How To Hire a Portrait
Artist. . .
or
simply - how to get a gorgeous portrait and NOT
to get burned!
It can make
you a little nervous ordering a custom portrait on line
the first time. However, if you can overcome the risks, the rewards
can really be worth the effort! Here are some important tips to help you
overcome your concerns --
One of the great things about the Internet is that you now
have the ability to hire an artist that is perfect for your needs - no matter
where that artist lives. That's the good part. Here's the bad: You don't
really get to see what you're buying until it arrives. That can make for a
really unhappy surprise.
It's not just the money that's involved - although that would
be bad enough. But if you're counting on your portrait being there in time for
a deadline - say a wedding, birthday, or Christmas present - you could be sorely
disappointed. It might not arrive, at all. Or it may be so bad that it isn't
even presentable.
Whether you love what you
see here or go with someone else, this information will open your eyes to both the joys and perils of shopping for an artist
online. We hope it serves you well.
THE PROS & CONS
OF OPTIONS
Traditional artists have always painted from a series of personal sittings.
It is time consuming, but if the artist is good, the results can be
spectacular. This is not a bad way to go when the cost is no object but
make no mistake - this is expensive. Fairly
simple portraits will cost $1500 or more. Larger, more detailed portraits can
easily be in the tens of thousands of dollars. If you want to see some examples
of portraits created in this way, click
here.
The drawback here, of course (in addition to the cost), is that you must
either work with a local artist or be prepared to travel some distance to
his/her studio. One big advantage to this is that you can see the artist's
work, first-hand. I know that it is a great advantage when people visit my
studio, since I don't have to spend a lot of time convincing them that my work
is appropriate for them. They can see it right there before their eyes.
Artists who work from
photographs typically have lower prices. This opens up
many more possibilities to you, since you can send your photos anywhere. The
problem that arises from this is that most photographs simply don't show enough
detail to be useful.
Oh sure, that favorite photo might look great as a 4x6 snapshot. But when
that image is enlarged to the size of an average portrait - 20” x 24” or so -
details like teeth can turn out to be one big smudge. And eyes rarely, if ever,
are accurately captured in a photo. To see exactly what I mean, take a look at
this poor quality digital image, which was sent to me, and the portrait that
resulted from it: click
here.
To make matters worse, most snapshots are poorly lighted. This isn't really
the fault of the photographer - at least not an amateur one. Professionals
spend thousands of dollars on good lighting equipment - even when shooting
outdoors.
Given all of these problems, it takes something of a miracle to create a
“masterpiece” level portrait from a snapshot. Trying to create a portrait of
several people - all from different photos and different lighting scenarios -
and the problems are magnified tenfold. Which begs the question, “Is it even
possible to paint high-quality portraits under these conditions and keep the
price very low?” The answer is "Yes", but you must do your homework, which is
exactly what you are doing right now.
Keys to overcoming these problems:
- Communication - It
is imperative that you have good communication directly with the artist. If you
have to work with a company that farms their work out to no-name artists, much
will be lost in translation. If that artist is in a foreign country, forget
it. Communication breaks down to zip.
- Continuous updates -
Many companies receive your order and photograph, then paint the portrait and
send it to you. You don't see it until it's done. Will it be what you want?
Maybe, but most likely key elements will not look quite right. Only when you
are sent images (including close-ups) throughout the painting process can you be
assured that you will get something that's perfect. You must have the
opportunity to provide input and corrective instructions.
- Control - Are you
required to pay for the portrait in advance? Is there a substantial deposit
required? If so, you've lost control of the process. You must invest little,
if any, money until you have approved the final portrait - or an image of it.
At any time in the painting process, if things aren't going right you want to be
able back out with no obligation, whatsoever.
- Guarantee - Once you
receive the painting, do you have the right to return it for a full,
unconditional refund? Without an ironclad guarantee, you are at too much risk.
If there are any restrictions, you could get stuck with a second-rate
product.
- Methodology - If an
artist purports to offer high-quality portraits for less than the thousands of
dollars charged by reputable artists, what, if anything, is being sacrificed to
cut costs? A first-rate portrait is a complex work of art, with a high degree
of accuracy, delicate blending of colors, and subtle nuances that make it come
to life. Most of the time when artists cut the cost of a painting, they do so
by sacrificing accuracy and eliminating the complexities in order to reduce the
time to complete it. The end result is a portrait of far lower quality. Are
you willing to sacrifice quality for a lower price? You might not have to.
(Certainly, I don't believe you have to in my case and I justify that belief
later on.) But at least you should step into this area with your eyes wide
open.
THE ARTIST & HOW
HE/SHE WORKS:
This is, after all, the most important element of all. Who will paint your
masterpiece? The materials the artist uses is a relatively small cost in the
total scheme of things. (However, it is an important part of the quality of the
painting, as you will see in the next section.) The talent of the artist, and
the time it takes to paint your portrait are the primary factors influencing
both the price and the quality of the finished painting.
Top-flight artists are very talented. Even at that, it takes a long time to
paint a quality portrait. Unlike original art for sale (such as landscapes,
still lifes, or fictitious people) a portrait of a person, or pet, that you are
intimately familiar with cannot be merely good. It must be perfect. Nothing
short of that will ever make you happy. I'm always amazed at how little it
takes to spoil a portrait. A tiny brushstroke that's misplaced on a critical
feature can make that subject look awkward - not at all what they really look
like. No, unfortunately when it comes to portraiture, perfection is the ONLY
standard.
A common - but sad - comment when people talk about
their experiences with some other artists goes something like this: "Mostly it
was OK, I guess. But there was something about it that wasn't quite right. You
could see the similarities, but it just didn't look like her."
Here are some of the ways that artists create their works:
- Traditional paint on canvas
- Local - Obviously,
when you can go to an artist's studio, see the paintings, and communicate
directly with them, this is good. The big drawback is the limited selection of
available artists and the price, which is usually very expensive.
- Overseas - Many
companies contract with artist groups in third world countries where the wages
are far less than in the USA. These people contact me at least 4 or 5 times a
year to get me to do business with them. I don't, of course. The price is
certainly attractive, but the communication is perilous, at best, and the final
painting will suffer from it.
- Computer manipulation
- PhotoShop - There
are others, but this is the premier computer program for manipulating images.
And for altering photos it is unparalleled. Unfortunately, it also has filters
that can give images a bit of a “painterly” look. There are many “so-called
artists” that sell portraits made in this manner at a very cheap price. They're
all over the Internet. Some identify their process, but many don't. They print
these images onto canvas or paper and sell them as a painted portrait. If this
is what you want, that's OK. Just be aware of what you are getting.
- TruPaint™ - This is
the radical, new 7-step system that has taken me 5 years to develop and
perfect. It's a hybrid system which allows an artist to paint with all the
complexity, character, and accuracy of today's “Master” yet speeds up some of
the more time-consuming aspects of painting a portrait. The finished portrait
is indistinguishable from traditional oil-on-canvas, but at about 1/10 of the
cost. More on this, later.
MATERIALS
There are any number of different types of materials used in creating a
painting. Most people give very little thought to these materials, but they are
an important consideration. The materials used affect the overall appearance,
performance, and longevity in ways that you should definitely consider. This
report is not the place to discuss every option available, but the most
important materials will be covered.
- Paper - There are
many forms of paper that are used in portraiture. Some are blatantly simple,
such as poster board, which doesn't hold up very well. But most artists that
work on paper use various forms of watercolor paper. All papers, no matter how
high quality they are, must be matted and framed behind glass. It's the only
way to protect the artwork. The problem with this is that it has a lower,
perceived value. The vast array of inexpensive artwork on the market is mounted
in this fashion. Your nice portrait usually won't look it's best presented this
way.
- Canvas - Oil on
canvas is the gold standard for fine art. And that includes your portrait.
Because the paint, itself, is highly durable, it requires no further
protection. Therefore, the painting is right out there for everyone to see.
All of the brushstrokes are evident and plainly visible, which enhances the
richness of the artwork. Canvas does come in different qualities, however, and
you will want to be assured that only the highest quality canvas is being used.
This has a definite affect on how long your portrait lasts.
- Paints - Paint is
largely a situation of taking pigments, which is where all the color is, and
suspending them in some kind of carrier that bonds it to the paper or canvas.
And ideally, it should do so without adding unwanted color and yellowing as the
years go by. There are two types of paint, aside from watercolors, that are
widely used in portraiture. The first is oil-based. This has been around for
centuries and works quite well. The second is acrylic, which is a product of
modern chemistry. While early acrylics were considered inferior to oils, they
have reached the level of development where they are indistinguishable from oil
once they are applied.
The advantage of acrylics is that they dry faster (oil can take weeks to
fully dry), cleanup with water instead of petroleum-based chemicals, and are far
more environmentally friendly. Either paint medium will make for an outstanding
portrait that will last for generations.
Inexpensive portraits - those created with PhotoShop, for instance - don't
use either oil or acrylic. These are usually printed with ink, then sprayed
with a sealer to protect the surface from water damage. From an aesthetic
standpoint, it looks flat. There are no brushstrokes and depth there to give
the painting texture and richness. In addition, the longevity of an image
created with this process can be suspect. It may not last nearly as long as oil
or acrylic.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Communication - This cannot be over-emphasized. Good communication
with the actual artist who is doing the painting goes a long way toward
resolving problems. A good artist spends considerable time on email or telephone
conversations with clients. This back and forth rapport is a big reason the
portraits we recommend to you turn out perfectly.
Guarantee - A 100%, no-questions-asked, money back guarantee is the
absolute minimum you should accept. You will get it here!
Advance deposit - It
should be minimal; this company actually
charges $1! And that's only because it allows them to use a shopping cart system,
which captures all the pertinent information needed for initiating a portrait
commission. Pay any more than that and you lose control of the process. It
makes it very difficult to back out if you don't like the way things are going.
Try getting your money back if you've given a substantial deposit and decide not
to continue with the project from othe artists. You may or may not recover it, but even if you do
you might find the length of time to be seriously unacceptable. Don't chance
it. As long as you have nothing invested up front, at least you won't get badly
burned.
Testimonials - Does the artist have a long line of satisfied clients?
What do they have to say about him or her? Are they basic? Do you know what I
mean about that? If you read between the lines, a lot of testimonials really
say, “You did a really, really, really adequate job.” That's not the kind of
testimonial you want. Take a look at the testimonials for this artist. Those folks are truly enthusiastic about their paintings. That's exactly what you're looking for -
raves!
Clientele - Who have they painted for? It's always a good indication
of quality when an artist has painted for people of renown. Usually those
clients can afford (and are willing) to pay a lot of money for a portrait.
These are not the average parents looking for a reasonable portrait of their
kids. While painting children is a large part of their business, they also paint for
the corporate world. These portraits of industry leaders hang in boardrooms and
universities all over the country.
THE TRUPAINT™
SYSTEM
As you can see by now, creating truly great
painted portraits is one thing. Doing it for an extremely reasonable price from
ordinary snapshots is something altogether different. It's truly difficult.
And doing it while providing top-notch service is dang near impossible. But it
CAN be done.
They have found a way to provide an extremely high
level of detail and complexity in custom painted portraits at a fraction of the
cost. While great, painted portraits can cost thousands, or even tens of
thousands, of dollars theirs are a tenth of that. It took five years to
develop the 7-step system for painting that is known as TruPaint™. As you look through the images on their
website, can you
doubt that all the hard work has been worth it?
How do they do it? Well, for one thing, they tap
into some of the most powerful and sophisticated digital technology on the
planet. It speeds up a lot of the time-consuming stuff and that translates into
an incredible bargain for you. Prices are comparable with ordinary photography,
but the results are spectacular.
Make no mistake, these are painted in every sense
of the word. Don't be misled by people who merely manipulate photographic
images with computer programs like PhotoShop. They can never compete with the
proprietary methods of TruPaint™. These
portraits are painstakingly painted stroke by stroke. Every painting displays
the unique style of the artist's brushstroke. You can see and feel the rich
texture of paint on canvas. It is completely indistinguishable from traditional
oil paintings that have been practiced by “The Masters” for
centuries.
How good is it? Stunning is a word that comes
quickly to mind. Every brushstroke, every subtle blending of color, every
texture that is characteristic of a fine painting is right there in blazing
clarity.
The quality is good enough to satisfy even the
most critical and demanding art lovers. And it's so good that they give an
unconditional money-back guarantee. You will never have to worry about getting
something you're not totally satisfied with. They call it their
on-the-wall-it-must-be-perfect guarantee. Take thirty days to view the
finished portrait. Hang it on the wall. Show it to your friends. If there is
anything that you are not completely satisfied with, just return the portrait to
them and they'll correct it to your liking or give you a full 100% refund, whichever
you choose. They even throw in an extra $50 over and above the total refund to
compensate you for your trouble. You won't be out a dime. There's not another
artist that we know of that has the guts to offer a guarantee with teeth like
that!
What are you waiting
for?
Listen to this direct quote from Terri
Masters of Wolcott, CT - a client from the portrait
service that we recommend:
"I am absolutely thrilled with the changes that you have made. And the
initiative you took to perfect the portrait for canvas are just what we needed
to really make it an outstanding portrait. I am very excited and grateful. You are an absolute creative genius! My sister
recently got her portrait back from the place I almost went to until I found you
and she was very disappointed. Her $250 bought an 11 by 14 that is no better
than a Kodak enlargement made fuzzy. She is very sorry that she wasted time and
money on a portrait doomed to sit in a closet. She couldn't believe that you
continued to make changes as I've requested and how the portrait's progressed.
Our portrait is awesome, even better than I expected. And for comparison, I had
a 16 by 20 enlargement made and side by side the quality and richness of the
portrait is very obvious. I am thrilled and cannot wait to show it
off."
Here's part of a quote from Dan Garrison, of Germantown, MD., who presented a
portrait to his wife on Mother's Day. This is typical of the responses:.
". . .When she opened her eyes she immediately burst into tears. She could
not stop crying. This actually went on for about ten minutes. She loved it and
could not believe it. Lori was simply overwhelmed to have an event in the life
of her new daughter, and the presentation of that event, on oil and canvas.
There is no question it will be the best Mother's Day gift I ever give her.
Thanks again for all your guidance and work on this amazing and special piece of
art. It will be cherished always. Thanks again."
Click
here to see the portrait painted for him. While you're
at it, visit the “PRICES” page to see just how affordable a
"masterpiece-quality" portrait can be.
Don't do what most people do - they throw their most precious memories in a
drawer to be viewed every couple of years, or so. Send that prized photo in
and
get a truly great family heirloom instead! You and your family will
treasure it for generations to come.
We hope you have found this report to be helpful and informative.
Click
here to see more
P.S.
-- yes,
they do pets too!
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