How to Paint House Portraits
(Page 2 of 2)
March/April 1980
By Gary Nelson
After the photos are developed, you might want to let your customer help choose one view — and he or she can, at the same time, also designate the size the finished painting should be.
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As for materials, I've done my depictions on canvas panels, stretched canvas and untempered masonite coated with gesso. I prefer to use acrylic paints, since they dry quickly and involve no messy cleanups. ( You should, of course, use whatever medium you're most comfortable with and knowledgeable about.)
A Pleasing Result
When you paint your picture, you'll naturally want to make some small changes from the way the home and setting actually appear — since you're not attempting to make an exact likeness. (If a perfect reproduction is what the customer wants, you might as well just hand over one of your photographs.) And, in order to create a pleasing composition, don't hesitate to use your brush to prune off a few tree branches or eliminate utility wires. Also, leave out picky, little details like cracks in the siding — you'll not only save time, but end up with a better image.
Remember, too, that a proper frame can make a good painting look even better, and — while some homeowners prefer to choose this "setting" themselves — I enjoy matching the frame to my painting to make the finished product look just right. Besides, I'm a regular patron of art shops and can often save my customers a little money on such purchases.
Speaking of cash, the exact price you can ask for your paintings will depend on your skill, the cost of your materials, and the amount of time you spend. ( An "average" 18-by-24-inch picture takes me about eight hours to complete.) You might begin as I did and charge $25 (not including the cost of the frame) for your first efforts — and then, as you improve, raise the price to as much as $100, or maybe more, per picture! Just remember, if you give your customers value for their money, you'll be rewarded with plenty of work. Always keep in mind, too, that an offer to do a house portrait is hard to beat for opening up barter possibilities!
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