Salvador Dali once said, "I do not paint a portrait to look like the subject. Rather does the subject grow to look like his portrait." Most of today’s portrait artists take a softer approach, but there are some dos and don’ts when it comes to having a portrait commissioned.
DO:
- Research. Spend some time on our website browsing our galleries. It will help you determine your preferred style (realistic or impressionistic), mood (formal or informal), setting (indoor or out), size (head and shoulders or full length) and medium (oil, watercolor, charcoal or pastel).
- Work with the artist’s schedule. Once you’ve settled on the above key elements, your Portraits, Inc. associate will help you find an artist who meets all your expectations. A key consideration is the artist’s schedule. Some artists have a one-year backlog, so be honest about your timeframe and try to plan for flexibility.
- Expect the artist to paint in his/her own style. Our associates work hard to match clients with the right artist. Once you’ve settled on an artist, expect them to create your portrait in their signature style, not something totally different.
- Get others involved. It may be helpful to involve all the interested parties, such as spouses, parents and grandparents, from the beginning of the process. Having multiple opinions, ideas and feedback usually leads to very satisfied clients.
DON’T:
- Make yourself unavailable. Your schedule is important, too. You need to be available for consultations, sittings and reviews, often more than once throughout each stage of the process.
- Rush the process. The more an artist can get to know you, your personality and style, the better the portrait will be. While photographs may be used as an aid, most artists prefer, and often insist, on some face to face time to make preliminary sketches and take their own photos and notes.
- Try to micromanage. It’s normal to be concerned about the details of the portrait, like the background and the color of the living room curtains, but trust that after giving your input the artist is just as concerned, if not more so, than you about getting everything just right. The last thing they want to do is deliver a portrait you don’t like.
Overall, remember that commissioning a portrait is about honoring someone, whether it’s a company or institution honoring its leader, a family honoring its patriarch or a husband honoring his wife. It should be a wonderful, feel-good experience for all those involved.
Portraits, Inc. was founded in 1942 in New York on Park Avenue. Over its 70-year history, Portraits, Inc. has carefully assembled a select group of the world’s foremost portrait artists offering a range of styles and prices. Recognized as the industry leader, Portraits, Inc. provides expert guidance for discerning clients interested in commissioning fine art portraits.