Commissioning A Portrait
A portrait can depict someone's appearance and personality in a way no other art form can. It can be the most special of gifts; something the recipient will treasure forever and pass on to their children. If you have never commissioned a portrait before it can seem quite daunting, but good preparation and a great relationship with your portrait artist will ensure its success.
The first thing you have to do is realize that, depending on the medium used, the time to complete could range from an hour or so to a year or more - much more in the case of famous portrait artists. You can pay from $25 through to $250,000. The best thing to do is just to do a search on 'portrait artist' on Google and look through the portrait artists' portfolios that appear to get feel for the media and style of portrait that you like best. Graphite pencils typically cost least with oils at the other end of the spectrum.
A reputable artist will normally put their requirements on their website, including the source material they need and whether they need you to attend sittings. The artist may well live on another continent, in which case they will normally expect their expenses reimbursed. You may need to travel to their studio for the sitting. Sittings rule out the portrait itself being a surprise for a loved one, but you can always give the entire process as a gift to a person you expect will enjoy it. Many artists, however will produce faithful portraits from photographs.
It is very important to build a relationship of mutual respect with your portraitist from the outset. A written contract is vital to establishing that understanding. The artist will almost certainly ask for a deposit of up to half the cost of the portrait. This may sound like a high percentage, but the portrait, unlike original work, will have no value to another customer. With larger, more expensive works, the artist may request stage payments. It is usual for the artist to retain the copyright of the image, but this can be negotiated. Giclee prints offer you the option of having faithful reproductions of the portrait to distribute as you wish.
Where photographs are to be used, these need to be of very good quality. The best way is to have them taken professionally. A good artist will want you involved every step of the way and to sign off on each change as it is requested. This is very important as some media will not permit changes once applied to the paper or canvas. With some media, oils for instance, you can literally change everything, but this will be the equivalent of commissioning a new work and provisions to charge for such changes will be incorporated in the contract. A close liaison with the artist should prevent the need for changes arising. The bond you forge with the artist can last a lifetime and a whole series of portraits.
Other considerations include how the finished portrait will be packed and shipped, how it will be framed and even where it will be hung. A large portrait obviously requires a suitably large area of wall in a prominent position to be displayed. A small portrait may well fit into the recipient's home much better - particularly if they have a den or study. Although modern portraits are often made with lightfast pigments, you should really avoid hanging the picture anywhere where it will be in direct sunlight, even for a short time each day.
If you build the relationship with your artist and follow the process step-by-step, the reward will be a wonderful gift and a possession that will be cherished for generations.
The first thing you have to do is realize that, depending on the medium used, the time to complete could range from an hour or so to a year or more - much more in the case of famous portrait artists. You can pay from $25 through to $250,000. The best thing to do is just to do a search on 'portrait artist' on Google and look through the portrait artists' portfolios that appear to get feel for the media and style of portrait that you like best. Graphite pencils typically cost least with oils at the other end of the spectrum.
A reputable artist will normally put their requirements on their website, including the source material they need and whether they need you to attend sittings. The artist may well live on another continent, in which case they will normally expect their expenses reimbursed. You may need to travel to their studio for the sitting. Sittings rule out the portrait itself being a surprise for a loved one, but you can always give the entire process as a gift to a person you expect will enjoy it. Many artists, however will produce faithful portraits from photographs.
It is very important to build a relationship of mutual respect with your portraitist from the outset. A written contract is vital to establishing that understanding. The artist will almost certainly ask for a deposit of up to half the cost of the portrait. This may sound like a high percentage, but the portrait, unlike original work, will have no value to another customer. With larger, more expensive works, the artist may request stage payments. It is usual for the artist to retain the copyright of the image, but this can be negotiated. Giclee prints offer you the option of having faithful reproductions of the portrait to distribute as you wish.
Where photographs are to be used, these need to be of very good quality. The best way is to have them taken professionally. A good artist will want you involved every step of the way and to sign off on each change as it is requested. This is very important as some media will not permit changes once applied to the paper or canvas. With some media, oils for instance, you can literally change everything, but this will be the equivalent of commissioning a new work and provisions to charge for such changes will be incorporated in the contract. A close liaison with the artist should prevent the need for changes arising. The bond you forge with the artist can last a lifetime and a whole series of portraits.
Other considerations include how the finished portrait will be packed and shipped, how it will be framed and even where it will be hung. A large portrait obviously requires a suitably large area of wall in a prominent position to be displayed. A small portrait may well fit into the recipient's home much better - particularly if they have a den or study. Although modern portraits are often made with lightfast pigments, you should really avoid hanging the picture anywhere where it will be in direct sunlight, even for a short time each day.
If you build the relationship with your artist and follow the process step-by-step, the reward will be a wonderful gift and a possession that will be cherished for generations.
About the Author:
Johanna Pieterman is a portrait artist with many customers in the USA and beyond with over three decades' experience of fine art portrait creation. Her website provides insider information about the process of commissioning a portrait from any artist with confidence.
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