Portraiture

Big Mama 24x30 Oil 1987

It is my mission to capture a portrait of my people/culture rather than individuals portraits. This is difficult for me to explain. Believe it or not, most of the people I am inspired to paint aren’t aware that they have been photographed, much less photographed for a painting. There is something different about someone posing for a picture. When you pose for a painting, you want to look your best, dress in special attire, make up your face to accent your beauty, smile when you are sad, etc. You tend not be your authentic self. I am more interested in one’s raw daily persona and one’s internal beauty.

One of the best portraits I’ve personally had done was by a street artist in New York. I believe the best “portraits” are done when you sit for the artist rather than having them work from a photograph. This seems counter to the statement I just made but keep in mind what I’m most interested in capturing. A portrayal of a people rather than a portrait of an individual. The street artist worked in pastel, which is a quick medium and was able to capture my portrait quickly. I believe he was also able to capture my spirit. This was truly his gift and you too, can find someone willing to do your portrait effortlessly and at a reasonable cost. All artist are different. Seek someone whose work you like but at the same time realize that all artists are not interested in doing your portrait, even though you may have seen their portrait work.

My medium of choice is oil. Quality oil and acrylic paints are very expensive. Cost often depends on the notoriety of the artist but keep in mind that the medium may also make a difference. Cheaper mediums may include graphite, pastels, charcoal, watercolors, etc. Size is another factor, I prefer doing large scale paintings which can also be more costly. Consider the medium you want your portrait done in when selecting your artist. Most artists have a preference. So another reason I don’t do portraits is that I don’t want to scale down my work or efforts to appease a client or to make it more affordable. I don’t want to be concerned with what one can or can’t afford.

Since I am of a certain age, I am very picky about what I chose to do. I can afford to say “no.” I can say “no” to a client who wants me to change the color of a dress or to lighten or darken one’s skin color, or at least not deal with demanding patrons who aren’t truly aware of what I do. In my head, I know my worth and may not be willing to compromise; particularly, if I feel I am giving you a great deal. There are many artists who will be happy to work with you. Give opportunity to young artists and those who specialize in portraiture and allow them some creativity. If you want a photo-like image, go to a photographer.

Although I don’t do portraits, I do have great fulfillment in doing family and friends. This is part of my mission. I often use family to practice and to hone my skills. You will find some of these portraits in the “Kindred Spirits” section of my online gallery. My maternal grandmother has been my greatest muse, my niece and her daughters have been subjects, my mother, my maternal grandfather, my best friend, etc. But even with them, I am still interested in capturing more than a smiling face.

With all of that said, I will do portraits for others if I am given creative freedom and if I feel you aren’t trying to take advantage of my time. Expect to pay 50% of your cost upfront. This lets the artist know that you are serious about having the work done. I will make every effort to make your portrait worthy of hanging in my home. That is, I won’t quit until I have a product worth keeping myself. I can’t invest my time in something that you or I, can’t appreciate. I know that most clients will not be happy with granting me this freedom and encourage you to seek an artist willing to cater to your needs.

Big Mama 12x16 Graphite 1985

The painting and drawing shown is my maternal grandmother, Annie S. Wright, and will always be one of my favorite paintings. In 1985, she and I were sitting in my mother’s kitchen when I decided to sketch her picture. She was an easy subject as she had Alzheimer’s at the time and she was nodding off. Before she fell asleep, I remember asking her questions about me. She whispered my name with a smile and that was very heart-warming. My grandparents helped raise me and I was very close to my grandmother as a child. I used my sketch for the painting which as done a few years later.

It is also important to note that if you have a framed drawing like this, (on regular sketch paper) make sure that the mat and backing are acid-free even if you’ve used cheap sketch paper. This drawing was framed with a cardboard backing which needs to be removed and replaced with foam board or another acid-free product. I also suspect the matting is not acid-free. This causes deterioration and yellowing. I’ll make the changes soon and perhaps the drawing will last another forty years or so. The oil painting on the other hand, looks like it was just painted yesterday.

I hope this makes sense to you.