A Portrait of Yourself or a Loved One

Nothing can capture someone’s essence quite like a portrait. Few other gifts can become treasured family heirlooms in the way a portrait can. The task of commissioning a portrait can seem quite daunting to someone who has never had their portrait created before, but it is really quite simple if you undertake the necessary preparation and build a good creative relationship your portrait artist.

Lead time can vary enormously. You can get a very nice pastel portrait done in less than an hour or wait a decade for a work in oils by a famous artist. There will also be a dramatic difference in price. The best way to start is just search on ‘portrait artist’ on Google and look through the portrait artists’ portfolios that appear to get an idea of the media and style of portrait that you most like. Typically, graphite pencil or pastels will be at the bottom of the price spectrum and oils at the top.

The artists’ websites will let you know how long the creation of your portrait should take and what they will require of you – perhaps including personal sittings. It could be that the artist lives hundreds or even thousands of miles away, in which case they will normally expect travel and accommodation expenses reimbursed. It could be that they need you to come to their studio instead. If you are getting the portrait created for a loved one, the sittings will obviously remove any element of surprise, unless the entire process is itself the present you are giving them. Alternatively you can choose an artist who is happy to work 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.

If photographs are to be referred to, these must be of the highest quality. The services of a professional photographer may be required. The artist will expect to involve you at each stage of the creative process to ensure that you are happy with each stage before you sign off on it. This is because it can be very problematic or, with some media, even impossible to make changes to later in the process. If alterations are possible, their cost will need to be factored in. These problems can be prevented by good communication and mutual consideration. Furthermore, a good relationship between artist and client can last a lifetime and result in many more treasured possessions and heirlooms.

You also need to consider how the finished work will be transported and framed and where in the subject’s home it is intended to hang. A big, multi-subject portrait obviously needs a suitably large and prominent position to be displayed. A small portrait will give the recipient a lot more options. Great progress has been made in lightfast pigments, but it is never a good idea to hang a portrait in direct sunlight.

If you stick to the process and build your relationship, having a portrait commissioned can be a wonderful and rewarding experience and will reward you with a unique gift that you or the recipient will treasure for the rest of your lives.

Johanna Pieterman is a highly respected portrait artist with over three decades of experience in fulfilling the wishes of customers all over the globe. Her website will take you through the process and enable you to commission a portrait from any artist with confidence.