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Here are some answers to your questions:
1. Is the portrait below a good template for how much of the shoulders to show? I would like the focus to be on the face but I don't want to put too little in the painting. Would you do a vignette or run off the board with the body?
Personally I rarely find a portrait in which I think the vignette look is done well. I prefer to continue the image to the edges of the canvas. Just my opinion.
2. Do I make each portrait unique in background and tailored in coloring to the individual to make them a little more exciting to view?
Either way would be fine.
3. Would it be better to make each background neutral rather than something like I have in the one posted here?
Whatever you think would look best.
4. How do I take careful advantage of the opportunity with regard to PR? Business cards on the front of the displayed portraits? The back? I will receive mention in the program which will be nice.
Okay, here's where I've got some experience. Write a press release. You can easily read about how to do that on the web. Search online and find about 20 or so people to email it to. Find exact names and titles of the right people. For example, the Editor of the newspaper Lifestyles section, the columnist who is always featured in the Women's section, etc. The Editor of the weekly suburban newspaper that covers your neighborhood, etc. The producer of the local TV evening newsmagazine/features show. Email the press release a week before the event. Take pictures of yourself working on one of the portraits to send along with the press release. After the event send out a revised press release (with quotes from the recipients, yourself and the sponsors, for example) to the same 20 people.
I don't know if they'd let you put business cards on the portraits themselves. Not sure that's a good idea anyway. Be sure your business card is on the back though, so each recipient can contact you for future work, if they want to.
5. Should I show the recipients the portraits before they are publicly displayed to make sure they like them?
Absolutely.
Good luck!
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