Approaching a Stranger as a Potential Model

[Gene Snyder]

Hello All,

I did a search on this topic in the forum and didn't have any results, however if it has been addressed before, please point me in the right direction.

My question is how do you approach someone, a stranger, to paint their portrait? You see that person that you just have to paint, that you know would be the perfect model, that has the perfect features, everything in place and you just see the finished portrait in your mind. I ride the commuter train from Baltimore to Washington D.C. everyday and there are many people that I see on the train who I know would be perfect for a portrait. How do I approach them?

I almost think of this as a cold call kind of thing. I find it difficult to just drop in on a person, unannounced, and try to explain why I have this urge to paint them. Some people, I think, would shy away from that or think that I'm just an "artist", many of us are doomed from the start with that dreaded "artist" label... Some probably wouldn't take the flattery too well or think it's some pitch.

Let's face it, it's not something that happens everyday and it just doesn't seem natural for a total stranger to approach someone and say in so many words, "You look great, can I paint you?"

Aside from the obvious "It does hurt to ask" response, what approach would you take and how would you do it?

Thanks