Portrait Captures Subjects in Portrait in a Flattering Way

Now that portrait painting has reached its 20th century heyday, an American woman is experiencing wealth flowing from three different continents. According to this abstract painter, art is becoming a source of money again. There is a return to the human aspect and visage.

More and more universities, hospitals, and industries are requesting for the portraits of their presidents and board chairmen to be painted on canvas rather than photographed. The rich and famous want portraits because they serve as symbols of fortune and ancestry for their children.

In addition to South Africa where her husband headed the African operation of an American cosmetics firm, she has also painted her way through Western Europe and the United States. While she often paints in her studio or in her sister's studio, this doesn't prevent her from doing her painting at the homes of her subjects.

The artist says that it takes her three weeks to paint a portrait in a studio, during which she might have four to seven sittings. An average of five days is all she needs to paint the portrait if done on location instead of the studio. The location of where the artist does her work, whether at home, an estate, or farm, affects the quality of her painting. Whether subject, lunch, or dinner, this artist often eats with her subject to learn what kind of life and home the portrait would belong to.

The autobiography of one well known actress has a cover which is the same as the portrait that the artist made of the actress. Those whom the artist has already made portraits of include the members of the family who owns the five and dime fortune, the makers of fa mouse tomato ketchup of 57 varieties fame, the maker of tire and rubber, and the makes of that famous line of greeting cards. Portraits of a tribal chief in Nigeria and a Dominican monk in Arkansas have also been made by her. The moment her portraits spread across the globe, she was just surprised by the sudden offers that came to her.

She avoids flattering her subjects but does paint them in the most flattering light against an abstract background or a low lying landscape. Negotiating is involved when it comes to costume. Whether they wear hunting pinks, university robes, or a favorite dress, the costume choice of her subject is respected by her. For the portrait, she personally likes an informal dress for women. She freely offers her own ideas for the makeup and asks that hairdos be at least a day old.

She and her subjects often talk while she is painting. She keeps their lips moving, so she can catch that going into a smile look. One can see immediately in the portrait if the subject is bored or not. By going through a photograph book that shows her work, clients can decide if they want a full body, half body, or head and shoulders shot, as well as a formal or casual pose.

Sketches in ink, oil and tempera in sepia tones are very popular, too. Sometimes she does several sketches of a person on one canvas, the most detailed sketch being in the foreground, which is a charming way of portraying children. What you get is something you would likely see in a sketch book. She has had this career for about 20 years already, and it began when a gallery owner wanted to display a self portrait the artist had made for a show in New York. It was the part of the show that was a major hit.

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