What to wear, what to wear?

Julianne Lowman · 09-16-2003, 09:54 AM

I have an upcoming portrait session with three children, all girls. The mother wants a lasting portrait that surpasses "time", so we decided on the classic white linen dresses. The little girls ages 3 and 5 really don't care as long as they look "pretty". The 12 year old, on the other hand doesn't want to wear white, linen or any other "pretty" outfit. She would rather be in a color and nothing "fru-fru". Mom has also decided that three separate portraits vs. one portrait with all of the girls together would be a better choice when it comes to dividing up the spoils after they have passed on. Any advice as to the wardrobe to keep it complimentary as a set of 3 portraits (all will be just a head and shoulders pose), yet allow the 12 year old her freedom?

Any advice would be helpful!

Jeff Fuchs · 09-16-2003, 10:11 AM

I think the 12 year old might be the most savvy one in the family. The white linen dress has become a uniform for portrait sitters. I'd be delighted to portray girls who didn't want to wear them. I don't think of the white linen as "classic" for portraits, as they seem to be absent from portraits of centuries past. Someone in the last half of the 20th century decided to make them standard fare.

Make each portrait an individual expression, but keep them side by side as you paint, to keep a leash on harmony among them.

Mike McCarty · 09-16-2003, 11:08 AM

These kinds of discussions give me the creeps. I suppose I can't separate the issues of parenting from anything else in the universe.

What's not to like about a girl in a dress? I don't think that when ordinary non-professional portrait painting people view a portrait in someone's home they think to themselves: oh gee, I must have seen 20 white painted dresses this week and I'm tired of it. I'll bet I look at a hundred portraits in the course of a week, regular folks don't.

The mother indicated that she wanted something timeless; shall we discuss this concept with a twelve year old? Have the three flip a coin then choose between white, yellow and a light MTV sage.

Sorry for the fathering thing, good luck.

Jeff Fuchs · 09-16-2003, 11:58 AM

I agree with what you say, Mike, but let's face it, most portrait artists aspire to capture a sitter's individuality, so why dictate their wardrobe? Especially when you're moving the client AWAY from individuality, to make them fit the mold.

I'm in favor of parents being parents, but a portrait is a special expression of a person's identity. If the girl wouldn't wear a white linen dress on a bet, why portray her in one? This is an opportunity to strike a chord with the family and make a portfolio piece that stands out.

http://www.portraitartist.com/barth/redhead.htm

http://www.portraitartist.com/banks/blond.htm

http://www.portraitartist.com/mickle/sailboat.htm

Mike McCarty · 09-16-2003, 03:22 PM

Quote:

The 12 year old, on the other hand doesn't want to wear white, linen or any other "pretty" outfit.

There must be thousands of beautiful portraits of young girls wearing everything except a white dress. The ones you cited would certainly give proof to that. I think my complaint was/is allowing a child to be in charge of matters that they surely would not have the capacity to fully comprehend.

09-16-2003, 03:51 PM

I have 4 daughters and a stepdaughter, ranging from 1 to 13. I understand what you're going through! The way I'm working on their composition, and maybe you can use this, is to know that their outfits are a huge part of the composition. A big white swath across the middle of the canvas isn't the most interesting thing I could think of.

Happily, we have about 40-50 dresses among them, since we save EVERYTHING. It's not too difficult to make an interesting and varied composition using different dresses with different styles, patterns, etc. They coordinate, but aren't all the same. I chose summery florals, from large to small prints. While I'm painting it, I may alter the pattern or color slightly.

Maybe you can ask the mother to see the girls' closets? More similarities will look more formal, more pattern will look more casual. When she says "timeless" I hear "not much like they look day to day" but the nice things they wear for holidays might be rarefied enough.

The issue with the 12-year-old is probably just one snippet of an ongoing series of arguments between them. The mother might, though, be grateful for the opportunity to say "well, the ARTIST says you need to wear this one, it's not up to me." It will be difficult to please everyone, but you might skate by on being the professional opinion.

Mike, Jeff, I hear ya.

Good luck!

Elizabeth Schott · 09-16-2003, 06:00 PM

Julianne,

One of my first commissions was the same thing. But it was decided to go casual. The girls ages ranged from 14 to 7 and we went with denim, it too is timeless like the white dress, which is one of my favorite materials to draw with pastels. Ask where she plans on hanging them.

If the younger ones like the white dresses, compromise with the older and let her throw a jacket on over her dress.

This is one of my very first, so please don't laugh, it must be a "technical" nightmare!

Good luck!

Julianne Lowman · 09-16-2003, 09:55 PM

You know these comments are exactly what I was looking for! I think we often get in a rut thinking a particular wardrobe is "classic" when classic is truly defined by the individual. By the way, what was considered "classic" in 1743? I will return to the client and ask further questions and meet with the 12 year old and determine her style that will coordinate and compliment the trilogy.