Portrait Commission

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. How will I be seen  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 art are many and varied.

When choosing to have a portrait painted or drawn you need to see samples of portraits that the artist has produced. Most artists have a range of portraits available to show you, so you can see the style of portraits they produce.

Then, of course, the medium you choose will also be an important factor, be it pencil, oil, acrylic or pastel.

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 person. Unfortunately we do not live in an ideal world so work mainly from photographic reference.




             Lily Mae  pencil

 I am always willing to use reference photos that you provide as our busy lifestyles often dictate this is the only avenue open to us.

If you wish to have the experience of sitting for a portrait contact me as each portrait has individual circumstances.

I have carried out many portraits using pencil ,oil and acrylic. If you have the time and inclination, then for a portrait to truly work in my opinion, we need that close observation that only study from life and  time can supply. I would suggest this is more suitable to the older sitter who is capable of interacting in the process.

                                                                                                                       Annie pencil

If you are Interested just contact us via the information below.

                  

Lily Mae - detail acrylic& oil on board

 Price Guide:                                      Contact : petesportraits@hotmail.com

Oil based portrait head and shoulders 20 x 16 inches       £150.00 additional person £50.00

Acrylic based portrait head and shoulders 20 x 16inches  £120.00 additional person £40.00

                                                                      

Pencil based portrait head and shoulders 20 x 16  inches  £85.00   additional person £25.00                                                                                 

                                

Is drawing a necessary skill

For me drawing has always been the most important skill to master I still struggle everyday to improve, I like to draw in the studio

This Piece was the first drawing I did after my heart operation in 2010 it was very therapeutic for me as I realized that could do something worth while as I recuperated and it is something I had done on and off since I was a boy

 


My second piece it just seem to follow on






 An so on I love to draw in pencil


                 



 Drawings from the Umbrella  drop Center where I volunteer on Thursdays

 Our local MP Sir Roger Gale

Pencil Portrait of a politician                                    Study for portrait of Sir Roger "Constituent Home Visit"


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                                                          Commission with Colour

New Year, Back to Basic's

So its January and I have not really made any resolutions other than trying to find time to paint. My aim last year was to be organised so I would have some paintings ready for the  Royal Portrait Artist Exhibition and I did start two piece work for this in plenty of time but I just seemed to fritter it away on other things.
 I have however manage to put  a drawing together which I might put up for pre-selection which I find is a great idea. No lugging up paintings or drawings  to London unless they have some chance of being looked at. I had two last year the RPS exhibition and the Thread needle at the Mall  so I dutifully took up my pieces to be viewed, unfortunately they did not get in but it was an improvement on the year before so I viewed it as a success.  I also had four commissions for which I was paid and the local Exhibitions were  fruitful  as sold some pieces . This is the first piece  this year Sarah and Ryan

 


This is a Pencil work carried out from some photographs I took in my lounge when they came to have coffee one Sunday Morning. The subject matter is great as I like people and especially little people.

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