Mr. Put-My-Parents-In-This-Picture also wanted to discuss price and size of his commissioned oil painting. Since I am tuned in to the business of art, I have a price list based on size. It doesn’t include added surcharges for rush jobs or requests to put one’s parents in the picture. Instead of negotiating for a price, the decisions are in the hands of the customer. How big? Then it is this much. Easy!
Mr. Put-My-Parents-In-This-Picture (PMPITP) pointed to a painting in my studio and said, “That’s what, $200? You can do it that size, right?”
Umm, no, it is $500.
Mr. PMPITP: “Well, could you do it for $300 if I paid you cash up front?”
Am I selling used cars here?? Umm, no. And I’d only like half down, thanks.
Mr. PMPITP: “What size can you do for $300?”
First, how about if we settle the issue of putting your parents in the picture? I’ve never painted a face, and when I accept portrait commissions, I charge a TON of money because it is REALLY REALLY hard to capture a likeness. And, I NEVER draw a face smaller than an egg.
Much discussion ensued. Here is the result so far:
This is after 2 days of fretting and sweating. Things always look terrible the first several passes over the canvas. More will be revealed in the fullness of time.
Have you ever regretted accepting a challenge? (I’m not saying I regret this. I think.) Want to share here?
2 Comments
Thank you, Sophie, for your encouragement and for sharing your experience. Layering is my only hope for success in this project!
This project is looking good so far, Jana. You will do your best I know. Perhaps you could practice the faces on another swatch of canvas to figure out colors to use to get the skin tone and likenesses, etc? I remember when I was doing the portrait of my g-grandmother, my instructor showed me that doing the “layering” is better than just trying to mix the correct tone at the git-go. Your are really improving in your technique; stay true to it. 🙂
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