Karin,
Gosh, I do agree with much of what you've said, although I'm glad you clarified.. Just as there are many different artists and styles, there are just as many different reasons clients choose to commission a portrait. Our job is listen to their wishes and work within their perimeters to produce a great piece of art. Each portrait of mine comes out fairly different from the one before because of a client's wishes. It's part of what makes them exciting for me to do. I love the variety.
Also, I think there is something to be said for depicting the era WE live in. We are recording history as well. It will be interesting for our future art historians to gaze upon our work, (in a museum of course) be fascinated with the mode of fashion at the time, and know when it was. Jeans, t-shirts and all..
