|
Hmmmmm!
Short answer: I would.
Long answer: I would have to be reimbursed for the amount of time it would take due to the fact that this would involve a great degree of difficulty.
In my previous life, as an illustrator, I frequently had to deal with creating believable paintings around mediocre head reference. I did a number of movie posters that utilized the following strategy. I would find models who looked similar to the subjects needed to be depicted. At the photo shoot I would recreate the lighting set up and arrange a composition around the original head positions. It's a heck of a lot more work.
Not all paintings have to be in form lighting (this is the most ideal lighting) to be effective. Norman Rockwell created some beautiful paintings in a front lighting condition (like the photo that started this discussion). So did the Pre-Raphaelites.
The bottom line is, I feel that I could indeed create a painting that would be beautiful and satisfying for the client. If people have an emotional attachment to an image and they are looking to have it manifested as a painting, they can be very happy with less than my greatest painting. Would this be as good a painting as one I had carte blanche on? Probably not, but sometimes great achievements can be manifested in spite of cumbersome restrictions.
I feel as a portrait artist, my first obligation is to please the client and prepare them for what I feel I can best do under the circumstances. Forewarned is forearmed!
I wouldn't recommend that anyone not in full command of their artistic faculties try to do what I just described. DON
|