Portrait painting is having its 20th Century heyday and an American woman artist living on this Italian island is cashing in on three continents. This abstract painter says that art has reached this point where a person can earn much from doing it. The human aspect and visage is again the focus.
Painters and not photographers are now being sought out by universities, hospitals, and industries who want the portraits of their presidents and board chairmen done. Those rolling in wealth and fame view portraits as a symbol of their fortune and heritage for their children.
The extent of her work with her brush has reached the United States, Western Europe and South Africa. Although she keeps a studio In Johannesburg and uses the studio of her twin sister, who also is an artist in New York, more often than not she paints her subjects in their homes.
It would take three weeks for the artist to finish a portrait in a studio. However, five days are all she needs if she does the portrait on location. The location of where the artist does her work, whether at home, an estate, or farm, affects the quality of her painting. She would have a meal with her subject all the while observing the kind of life and home the portrait will have.
A very well known actress had her portrait done by the artist, and she liked it so much she used it for the cover of her autobiography. The members of the family who owns the five and dime fortune, the makers of fa mouse tomato ketchup of 57 varieties fame, the maker of tire and rubber, and the makes of that famous line of greeting cards are just some of the famous people she has already made portraits of. She has made portraits of even a tribal chief in Nigeria and a Dominican monk. The moment her work was known across the globe, she was getting unexpected commissions from everywhere.
Flattery is not openly practiced by her, but there is a quality of flattery that comes into how she portrays her subjects. Some form of deal is made between subject and artist regarding the use of costumes. Some want to be seen in hunting pinks or university robes, and she respects their wishes. What she wants as a costume is an informal dress. She recommends that hairdos be a day old and gives suggestions on makeup.
She chatters while she is painting and lead her subjects to talk to her. For the smile on the portrait, she needs them to move their lips. Feelings of boredom are obviously seen in a portrait. The decision of whether the portrait should be a full body or half body or even head and shoulders is made when clients have flipped through the book of photographs displaying her work.
Sketches in ink, oil and tempera in sepia tones are very popular, too. Sometimes, you would find a detailed sketch in the foreground amidst other sketches of the person on the canvas. The result resembles a page from a sketch book. 20 years ago, her career began when a gallery owner insisted on having a self portrait that the artist made hung during a two woman show in New York. It was the most memorable part of the show.
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