The essential questions to ask yourself before commissioning your portrait :
Commissioning a portrait is a very personal process. Whether you’re commissioning a portrait of yourself, for a child or a pet, the process involves having complete confidence in the talent of the artist you’ve chosen.
The decision to to hire an artist for a portrait deserves careful consideration, and here I’ll help you ask yourself the right questions before committing yourself.
Contact with the artist counts as much as the portfolio
Most people start the process by consulting portfolios. This is the right place to start, but a portfolio alone is not enough as a basis for an ordering decision. The best way to discover portfolios is on Instagram and Pinterest.
A portfolio tells you what an artist has achieved. A consultation tells you if he understands what you need, and how he works. Here’s a list of questions to ask before you make your decision.
What training or experience do you have in portrait drawing?
Portraiture is a specific discipline. Understanding whether the artist has training in portrait technique is a plus. But experience counts too. Drawing a face requires a certain know-how. How long has he been doing this? Does he have any customer reviews or recommendations to share? Can he draw all subjects (man, woman, child, baby?)? Does he draw portraits of several people or just one subject?
What is your preferred technique, and why?
Oil paint, watercolor, pastel, charcoal and acrylic, whether digital or traditional, each produce fundamentally different qualities in a portrait. Understanding the medium used by the artist helps you assess whether his or her chosen medium is suitable for the portrait you have in mind. Don’t ask an artist accustomed to watercolor to paint in oil, even digitally. His skills are precise and he won’t be able to change medium easily.
Questions about the Commission Process
How do you usually start an order?
Understanding the artist’s starting process tells you a lot about how he goes about commissioning a portrait.
Will you be working from life or from photography?
This is one of the most important practical questions. When you hire a portrait artist who works from photographs, ask what constitutes a good reference photograph for portraiture. It has to be sharp, with no filters or image retouching. Selfies should be avoided, as they distort the face, and the photo should be taken at face height, from the front, profile or three-quarter view. The photo should also be in color, for a full-color portrait. The background is of little importance.
How many revision points are included in the order?
Understanding when and how you can give feedback during the design process protects both the client and the artist. I consider two round-trips of modifications to be correct.
But personally, I think the first portrait presented is always the best. Trust the artist you’ve hired!
What happens if I’m not satisfied with the finished portrait?
The aim of collaboration is for both parties to be happy with the result. Each needs to understand the other’s point of view and
discuss. However, an art commission is specific because it’s impossible to see the finished product. It’s based on trust. As the result is only visible once the commission has been completed, you have to accept it as such. That’s why I’m writing this article, because you need to have total trust in the artist.
Questions about lead times and logistics
How available are you, and what’s a realistic timeframe for a custom portrait?
This depends on the artist’s way of working; if the artist works in the traditional way with paint and brush, it can take a long time. If the artist works digitally, cel is faster. In my case, you receive the first proof of the drawing 3 working days after the order, and delivery of the drawing 10 days after your validation.
How will you keep me informed of progress during the order process?
By Email, my process is fast. Once the order has been sent, I’ll let you know the tracking number with a link to the carrier’s website.
How is the finished portrait delivered, and what are the packaging and shipping arrangements?
As far as I’m concerned, your portrait will be packaged in a very rigid cardboard case, and protected by tissue paper. I use DHL and Fedex for worldwide delivery.
Questions about pricing and payment
What’s included in the order price?
Everything is included. Production, modifications (2 round trips), printing by my professional printer and delivery. On the site you can order portraits for one or two people.
What is the payment structure?
Payment is made when the order is placed. By credit card on the site or with a payment link by telephone.
Do you offer different scales or formats at different prices?
The standard order is A4. If you require a specific format, please contact me by email. I can produce any format, from the smallest to the largest. On paper, canvas or encapsulated in Plexiglas.
Specific questions for events and live portraits
If you’re thinking of hiring a portrait artist for a live event ,a private party, a corporate event, or a boutique event a slightly different set of questions applies.
How many portraits can you produce during the event?
It varies according to the level of detail. I draw a monochrome portrait in 5 minutes, a color portrait in 10 minutes. And don’t forget to add interaction time with the guests. This is very important, as we’re talking about animation here. Your customers will be curious to know what I do and how I do it, and this interaction is important but time-consuming.
What space and lighting conditions do you require?
All I need is a table, a chair and access to an electrical outlet.
What materials do you use for the live portraits, and what is the format of the finished pieces?
I draw on my iPad, digitally, so it’s very easy to set up. The portraits will be on A4 or smaller.
How do you deal with subjects who feel uncomfortable asking questions?
Kindness is the key to this kind of animation. The important thing is that the model feels at ease and has a good time, and it’s up to me to reassure him or her.
The Question that Matters Most
Beyond all the practical questions above, there is one that counts more than all the others when deciding to entrust the realization of a portrait to an artist :
Does this artist’s style appeal to me?
And then it’s up to you. Do you like his work or not? If you like it, chances are your customers will too. The important thing is not the performance, but the fact that you, or your customers, will keep their portraits long after the event.
Practical questions exist to confirm your decision, but the emotional response is what should guide you.