General Outline:

The creation of a portrait often begins with an initial meeting between the client and the artist, his agent or a gallery representative. This initial planning meeting is followed by one or more sessions, called " sittings ". At the sittings, the portrait artist will either create preliminary sketches, take photos of the subject or begin the work outright. Working methods vary with different portrait artists. Some or all of the work may be done at the artist's studio or in the subject's environment.

 

Preliminary Sessions: (Initial Meeting)

A preliminary meeting or session may entail informal discussions regarding the purpose of the commissioned portrait, its dimensions and framing as well as financial considerations. Discussions relating to the subject's attire, possible poses, background or setting ideas are also defined. The client may submit any and all ideas he/she may have pertaining to the completion of the portrait. Often, the first actual sitting may take place at this time.

 

First Sitting: (First or Second meeting)

If the first sitting does not immediately follow a preliminary session, a date and time is set for the first sitting. Sitting sessions may last approximately 1 to 2 hours; (with children it is often necessary to allow for more familiarization time. A professional is well aware that he-she is a stranger to the child.) He-she will take the necessary time for children to become comfortable, even though this may entail an additional visit(s) with the child. The artist considers it essential that a child be completely at ease with the process and with the artist as a person.

Some portrait artists prefer to work from life; i.e.: They wish to work with the subject present from the beginning to the end of the project. For this to be possible, the subkject must be free to pose during several lengthy sessions over a period of time.   Other artists combine live sittings with sketches and photographs. They work from these when the subject is not present. Much as Leonardo da Vinci was a modernist in his time, most portrait painters today combine methods in order to meet their clients portrait requirements.

Most of the time spent in a sitting is taken up with the artist-painter creating preliminary sketches and\or shooting up to 150 photographs of the subject. These sketches and photographs, through their accumulated and/or combined reference information assist the artist in the accurate anatomical rendering required in the successful completion of a portrait. This contemporary procedure for information gathering eliminates the traditional need for numerous time consuming sittings; once required in the creation of portraits.

Rarely does a professional portrait artist work strictly friom photographs without meeting and working with the client. This singular method is usually reserved for posthumous portraits.

A second, third or more sittings, when needed to finish a portrait, will be arranged between the client(subject) and the artist.

 

Last Meeting: Delivery

The last meeting usually takes place at the time of delivery. Generally, deliveries occur one to three months after the first sitting. (The timing may vary according to complexity, dimensions and/or individual commission requirements.)The painting may be viewed at the artist's studio, at the gallery representing the artist or in the client's home. Many portrait artists prefer to be at this first viewing session in order to do any necessary touch-ups which may be required.

Overall, there are as many portrait creating methods as there are portrait artists.  

© Bernard Poulin- 1995-2006

How to survive portrait sittings!

Sittings are simply the activities during which a painter or sculptor gathers information regarding the subject to be portrayed.

The first step in facing a sitting session is to relax. The task of sitting for a portrait can be what our schedules or inclinations allow. For those who would find 'sitting' tedious, getting a portrait done is no longer the onerous, time consuming project it once was. Contemporary portrait artists respect the demanding schedules of their clients and have learned to adapt their own profession to the needs of these clients.

Since the era of the Impressionists, the gathering of reference material has become more 'user friendly'. Still and video cameras are now commonly used, along with sketches, to capture characteristic anatomical and expressive details of a subject quickly and efficiently. These modern reference gathering tools drastically shorten individual sitting times as well as the number of sittings required. Cameras allow the painter more room to experiment and to gather larger amounts of information while respecting client personalities, lifestyles and responsibilities.

Naturally, there are clients who prefer the traditional numerous and lengthy sittings. They see them as part and parcel of the portrait process. This is also fine and not un-modern at all.

 

General information

Whether subjects are children or adults, the portrait artist will want to observe and gather visual information using sketches as well as photos and/or video clips. Sittings last between one and two hours (sometimes more with children).

Depending on what makes a subject most comfortable, the painter or sculptor may either assign poses or simply recognize the naturalness of the subject's own self-direction.

© Bernard Poulin- 1995-2006

 

The stinky "Cheese"

Beware of "cheesy" photographic smiles. They have rarely been and are not a recommended feature for most painted portraits, (unless the natural "being" of the sitter is to smile.) More often than not, a constant toothy grin, bearing down on the viewer from a painted portrait, can become annoying after a time and is more reminiscent of a poster-sized snapshot than a painted portrait.

A good portrait rarely resembles a family snapshot which says little if anything about the person photographed. A good portrait tells a story both physical and spiritual about the person represented.

© Bernard Poulin- 1995-2006

What are the artist's responsibilities to you, the client?

From the first meeting, you must be given all requested visual and/or written documents which profile the artist's prior accomplishments. This information should prove to your satisfaction that the artist in question is competent and qualified to do the commissioned work you require. Agents and galleries should be as helpful as you want them to be. If they are not, go elsewhere. 

The painter's main task is to deliver a commissioned work within a reasonable period of time. The commissioned portrait must show a reasonable   likeness of the subject and be tasteful in its total rendition. If the painter is remiss in one or both of these areas alterations, at no extra cost, should be forthcoming. All other alterations would normally be at the client's expense.

 

What is my responsibility as an art consumer ?

You must feel completely comfortable that the painter you are commissioning (choosing) has the qualifications and competence to accomplish the task entrusted to him/her. After selecting the person who's work you most enjoy, you must make yourself, or the person who is the subject, available for the scheduled sitting(s) and trust that all will be well.   

Remember this is a business transaction and the rules of business apply. When you miss a doctor's appointment without due advisement there are costs involved. When such a problem arises during the portrait process the costs to the painter or sculptor must be taken into account.

© Bernard Poulin- 1995-2006

 

Generally, a portrait by an experienced and well known portrait painter or sculptoris not an inexpensive item. Nonetheless, portrait prices vary. They vary based on the quality of the work, the reknown of the artist, the skils and talents of the painter or sculptor , the dimensions required, the subject matter and the number of subjects in a portrait and at times teh complexity of the poses or background. Any number of criteria can affect the final cost of a portrait. The only recommendation that can be given is to select your portrait painter or sculptor carefully based on your budgeted allotment for such a commission.

It is also good to ask about payment plans. As with any high end purchase, paying for a portrait is rarely a one cheque deal. Many painters and sculptors require a down-payment and will even accept payments over a reasonable amount of time. As with any other high ticket item, galleries, agents, and portrait artists themselves, generally offer payment arrangements which suit their clients. Some artists may even offer financing througha bank or other financial institution. Generally, though, a deposit   equal to (or around) 1/3 of the total amount owing is due at the time of the confirmation of the commission. (This amount is usually non-refundable unless the artist is unable to complete the commissioned work.) The balance owing is usually due on delivery of the portrait.

There is nothing wrong, right from the beginning, in asking for payment particulars.

© Bernard Poulin- 1995-2006

 

First. CIPA does not recommend specific painters or sculptors. It only suggests to potential clients that they review the work of the CIPA Membership on the CIPA web site. The client is then asked to contact the selected painter or sculptor via information provided on the CIPA web page which presents the individual painters or sculptors.

CIPA does not take a commission or "cut" from any orders a painter or sculptor receives when a client visits the site for consideration of a CIPA portraitist.

 

Portraitists are all different. Some work quickly. Some produce work at a slower pace. If this question is important to the client, he or she should ask it at the preliminary discussion meeting. Generally, painters take less time than sculptors as sculpting is an extremely time consuming process. Nonetheless, some painters need more time due to the complex procedures they use in the creation of a portrait.

A finished portrait should rarely be expected in less than a month's time. If it is the price of a portrait may climb steeply due to the "rush" commission. With many portrait artists, the time frame is more in the area of 2 to 3 months and even longer for others. Quality work cannot be hurried.

© Bernard Poulin- 1995-2006

Most portrait artists are happy to assist in the selection of an appropriate frame for a commissioned portrait. Portrait prices rarely include the cost of framing. Painters are not framers but they generally work closely with reputable framers This question is one which should be discussed during the client's first meeting with the selected portrait painter.

© Bernard Poulin- 1995-2006