Kate regularly takes on both drawn and painted
portrait commissions. Portraits can be created
from life, but because of the high level of
commitment that would impose on the sitter, most
portraits are created by combining live sittings
with several different photographic sources.
Posthumous Portraits
Portrait Commissions
Posthumous portraits are often the most difficult
portraits, but also the most rewarding. However,
the client must be aware that the small number of
optimal photos of the sitter imposes certain
limitations on the artist.
Typically the client provides the artist with a photo they want reproduced as a painting or drawing. Kate will be happy to discuss each posthumous portrait on a case by case basis.
Typically the client provides the artist with a photo they want reproduced as a painting or drawing. Kate will be happy to discuss each posthumous portrait on a case by case basis.
The commission fee is paid in two segments. The
first payment is to the amount of 40% of the cost
of the portrait and is paid when the preparatory
drawing has been approved by the client. The
second payment is for the balance and is paid
once the finished artwork has been accepted by
the client.
Fee
The purpose of a portrait painting or drawing is
not to capture a specific brief moment, as a
photograph would do, but to convey a more rounded
likeness of a person as the sum of many moments
in time. It is for this reason that the artist
prefers to meet the sitter, to see them on
several occasions in real life, and to use
several source photos to make studies from to
acquaint herself with the appearance and
temperament of the sitter.
It is important in all portrait commissions for
the client to be involved in the decision-making
process. The client's expertise of the sitter is
invaluable. The artist has the eye and the
technical ability to make a beautiful painting
with a physical likeness, but it is the client
who will be able to say if the exact expression
or pose is in the likeness of the sitter's
personality.
Most portrait commissions will follow these
steps: First, the general idea the client may
have of what he or she wants should be discussed.
The next step is a photoshoot during which the
sitter and the artist experiment with a variety
of poses and arrangements. After that, the artist
goes through the photos with the client. At this
point, the client and the artist will discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of different angles,
poses, lighting arrangements. From here, the
artist mocks up a drawing of what the painting
could potentially look like. If this drawing
meets with approval, the painting begins,
sometimes after a second follow-up photoshoot and
some live modelling if the sitter is able.
An example of a portrait drawing
An example of a posthumous portrait
An example of a portrait painting