Thank you for considering me to paint a portrait for you. I know that there are many excellent portrait painters, and I am honored that you are considering working with me. I am looking forward to working together and creating an artwork that will bring you joy. I would like to let you know how my process works so that you can know what to expect.
1. Initial Discussion
I will meet with you to discuss what you would like for your portrait. We will discuss what type of portrait you would like, as well as size of the portrait and the setting for the portrait/its composition, if it is a narrative portrait. Usually, I photograph the subjects of the portrait in their home, but I have done portraits set in other locations. After we have finalized the type and size of the portrait, and its location, I will send you a contract to sign. The deposit is due at the time the contract is signed.
I will meet with you to discuss what you would like for your portrait. We will discuss what type of portrait you would like, as well as size of the portrait and the setting for the portrait/its composition, if it is a narrative portrait. Usually, I photograph the subjects of the portrait in their home, but I have done portraits set in other locations. After we have finalized the type and size of the portrait, and its location, I will send you a contract to sign. The deposit is due at the time the contract is signed.
2. Photoshoot
I will take photograph at the setting we agree upon for the portrait. If it is a traditional portrait, I will come to your house. Narrative portraits can be shot in a variety of locations. For those that are shot at your home, I will take time to arrange the scene so that it will make a pleasant composition. Please note that what looks good to you as a setting or photo does not always make a nice portrait. If you have several locations that you are considering, I will take videos in those locations. Often a shoot evolves as we go along, and I see better ways to arrange the elements of the scene. If the subjects of the portrait have things that are personal to them and would work well in the composition, I’m happy to include them. During the shoot, I will take photographs of the location, in addition to taking videos. I prefer to take videos, as this allows me to capture images of portrait subjects in a more natural setting and results and in less rigid poses, especially for children. If the lighting in the designated location is insufficient to create a good reference image, I will use my own lighting that I bring to the shoot. If I cannot shoot the portraits personally, I will work with you to procure reference photos and videos that will work well for a painting. Often this will include discussing various locations and how they will work for a painting. If you are shooting the photos yourself, I will give more detailed instructions.
I will take photograph at the setting we agree upon for the portrait. If it is a traditional portrait, I will come to your house. Narrative portraits can be shot in a variety of locations. For those that are shot at your home, I will take time to arrange the scene so that it will make a pleasant composition. Please note that what looks good to you as a setting or photo does not always make a nice portrait. If you have several locations that you are considering, I will take videos in those locations. Often a shoot evolves as we go along, and I see better ways to arrange the elements of the scene. If the subjects of the portrait have things that are personal to them and would work well in the composition, I’m happy to include them. During the shoot, I will take photographs of the location, in addition to taking videos. I prefer to take videos, as this allows me to capture images of portrait subjects in a more natural setting and results and in less rigid poses, especially for children. If the lighting in the designated location is insufficient to create a good reference image, I will use my own lighting that I bring to the shoot. If I cannot shoot the portraits personally, I will work with you to procure reference photos and videos that will work well for a painting. Often this will include discussing various locations and how they will work for a painting. If you are shooting the photos yourself, I will give more detailed instructions.
3. Composition mock-up
After the shoot, I will go through the videos and choose shots where portrait subjects are in poses that will work well compositionally. For traditional portraits, I will choose shots that have interesting and engaging photos of the subject. I prefer to consult with you as to which poses you prefer for various portrait subjects because some will resonate with you more than others. Once we have decided on which poses you like, I will arrange the composition as a whole in Photoshop and send you a mock-up. This mock-up is for positioning and composition, and will not be exactly how the final painting looks in terms of color and lighting. My job as a painter is to make something that is much better than just a photograph, so I will adjust lighting and color to improve the overall composition. Once you have agreed to the mock-up, I will begin work. Correctly arranging the composition mock up can take between two and twenty hours, depending on the complexity and number of figures and elements in the composition.
After the shoot, I will go through the videos and choose shots where portrait subjects are in poses that will work well compositionally. For traditional portraits, I will choose shots that have interesting and engaging photos of the subject. I prefer to consult with you as to which poses you prefer for various portrait subjects because some will resonate with you more than others. Once we have decided on which poses you like, I will arrange the composition as a whole in Photoshop and send you a mock-up. This mock-up is for positioning and composition, and will not be exactly how the final painting looks in terms of color and lighting. My job as a painter is to make something that is much better than just a photograph, so I will adjust lighting and color to improve the overall composition. Once you have agreed to the mock-up, I will begin work. Correctly arranging the composition mock up can take between two and twenty hours, depending on the complexity and number of figures and elements in the composition.
4. Canvas Preparation
For smaller, traditional portraits, I work on birch panel. After sanding the panel, I apply a mix of rabbit skin glue and acrylic gesso. This takes 1-2 days to dry, followed by sanding and a second coat of gesso. After the gesso has dried, I apply a wash of burnt umber. Panel preparation takes 3-4 days. For larger, narrative portraits, I work on Belgian portrait linen that I hand-stretch. After stretching the linen on stretcher bars, I apply a layer of rabbit skin glue in order to tighten the linen and protect it from the acidity of the oil primer. After the rabbit skin glue has dried, I sand it lightly before applying the first coat titanium white oil primer, which consists of titanium pigment, linseed oil, and turpentine. The first coat usually dries in 4-5 days, after which I apply the second coat, which also takes 10-12 days to dry. After that dries, I put on a wash of burnt umber and let that dry, which takes 2-3 days. In total, the canvas preparation takes up to three weeks.
For smaller, traditional portraits, I work on birch panel. After sanding the panel, I apply a mix of rabbit skin glue and acrylic gesso. This takes 1-2 days to dry, followed by sanding and a second coat of gesso. After the gesso has dried, I apply a wash of burnt umber. Panel preparation takes 3-4 days. For larger, narrative portraits, I work on Belgian portrait linen that I hand-stretch. After stretching the linen on stretcher bars, I apply a layer of rabbit skin glue in order to tighten the linen and protect it from the acidity of the oil primer. After the rabbit skin glue has dried, I sand it lightly before applying the first coat titanium white oil primer, which consists of titanium pigment, linseed oil, and turpentine. The first coat usually dries in 4-5 days, after which I apply the second coat, which also takes 10-12 days to dry. After that dries, I put on a wash of burnt umber and let that dry, which takes 2-3 days. In total, the canvas preparation takes up to three weeks.
5. Painting
This is when the actual fun begins. I start with a drawing transfer of the final composition, then complete the first pass. I have a combined grisalle/ebauche technique that allows for a buildup of paint in the lights and thinner, more transparent shadows. The second pass is all in color, and takes the longest of all the passes. I finish with some glazing and scumbling for color adjustment. After allowing the painting to dry for at least one month, I varnish the painting to protect the paint. After the varnish has dried, I can then deliver the painting to you. This step, the actual process of painting itself, takes from 10 hours for traditional portraits to over 100 hours for complicated narrative portraits.
This is when the actual fun begins. I start with a drawing transfer of the final composition, then complete the first pass. I have a combined grisalle/ebauche technique that allows for a buildup of paint in the lights and thinner, more transparent shadows. The second pass is all in color, and takes the longest of all the passes. I finish with some glazing and scumbling for color adjustment. After allowing the painting to dry for at least one month, I varnish the painting to protect the paint. After the varnish has dried, I can then deliver the painting to you. This step, the actual process of painting itself, takes from 10 hours for traditional portraits to over 100 hours for complicated narrative portraits.
6. Delivery
Whenever possible, I prefer to deliver the works in person. One of my favorite parts of the entire process is seeing how happy my clients are with their paintings. Painting is a very solitary endeavor, and I love to see that my many hours in the studio have brought joy and beauty into someone’s life. However, if in-person delivery is not possible, I can also ship paintings. Currently I live in Astana, Kazakhstan, and shipping stretched works can get quite costly, somewhere around three times the cost of shipping a rolled painting. Most clients opt to decrease shipping costs, in which case I remove the paintings from the stretcher bars and ship the paintings rolled. Shipping rolled paintings usually costs several hundred dollars. Shipping time is usually less than one week. Once you receive your painting, you can take it to your framer and have them re-stretch the painting on stretcher bars. Alternately, you can have them mount the painting on a board and have it framed that way. Consult with your framer to see what they are comfortable with and think will provide the best outcome.
Whenever possible, I prefer to deliver the works in person. One of my favorite parts of the entire process is seeing how happy my clients are with their paintings. Painting is a very solitary endeavor, and I love to see that my many hours in the studio have brought joy and beauty into someone’s life. However, if in-person delivery is not possible, I can also ship paintings. Currently I live in Astana, Kazakhstan, and shipping stretched works can get quite costly, somewhere around three times the cost of shipping a rolled painting. Most clients opt to decrease shipping costs, in which case I remove the paintings from the stretcher bars and ship the paintings rolled. Shipping rolled paintings usually costs several hundred dollars. Shipping time is usually less than one week. Once you receive your painting, you can take it to your framer and have them re-stretch the painting on stretcher bars. Alternately, you can have them mount the painting on a board and have it framed that way. Consult with your framer to see what they are comfortable with and think will provide the best outcome.
7. Enjoy your lovely painting!