Painting Portrait Tips / Lots of information about how to paint a portrait
Portrait painting business: Above an image from long time ago when I just started my career as a commissioned portrait painter.
For those who would love to do portrait painting on a commission basis, once again, I want to give some advice. The most important thing I must say is: Make sure you’re good enough. Continue reading “Portrait painting business”
I must confess I sometimes used sweet lies in portrait painting. Most people have no experience of posing for a portrait. In a commissioned portrait, it is important that the model shows off his best side. He or she should give me something that I can give back in the painting. Usually I am able to get a satisfactory photograph of the person. (As you know, for commissioned portraits I use photographic sources.) Continue reading “Sweet lies in portrait painting.”
Last week I wrote about the importance of squinting and of stepping back. I also said that most students know this already, but few really do it. Yet it is essential that you keep distance from your canvas, especially in portrait painting. Continue reading “Portrait painting: keep distance.”
Carpentry for portrait painting. As I get the opportunity I love to do craftwork, preferably in wood. I always wanted to be a carpenter, I have written about this before. And I’ll confess something else to you. For a long time, carpentry gave me more pleasure than painting. Believe me. Continue reading “Carpentry for portrait painting”
As you know by now, painting commissioned portraits is an essential part of my daily artistic activity and has been for more than twenty-five years. I like to talk about it over and over again and hope that you can benefit from this.
Let me repeat this week what I consider to be the most important properties for a portrait painter.
This week I received a question on artificial light for a painter´s studio.
The answer is to be found in the menu Tips & tricks. However I repeat that topic here.
My Studio in Chelva does not have sufficient daylight. So I decided to use a fluorescent lighting. I mounted four standard light boxes with eight fluorescent tubes of 150 cm. Continue reading “Artificial light for a painter´s studio”
More than once people asked how a novice portraitist must decide his prices. I remember I once said: If you don’t have any orders you are either too expensive, or you have too little quality. If you have too many commissions, it may be that you are too cheap.
An interesting book that I am currently reading is “The lives of Jan Six”, written by the Dutch historian Geert Mak. I do not know if there is an English translation. Continue reading “Art flows to where the money is”
‘What subject do you prefer?’ A frequent question. Actually I don´t know what to answer. Do I prefer official-portraits? Each portrait is fun to do whether it is a small child or an old lady, a professor or a lawyer. It is true that some faces are more attractive than others. A commissioned portrait never leaves me a choice and it is always exciting to see what model will appear. The same goes for official portraits. Continue reading “Official-portraits”
Looking back on some of my portrait commissions from the old days, I sometimes do with trepidation and mixed feelings. More than once it just happens that I´am no longer completely satisfied. These works I will not show you of course, haha! But occasionally I see something and I think: Not that bad.
It’s not always that bad staying away from home for a while. No homesickness, but nevertheless…
On return I appreciate my everyday environment even more. I see it all with a renewed look.
Early in the morning, before the day begins, I help my wife in the kitchen garden. And it will be clear, when you see this picture, how privileged we are living in this beautiful environment. You can imagine how happy I am, being back home again.
Pretty soon I will take in hand my brushes to start afresh.
Usually I start by clearing my studio space. Clean everything really well. Checked all paint and canvases. I see this activity as starting the engine. I enjoy fiddling in my studio before the real work begins.
