Sherry Lawson
Portraits and Other Fine Art

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                                        Making the Decision to Commission a Portrait

How does one make the leap from considering having a portrait painted to actually commissioning a portrait? Most portrait patrons decide to commission a portrait because they want to be a part of a time honored tradition, one that can’t be replicated by machinery or software or any other artificial means. The best techniques in fine art are some of the oldest, and artists still study the paintings and journals of Masters from the past.

Making the decision to commission often involves finding an artist with whom you feel comfortable. The initial consultation will help establish a dialogue about your vision of the portrait and the parameters such as point of view, setting and background, whether the style should be formal or informal, the type of portrait (full length, three quarter view, etc), clothing to be worn, whether to paint the subject individually or in a group, and other details. A good portraitist will help sort out your questions without answering them for you. Most often, the final decisions are made at the sitting and in the preliminary study. By this time, the patron is thoroughly familiar with the direction of the portrait.

My criteria and my process for portraits have been developed through 20 years of professional painting experience, and each portrait commission is unique. Whether you are drawn to a more formal portrait or to a portrait that captures a moment in the innocence of childhood ( such as with Sean’s first experience hearing the ocean in a conch shell or Powell with his favorite wooden train)  or a portrait of your subjects with their pet or in their favorite activity, I invite you to call my studio for  more detailed information. More photos of portraits as well as other information are available upon request.

Studio: (864) 226 - 6878
Email: sherrylawsonartist@gmail.com
Anderson, South Carolina