of them. Don’t be surprised if I want to shoot my own photos from which to paint the portrait.

What is involved in the photography for the portrait?

Expect to have two or three photographic sessions. They should be under the same lighting conditions in order for the photo references from different sessions to be compatible. If the light source for the photos is outdoor light, the sessions will need to be at the same time of day and under the same atmospheric conditions. Therefore the sessions might have to be on consecutive days, at the same time of day. The sessions last probably one to two hours each time.

Do you need to paint part of the portrait from life, on location?

I probably can’t be away from home long enough to paint you entirely from life, if you are amenable to sitting, but I would love to make some quick (A couple of hours) oil sketches of you and your environment. Your portrait will be better and your skin tones more accurately yours for it.

I’d like to be pictured in my own home. Will you travel?

Yes I will. The client pays the cost of the travel.

Will I have an idea of what the portrait will look like and have input?

Absolutely. You’ll see all of the photos from the sessions, watch how things are shaping up, and offer your preferences. Once I am back in the studio with the photos, I do small oil sketches to make decisions about how precisely to approach the final painting. They can be sent to you or scanned and emailed. This is another opportunity for input. I then paint the portrait, and send digital images or photos of it along the way and when it is approaching completion for comment on likeness and general appearances.

I want a portrait painted of several family members. Is it cheaper to have people painted together in one painting rather than separately in their own portraits?

No, for the simple reason that group portraits are nearly always quite a bit more difficult to compose, pose, and shoot than are single portraits. Get what you really want aesthetically, because the cost is likely to be the same either way. Individual portraits have the additional advantage of being unlikely to become a bone of contention when an estate is divided among the siblings in the painting.

How long does it take to paint a portrait?

When I begin the portrait will depend upon my previous commitments. Once begun, I will usually spend one to three months working on a portrait. I like to have the freedom to turn the painting to a wall, rest from it, and return to it with a fresh eye for part of that time.

I want to surprise someone with a portrait. Is this possible?

It all depends upon the quality of the photos that you already have, or what kind of a creative excuse you can improvise to have some very good photos taken to my specifications.

When do I pay for my portrait?

You’ll pay half when I am ready travel and begin shooting, and the other half upon pleased acceptance of the completed portrait.

Will you paint things other than portraits by commission?

Sure. I could be persuaded to paint your horses just as easily as your kids. Whatever it is, run it by me and I’ll think about it.

Will the painting be oil, acrylic, or what?

I work in oils, usually on linen canvas, although I can work on panel if that is preferred for some reason. These are amazingly durable materials that will last for virtually centuries. Your families will own these portraits for a very long time!

There’s something about the sitter’s appearance that needs to be changed for the portrait. Can you do that?

Very often I can. I’ve had to “take a sitter off of bloating steroids”, slim down someone who went on a diet and exercise regimen post photo-session, and given some tactful facelifts. Let’s talk about it.

Will my commissioned piece of fine art come framed?

No, I generally let my clients frame their own commissioned portraits, unless they specifically ask for help aesthetically. Shipping the work framed just greatly adds to the cost of packing and shipping, and chances are, you have more framing resources near you than what I have near me here in rural Utah. As you may have noticed, however, the already existing paintings that are for sale through this website are all framed.

Who pays for shipping, and how much does it usually cost?

The client pays for the packing and shipping. Having a crate made for a typical portrait might cost up to $125, and then shipping within the US is generally under $300. Oversized portraits have shipping challenges all their own and must be considered individually.

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