The Value of Portraiture

Patricia Joyce · 02-22-2009, 12:48 PM

How would you answer the question, "where is the value in portraiture in Anytown, USA? How does having a portrait artist living in our town benefit the community?"

I am applying for a local grant and feel I need ot answer these questions. I will be up against all kinds of visual artists. I would love a famous quote if any of you has something in your personal archives, I would be most grateful. Besides we haven't had a string of famous quotes in a while!

Thanks

Richard Bingham · 02-22-2009, 02:58 PM

I'm flat out of famous quotes, Patricia, but in preparing a "sales pitch" for portraiture by a living, breathing artist, I'd visit these points:

1. Permanence: oil paintings have a track record for durability which goes back over 500 years. Many concerned with the permanence of archival items have warned that with the demise of silver compounds as the substance in photographic images, prints commonly in use today, being impermanent dyes, will have very poor longevity. The transience of magnetic media is also under scrutiny as a long-term permanent record.

2. Portrait painting has endured (even flourished!) in the past 170 years since the invention of photography. It's because of the "composite" nature of images which result from the inevitable relationship that develops between artist and sitter. Images which result from such an intense psychological and physical observation are certain to be much truer representations of the complete persona of a subject than mere patterns of light, shade and color reproduced by mechanical means can ever be.

Go team !! (insert pom-pom girl smilie here)

Patricia Joyce · 02-22-2009, 04:04 PM

Thanks, Richard! I didn't know these things and they make a great argument for the validity, longevity and enduring value of oil portraiture.

Carol Norton · 02-22-2009, 06:45 PM

Patty, the Robert Genn newsletter contains a section with a gazillion quotes on every art topic imaginable. It will take you DAYS just to read them all. You'll love it and you can subscribe for free and receive it 2x a week.

Patricia Joyce · 02-23-2009, 10:38 AM

Thanks for reminding me Carol, I love Robt Genn's newsletter, I'll check out the quotes.

Allan Rahbek · 02-23-2009, 03:34 PM

Portraiture is about people, nothing else intrigue people like other people.
Literature is about people, painted in letters. Music is about people, painted in sound.
We paint in colors, and if we do it well, like you do, It's interesting.