Aldo,
Could you do us a favor and post a link to a British website that features many commission portrait artists? Surely there's a UK version of SOG over there. I'd like to see examples of what they're doing that is so different from US artists.
I'm reluctant to say this on SOG, but I think that, as a whole, commission portrait clients are among the least sophisticated art buyers out there. They lean toward overly sentimental portrayals, and all too often want paintings made from old snapshots. This is regrettable, considering that much of history's great art is commissioned portraits. But taste over here is poor to begin with. If you're aware of the tremendous success of Thomas Kinkade, you have an idea what American artists are up against.
I recently posted a question in this forum, asking whom the SOG artists might choose to paint their own portraits. My choice was Odd Nerdrum, because of his skill, and dark, meaningful works. Many respondents chose similarly, avoiding sentimental artists.
I was encouraged yesterday, when I attended the Heart of Spain exhibit in Alexandria, LA (a small city, and unlikely venue for a major exhibit). The crowds were staggering, and we had to wait in line an hour to get in. For many, this may have been the first true fine art they have seen. If the American public could see more great art, their tastes would follow.
www.heartofspain.com