Portrait Painting

So you are thinking of having a portrait painted of yourself or a loved one. Where do you start?  What’s involved?  Have you considered the process? When someone sits for a portrait they are not sure what is expected of them. We are all so used to people taking photographs that we can just shrug it off. But a portrait, even if it is a photographic one, means  we are being observed very intensely .This can be quite an unnerving experience. There is an element of expectation and unknowing

We all have an image in our head of how  we view ourselves.  So, to expose that view to scrutiny can be challenging, exciting and enlightening. It is said that no two people see things in the same way. Well among artists it is very obvious that approaches to  how they  work are many and varied.

 

Each Artist has a particular way of working; some work only from life others only from photographic reference. I like to work from both, as it gives me and the sitter the ability to be flexible.  I also feel the results are better, if I have met the subject. Painting from an existing photograph is possible if circumstance dictate that the subject can not attend a sitting as in a surprise gift 

Another consideration when choosing an artist is to view previous works that they have completed as this will show their style and give you an insight into the way your portrait will look So that said, I am always willing to try to use your own reference photos if the circumstances of the commission warrant it.

 If you wish to have the experience of sitting for a portrait the procedure is as follows:

Each session lasts approximately two hours. Full-figure poses, or ones depicting both hands, may need extra sittings. The number of sittings can vary and can be agreed at the first meeting.

At the first session, I learn about the subject, and we decide together on the setting, and composition. I like to  do some quick drawings, colour sketches for skin tones and photographs preferable taken by myself.  I can however use your photographs if required to expedite the process as much as possible .We can then schedule subsequent sessions/ process consecutively or over a period of several weeks,.  I can usually complete a portrait based on two sessions of 2 hours if time is of the essence. I find however that a good portrait dictates what is needed during the process of painting itself.

 

Genevieve

This portrait was a product of some work I was doing with a youth group where I live.  One of the things we did was to give them art lessons through the winter months. We encourage the group to take part in drawing and sometimes painting. I often take a piece in that I am currently working on for them to see. Some of the young people are quite talented. This portrait was instigated by one of these evenings. We had been drawing and I was still sat at the table when Genevieve came and sat opposite me. As we were talking she moved into the pose of the portrait and I did a quick sketch. I also took a couple of phone pictures.

Towards the end of August I came across the phone pic on my computer. As the Youth group was off for the Summer I decided to ask Genevieve and her Mum, if I could paint her portrait based on the photos and the sketch.

We planned to have some 15 minute sittings at the youth group, thereby creating ongoing interest with the other members.

After initially doing a pastel sketch, with which I wasn't particularly happy, because of difficulties with colour, I moved on to a pencil drawing which is my preferred medium. This was taken into the Youth group and discussed with Genevieve, with others joining in. Having agreed the format and that it would be a painting (acrylic as it is transportable and dries quickly) I then created a canvas from some stretchers I already had and some cloth material I had for the purpose of trying it out. The canvas was prepared using Acrylic gesso which I coloured some shades of grey. The next stage was to draw the portrait proportions (20x20 ins.) onto the canvas. I find that I need to get the drawing correct at the beginning as it is crucial to the foundation of the portrait. After each adjustment in the studio the portrait would travel in to the youth group for adjustments from life. For me this was the best part of the deal. I would love to have a sitter there all the time if it was practical.

Time frame

Jan    2011     Phone Picture and Sketch

Aug   2011     Stumble on phone pictures in the

          Computer

Sept   2011     Talk to Mum & Genevieve

Oct    2011      Start drawing process and make arrangements for sittings

Dec    2011      Painting completed

If you are Interested just contact us via the information below

e-mail     petergreenpeg@gmail.com or via the blog