Why commission a fine art portrait?

Portraits have long been used to mark special events in life. Throughout history, portraits have been created to record marriages, anniversaries, and other important passages in life, as well as to mark achievements or to honour and remember loved ones.

The goal of a fine art portrait is not only to represent a likeness, but also to capture the spirit of the individual, and depict that person’s uniqueness. Fine art portraits are often described as psychological because of their focus on capturing personality and character.

My portrait style blends realism with expressive techniques, which show the hand of the artist at work.

Portrait drawings on paper

Although I enjoy working in oil, I also love drawing and feel that drawing media—such as graphite, charcoal, and chalk—are sometimes overlooked. For me, working with a single piece of chalk or graphite focuses the artistic process and emphasizes the fundamentals of communicating through the use of line and tone. Working with a limited set of tools—such as a single pencil, or one stick of chalk— has an immediacy and a sense of connection that is reflected in the final work. A range of options are available for portraits drawn on paper. Portraits are available in black and white, graphite (gray), sepia (brown), or sanguine (terracotta) on a coloured paper.

Oil portraits on canvas

Oil is the traditional medium for portraiture because more than any other medium, it is capable of being used to create beautiful skintones. Oil paint allows the use of rich colour in the finished portrait. Oil paintings on canvas are very durable, and portraits created using this traditional medium will become family heirlooms, cherished for generations.

What is the process?

Since portraits are meant to honour a person and mark a special event, it is
important that the work is well planned before a single brushstroke is made. It is necessary that the artist and the subject are able to meet to discuss the type of portrait to be created, and to plan the pose. This meeting, called a “sitting,” is also an opportunity for the artist to take photographs of the subject to use as reference material.

Sittings

Unless it is a posthumous portrait, it is nearly impossible to use photographs
provided by a client. (Sorry). I will take my own photographs as the basis for a portrait. Usually, this involves one session with the sitter which should last from 1 to 3 hours.

What does a portrait cost?

The cost depends on the medium (oil on canvas or drawing on paper, for example), the size of the finished piece, and the number of people in the portrait. Please email for an estimate.