If you were to sit in a chair surrounded by 5 people and each took a photo the results would be fairly predictable. If you were surrounded by 5 artists, each determined to make a portrait painting or drawing of you the results would be radically different. This is for a number of reasons; some of them are things to consider when choosing an artist to create your portrait.
Unlike the general arts, what makes one portrait artist better than another is not relative, if you want to be happy with the results. Some questions to consider in your research might be, how committed is the artist to the development of their skill? Do they maintain a regular habit of drawing and painting from life? Do they offer this as a portrait option professionally or is it something they claim to do but don’t actually have on their site?
Many artists work from photos but because they don’t work from life regularly they trace them. This is hard to tell and maybe it doesn’t make a difference to you but the subtle point that I’m setting up is if you’d like a work of art made by hand which has evidence of the human touch devoted to the idea of making visual poetry, perhaps tracing the result from a machine might not be that different than an app.
Not everyone has the time or the opportunity to pose for their portrait from life but if it’s a possibility, I highly suggest that you do it. First and foremost it’s rare to have that experience and even more rare to come across an artist with the skill to do it well.
A pencil sketch can take as little as 25min. A charcoal drawing a couple of hours and a head and shoulders oil painting a couple of hours more. The experience of seeing your portrait take place from start to finish is a special and memorable experience. When it’s done well, it’s something more than a photo because it takes place over many moments; a collection of micro decisions by the artist that is literally visual poetry.
Obviously some portraits need to be done from life for any number of reasons. Most artists prefer to take their own photos rather than be given a photo. The reason for this is because the artist knows how to light and compose the subject so that the results lend themselves to the creation of art.
When choosing your artist, it’s helpful to see how well they communicate and how easy it is to speak with them. This is a collaborative effort. They are the artist but you need to be pleased with the result. The ability for the artist to listen and communicate well is vital. Whatever your budget, there is likely an artist out there that can make something for you.
At the low end of the scale there are online sites that will paint your picture from a photo. Like a lot of low priced, mass produced products, they are made in China. It’s impersonal and cheap and ultimately isn’t recommended for a piece of fine art that your subject will cherish and want to hand down to their family.
Ideally, I’d suggest that what you want is a work of art that captures some sense of who the subject is and how they or you would like to remember them. This is poetry. It’s unique. It requires communication between you and the artist. If you need guidance they should be able to guide you. However you don’t want your portrait to look like it was done by a formula. The subject of your choice is an individual and the art should and could reflect that if you and the artist discuss it.
A few words on technique… some artists produce portraits that are tighter and more finished. Some works of art are looser and more impressionistic. When you look at different websites do you see the artists ability to produce quicker sketchy portraits as well as highly finished portrait drawings and paintings? Some artists are only capable of painting men but when it comes to women and children, they don’t have the sensitivity. That’s an obvious lack of skill, which indicates that they haven’t developed their skill enough and the results could be unpredictable.
Regarding budget, a portrait artist that loves what they do and feels genuinely that people should have a quality work of art will have a variety of price points to meet every budget. Some artists that offer portraits from life will guarantee their work when the subject sits from life. This means that you get to have the experience and only when it’s finished and you want to have the portrait, do you pay - that’s a terrific option by a confident artist. In most other cases you’re expected to make a deposit. Especially, if the portrait is done from photos.
The final consideration might be the time to complete the portrait. This really varies. A portrait from life can often be completed in a single session. A portrait done from a photo can take a few days (if you’re in a rush and willing to pay more). Generally it could take weeks, months or even years depending on the artist schedule and yours and the process.
Summary:
Do you want a quick sketch in pencil? A finished charcoal drawing? A looser or more finished painting? The artist you choose should be able do any of these and do them very well. They should be equally skilled at representing a subject of any age, gender and race sympathetically. They should be easy to communicate with and Finally, it’s a good sign it they have a variety of portrait options and prices to meet every budget. This is because they love what they do and know that it’s an honor to use their skill to represent everyone who wants art.