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The desire to see oneself on the canvas draws many people to portrait painters. Portraits, which are selling like hotcakes in the present times, has led to the emergence of many portrait painters. Nevertheless, as can be said, not all are connoisseurs in the art of portrait painting. The high place that a portrait has in ones life will prevent him from choosing any one than a master portrait painter.
A portrait depicts likeness of the subject. Is the likeness as easy to bring on the canvas or paper? No, people may know from their experience of worldly life that what is on the face may not necessarily be in ones mind. So how does the portrait painter bring likeness of mind in the oil? That’s a challenge. An honest portrait painter will be one who accepts the challenge rather than skipping it.
A successful portrait painter is as much a master of the art of painting as he is a master at studying people. The subject must meet the painter for once or twice before he gets to the task of painting. That will give painter an idea of your real self. An informal meeting is preferred. That will help the subject remove all guards and appear as natural to the portrait painter. That is when the portrait painter is imagining how he is to bring you alive on the canvas, though you think he is enjoying the coffee.
Even better will be to shoot the subject during the preliminary visit. This brings us to a very recent method of portrait painting where the portrait painter uses the photograph of the subject rather than the subject posing himself. In this method, the subject loses less time; and the portrait painter gets to work in peace in his studio.
The size of the portrait needs to be discussed well in advance. While some people have already made up their mind, there are others who would listen to the portrait painter if he has reasons. It will be good for the portrait painter if he has a portfolio of sketches and portrait that he has worked upon with him. It gives the subject to be drawn an idea of the capabilities of the portrait painter.
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