A portraitist creates artistic representations of people using painting, sculpture, drawing, or photography. The medium used can depend on the intended character of the portrait or economic considerations. The artist’s day-to-day work is dictated by the client, ranging from high-ranking figures to tourists in a casual setting.
A portraitist creates artistic representations of people in which the subject’s face often serves as the focal point of the work. Although the range of formats in which portraits can be made is essentially limited only by the artist’s imagination, the most traditional media for this type of art include painting, sculpture, drawing and photography. Depending on the vision and intentions of the artist and subject, portraits can be realistic or highly impressionistic. Often, a portraitist secures the job through commissions, which can range from state painters to sketching tourists in a town square.
With each new piece, the first task of a portrait artist is to decide which format he will use. This decision can be influenced by the intended character of the portrait. For example, sculpted and painted portraits can sometimes be executed to “erase” the subject’s physical flaws, exaggerate his stature, and give him an appearance of power or wisdom. On the other hand, due to its precise nature, photography can be used to create a highly realistic and unforgiving portrait. These distinctions are not concrete, however, and a skilled portraitist can manipulate his chosen medium to create a range of moods and effects.
In some cases, a portraitist may choose his medium based solely on economic considerations. Painting and sculpting materials can be extremely expensive, and completing portraits made in these mediums can take a great deal of time. On the other hand, sketches and photographs can be created at low cost and in relatively short periods of time. Thus, an artist can decide on a format by weighing labor and material costs against the compensation he will receive for the finished product.
The exact nature of a portrait artist’s day-to-day work is dictated by the client. In some cases, artists are commissioned to create portraits of high-ranking figures, such as university presidents, large business owners, and even presidents. This type of commission is usually well remunerated and as such requires a carefully executed product. People may pose for the artist for extended periods of time, sometimes in the artist’s studio, office or person’s home. The intended tone of the portrait can be left up to the artist or it can be dictated by the subject.
Often times, a portrait artist works in a much more casual setting. He might, for example, set up an easel in a very touristy area and spend the day sketching passersby who agree to sit down for quick portraits. Sometimes depictions of him are realistic and sometimes they can be comical. This type of portraiture, common at fairs and carnivals and also in public areas of European cities such as Paris and Barcelona, tends to be done very quickly and is usually not well paid.
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