Wedding Portraits

Wedding Portraits: are not something that one hears about much these days. Photography, computers and the digital world are making portraits a rare event. Most would regard a painting as a luxury, but are they? Even if you did want a painting how would you go about finding an artist? How much would a painting cost? What would be involved? Read on ………….

Wedding Portraits: Where To Begin

Having made the decision that you both want a painting, you need to consider:

- how much are you able to afford to commission a painting?
- what medium would you like the painting in: oil, watercolour, or pastel? (Oil is generally the more expensive.)
- what style of paintings do you admire, would reflect your personalities, and fit well into your house? For example: surrealist, contemporary, classical, neoclassical, impressionist, or a conversation piece.
- would you like your painting to be formal, semi-formal, or informal?
- what backdrop would you like, e.g. a curtain, garden, tree, etc.
- how much time can you make together for sittings?
- are they any items borrowed or hired that would be difficult to access again if required to be incorporated into your portrait?

Wedding Portraits: Research For An Artist

Having reached agreement on the above you need to find an artist who fulfills your requirements. There are several ways you may go about doing this and it will be somewhat governed by your budget:

- search on the web for the various Royal Society of Portrait Painters and search for artists, view their c.v.’s and sample portraits
- contact local art galleries who will be aware of up and coming artists as well as more established ones
- attend exhibitions
- contact the various Royal Academies of Art
- contact local art groups, lists may usually be found in local libraries
- contact local schools/colleges and speak to the Art Directors
- attend open days, particularly at Colleges of Art

Wedding Portraits: The Next Steps

Having found an artist you will need to formally commission them to carry out the painting. In some instances you will be dealing with the artists agent/manager, in others with the artist him/herself. Read the small print of any contract you sign and be sure to ascertain:

- how many sittings are involved?
- how long will the sittings last?
- will they be working from a photograph?
- how long it will take the artist to produce the painting?
- will you be allowed to see the work in progress?
- what happens if the work in progress is unsatisfactory, or if progress is not being made?
- what happens if the final product is unsatisfactory, who arbitrates, does final payment have to be made?

Wedding Portraits: Breakdown Of Costs

Where is your money going and what determines how much artists charge? The cost of a portrait will depend upon the following:

- size of portrait required
- costs increase as there will be two of you
- whether your portrait is head and shoulders, half body, or full length
- the complexity/detail in the background
- whether it is to be received framed or unframed
- the materials used (canvas, board, oils, etc.)
- the number of hours input to produce the piece as specified by you

Finally, there are a few other considerations you need to act upon – the conditions in which you keep your painting and insurance for the painting. Whereas more of a luxury item than an investment, several years down the line it has not been unheard of for a painting of an unknown subject undertaken in the artists formative years to be of considerable worth if the artist has become famous.