Awfully difficult!

Awfully difficult!

A few years ago I had to do a commission of a family portrait. Three children on the same canvas. The youngest six years old, the oldest thirteen. I had an appointment on Saturday for a first meeting and Sunday to do the photo session. During my first visit I noticed immediately that the lighting in the room where I should take the pictures, would cause problems. A low winter sun was shining full on the kids and I wanted to avoid that at all costs. That I had experienced before and knew what to do.

I would have to mask the big window with transparent paper so that the sunlight would be filtered. I had no transparent paper with me, but I had time to go and buy. The only thing I could get in the stationery store was a box of loose sheets, A3 size. So I bought that, and some tape. Well prepared, I returned the next morning at the family´s house and began covering the window. Quite a chore. The oldest of the three followed me with scrutiny. He did not trust my method at all and looked at me scornfully. However the shoot went well and in the end the portrait was beautiful. I delivered the large painting. When the canvas was unpacked, the oldest stared in amazement at the result. He looked at me and asked, did you make that? I nodded. “You mean you really did this yourself? But that’s awfully difficult!” He said in disbelief. After all that fumbling with transparent paper he had no high opinion of me.

Awfully difficult! And such reactions I hear frequently: “I cannot understand how you can do this” I realize there is a lot of mystique and wonder about what we, portrait painters, do. So I decided to prepare a lecture on portrait painting. That will be in the castle of Heeswijk Dinther in Holland next autumn. Later I will give you more information.