Difficulty factors

[Marvin Mattelson]

Painting a portrait is the most difficult subject for an artist because any error is greatly magnified. If an eye is moved one iota to the left it no longer looks correct and the likeness suffers.

In the portrait there can be drapery and other props. All are still life objects. The background can contain landscape elements. And even if it is simplified it still needs to be considered spatially and atmospherically. It's all about perception and interpretation of what is in front of the artist.

Many so-called great artists couldn