PROCEDURE

The entire process will be an affirming, enjoyable experience for the person who is being honored by having her or his portrait painted.

Option 1: If you’re local, we’ll schedule a meeting with the subject so I can get to know them a bit and take reference photos. I’ll need about an hour or two of the sitter’s time for this informal chat and photo shoot, which can take place at my studio or at a place of your choosing. During the photo session you can just be yourself, relaxed and calm, without trying to project anything in particular. Or, you can bring your collection of personas—I’ve explored the entire gamut of human emotions myself in front of a camera for my own art reference—I will welcome whatever mood(s) you may wish to channel for the shoot.  I’ll take several dozen shots, which I will later review in detail as I plan the composition—the overall pose/expression, lighting dynamics, color plan, personality, and so on.

Option 2: If the subject has time and wants to, I’d be happy to paint her/him from life. This would involve three or more sessions of at least two hours per session. (Minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times.) I will take snapshots of the pose for filling in details between sits, and for consistent positioning from one sitting to the next.

Option 3: If you have a favorite photo of the subject you’d like me to use as reference, I’m open to doing so.

After probably a matter of weeks, when I’ve completed the portrait to my satisfaction, I’ll contact you for an approval viewing. I will be open to requests for minor changes to achieve a better likeness, adjust an expression a bit, nudge a color this way or that, and so on. Tiny, quick adjustments can have big results.

I’ll do my best to adjust the painting to your liking, but if for any reason you aren’t happy with what I’ve chosen to paint, I will not expect payment. I’ll chalk it up to practice, no hard feelings.

If it’s a gift for someone else, we could arrange an “unveiling” where the subject gets to view the finished portrait for the first time…hopefully a memorably joyous occasion!

If you’re not local, I’ll send you digital photos for approval. When it looks right to you, I’ll pack it well and ship it to you.

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