General Outline:

     The creation of a portrait may begin with an initial meeting between the client and the artist, his agent or a gallery representative. This initial planning session is followed by one or more meetings, called " sittings ". At the sittings, the portrait artist either creates preliminary sketches, take photos of the subject or begins the work outright. Working methods vary with different portrait artists. Some or all of the work may be done at the artist's studio or in the subject's environment.

Preliminary Sessions: (Initial Meeting)

     A preliminary meeting or session may entail informal discussions regarding the purpose of the commissioned portrait, its dimensions and framing as well as financial considerations. Discussions relating to the subject's attire, possible poses, background or setting ideas are also defined. The client may submit any and all ideas he/she may have pertaining to the completion of the portrait. Often, the first actual sitting may take place at this time.

First Sitting: (First or Second meeting)

     If the first sitting does not immediately follow a preliminary meeting, a date and time is set for the first sitting. Sitting sessions may last approximately 1 to 2 hours; (with children it is often necessary to allow for more familiarization time). A professional is well aware that he-she is a stranger to the child.) A painter would therefore take the required amount time for children to become comfortable, even though this may entail an additional visit(s) with the child. As a portrait artist I consider it essential that a child and its parents be completely at ease with the process and with myself as a person.

     Some portrait artists prefer to work from life; i.e.: They wish to work with the subject present from the beginning to the end of the process. For this to be possible, the subject must be free to pose during several lengthy sessions over a period of time.   Other portrait painters combine live sittings with sketches and/or photographs. They work from these when the subject is not present. Much as Leonardo da Vinci was a modernist in his time, most portrait painters today combine methods in order to meet their clients portrait requirements.

     Most of the time spent in a sitting is taken up with the artist-painter creating preliminary sketches and\or shooting up to (at times) 300 photographs of the subject. These sketches and photographs, through their accumulated and/or combined reference information assist the artist in achieving accurate anatomical rendering and proportions This contemporary procedure for information gathering eliminates the traditional need for numerous time consuming sittings; once required in the creation of portraits.

     Rarely does a professional portrait artist work strictly friom photographs (i.e.: without meeting and working with the client). This singular method, (photographs only) is usually reserved for posthumous portraits. But sadly, some painters work strictly from photographs and the results are evidence of this.

     A second, third or more sittings (when required to finish a portrait) will be arranged between the client(subject) and the artist.

Last Meeting: Delivery

The last meeting usually takes place at the time of delivery. Generally, deliveries occur one to three months after the first sitting. (The timing may vary according to complexity, dimensions and/or individual commission requirements.) The painting may be viewed at the artist's studio, at the gallery representing the artist or in the client's home. Many portrait artists prefer to be at this first viewing session in order to do any necessary touch-ups which may be required.

Overall, there are as many portrait creating methods as there are portrait artists.  

© Bernard Poulin- 1995-2007