This thread has me thinking of my ill-fated plan to introduce my work to the Norwegian Royals a couple of years ago. The former business partner of a friend of mine is related to the Norwegian Royal family. I sent him my portfolio to show her the day of her farewell party from the business. Unfortunately everyone involved had too much to drink and the next day it appears my friend

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Trying to get your foot in the royal doorway is a formidable challenge, especially if you

Well thank you Grethe. That's very kind of you to say.

If I even suspected I would one day get a hug from Queen Sonja, I would give up my garlic-rich diet immediately!

Very interesting these portraits of the King and Queen of Norway! I really like the first one of the Queen, it's so different.

In reply to your question, I just placed a reply to an other topic on British portraiture last week, where I touch the same subject. I will copy paste it here:

"Kinstler said he is not a portrait painter but an artist who paints portraits, I find that very inspiring. That is the difference between a craftsman and an artist. A craftsman mostly gets his craftsmanship from studying old techniques and looks back and learns from what others before him have done. An artist I think, also looks at what others do and have done before him, but then feels free to do something totally different or takes only fragments of this information for his own use. Is there maybe a parallel if you look at the American portrait artists and the British/European portrait artists?"

For the whole thread see:
Britisch portraiture

Scott, enjoy your garlic, its healthy.

thanks ,Bianca I have been so busy in this thread.
Haven't had time to read through the thread about British portraiture but will do now, sounds interesting.