McPortraiture

[Vianna Szabo]

Hi Everyone,

I had an interesting experience recently. I went through the local county courthouse with a couple of judges. Many of the portraits that were hanging were photos that had been painted over. The quality of the paint job varied greatly and it was obvious that they were worked on by different artists, however, they were all signed by one name. The judges agreed those had an artificial look and did not stand up well to some of the fine portraiture that was there,

About an hour after I got home I received a phone call. It was one of those bizarre coincidences that happen sometimes. The caller was none other that the owner of the studio where the painted photos came from. He had picked up my card and offered me a job of being a "portrait painter". He sends out photographers and they shoot the subjects then the photos are printed onto canvas, shipped to the artist, who paints over the photo, signs the studio's name, and ships them back.

His selling point for this job was that I would not have to worry about my drawing skills, getting a likeness, or creating a good composition. He stated he is going to sell these through a ritzy chain store nation wide and that I could be kept very busy.

The Michigan economy is very bad right now and commissions have dropped so I went to his website while he was on the phone with me and looked at the "oil paintings". They were awful. I told him I had worked hard at developing the skills I have and was not interested and that I was bothered that these were being sold to the public as fine art and not painted photos. It was a strange and long conversation with him wanting critiques on his photos and why they did not look like paintings. He went on and on about how successful he is with them and I did have a friend mention she had seen them at a chain store in Chicago.

Anyways, it's a long winded story but I thought those of you out there who put the time into your work would like to know about the McPortraiture that is being offered out there.

Vianna Szabo

[Enzie Shahmiri]

I had a similar experience. A gentleman called me last year, asking if I could paint one of the founders of a San Diego based company. He said there were two portraits already done in the past and that he wanted this third one done in a similar, realistic style.

Assuming that he had seen my work, I told him my price and did not hear anything back. Then one day he called again, saying that he had given the job to someone else, but was not happy with the results. We agreed to meet and he brought the two old paintings, along with the failed attempt. The failed attempt looked like a clown picture with candy pink skin tones. It was so bad that I could hardly refrain from laughing . The other old paintings were prints that had been painted over. They also had brush strokes going all over the place fro no apparent reason.

I explained to my prospective client why my fees are what they are and told him what a quality portrait should look like. You know what his response was?

He said: " Well, but I don't want the portrait to look more realistic than these." I wished him good luck and slowly took my leave.

Some people just don't know any better!

[Vianna Szabo]

You are right, Enzie, some people do not know any better! He had approached some other local artist's with the same proposition. When I turned him down he stated " You artists all sound like you went to the same school!" He then proceeded to tell me how well he was doing financially and the list of celebrities that were his clients. He offered to represent me but I am very uncomfortable with being associated with this at all.

I suppose there is a good sized clientele out there for the photographic paintings and hopefully it will not infringe on those that want and recognize fine art.

[Sharon Knettell]

Vianna,

If it a way to supplement your income, why not? You are just doing a commercial art job, it would not in any way be mistaken for your work.

The economy is tough out there and from what I am reading, only going to get tougher.

I have done work for discount department stores, toy companies, restaurants, etc. to make a living. I in no way confused this with fine art. If you can make a decent amount of money in a relatively reasonable amount of time, it might be worth your while.

You are a very talented artist, save your energy for the work that is important to you and worth doing. This might help.

This was a time honored tradition in the rural areas of the Midwest, photographing people and painting oven the photographs. I wasn't art then and it ain't now.

[Debra Jones]

Funny, Sharon, I appreciate that advice. I agree that if you put their name on it, you are not jeopardizing your own reputation as a painter.

I good friend of mine said no freelancer worth their salt does NOT have a day job! It is more important to buy the paints than buy the yacht. I have actually started seeing that half full glass the more I stopped resenting the day job. And I found the day job is slowly creeping into being economically less and less a good idea.

I was looking for a gauze glove for using with silverpoint and saw a "Photo Studio" around the corner from the Starbucks I stopped in. I entered a very quaint pack rat's den with those wonderful tinted portraits and overpaintings etc. I got involved with a long chat with this wonderful gentleman who had been making that style of photographic retouching and repainting for decades. In fact, the photo paper they used in the good old days to make it has been replaced and it is harder to get a good quality surface to paint on.

I enjoyed him telling me to get a GOOD camera and light kit and go get rich photographing weddings. He says he does it all in two rolls of film! He was a kick, but it is a family business and definitely a craft. The poor man's portrait was very very popular when I was young and has a real charm. I have thought more than once of running down there again and see how I could talk him into a freelance gig.

There are many paths.

[Sharon Knettell]

My name is probably on more junk than I like to admit.

Being single and taking care of oneself is no easy task. I'm not single now, but I know starvation, literally.

This is job that can be done at home, her name is not jeopardized in any way. I think she should go for it! I used to pick up my garments in a plastic garbage bag every week from the discount store. Everyone asked me why I would stoop so low. I made about $45,000 per annum for only 26 weeks out of the year. It ended about 10 years ago. I wept. It enabled me to learn how to paint, the way I wanted to paint and hire models. I thought it was a terrific deal, I still do.

However, when it comes to my personal work, I try to be as firm and uncompromising as possible. If this kind of work gives you time money and peace of mind, why not. Believe you me everything I have done or anyone else has ever done is a masterpiece.

[Debra Jones]

Well, if it is on junk that is out there and SOLD, it is not junk!

We are sooo on the same page.

[Vianna Szabo]

Sharon and Debra
I appreciate your views and opinions. I will tell you that there is a part of me that says "do it".

I have done a lot of commercial work in the past, everything from cups to greeting cards to a bill board of foam inserts in the side panels of autos. (That one really impressed my son for some reason) I am very lucky because my husband has a decent job and we are happy to live simply. I also teach art and seemed to have found a good niche there.

My concern with this is that I would be in direct competition with myself. There is not a big demand for portrait artists in this area and as it was stated the auto based economy is as bad as I have ever seen it. The clientele are becoming few and frugal.

A friend suggested we rent a back alley studio, wear a wig, big rubber nose, dark glasses, and start painting.

I know we all have to do what we can to create the art we want and I appreciate your input.

Vianna