Commissioning a Portrait
On my preliminary visit, I become acquainted with the sitter and find out a little about them. I’ll take some photos for reference and later comparison and I may do some pencil sketches to develop an empathy with the sitter to enable a true characterization to emerge.
After agreeing the type and form of the portrait, I will prepare the materials for the portrait and arrange the first portrait sitting. This would last approximately two and a half hours once a week for a month or two. It is also possible to arrange sittings over a weekend in which we would achieve three or four sessions with plenty of breaks.
After this first sitting, I take the picture back to my studio to study it, make compositional changes, and to work on the background etc. between sittings. I usually do not show the painting to the sitter at first, since it goes through several stages and many changes. I aim not only to achieve a likeness, but also a satisfying characterization of the sitter. This is so that people who know the sitter will be struck by the likeness, but also that future generations will have some understanding of the sitter. I also aim to produce a beautiful and valuable art work as well, which will appreciate in value and be a proud possession. Often, the portrait is a satisfying commemorative gift in the family.
We would need to discuss framing after the picture is finished, and a later visit to varnish the picture if it’s an oil painting. Where a lot of travel is involved, the costs will be higher. There can be sittings in people’s houses or in my studio.
Portraits can be in the following media: –
- Oil Paintings
- Charcoal
- Drawings
For costs, please fill out and return the form in Contact
Guideline prices, as at 1st April 2024:
- Head £ 650
- 3/4 length £ 1,400
- Full length £ 4,000
Travel & subsistence costs would have to be added, as well as framing or varnishing. No VAT is chargeable as at 1st April 2024.
