[Chris Saper]

Hi Susan,

I agree with Stanka and Peggy. When you are starting it is hard to say "no", but keep your eye on the long view. Every portrait you do from today forward, should be your best effort to become your best painting. It may not end up that way, but if so, should be for reasons other than poor (non-existent?) source material, or because a client wants something from you that you don't feel you can, or more importantly, want to do.

The only glitches I have had in the 11 years I've been painting, have really come from agreeing to something, that, in hindsight, I should have known not to all along. I recall reading an article sometime ago (if anyone knows the cite, let me know as I'd like to retrace it), called something like "Recognizing Red Flages" in portraiture. Among the red flags were things like poor source material; wanting Ingres, when you paint like Renoir; unreasonbably short turn-arounds, (intoxicated clients, things of this nature).

I now spend a lot of time up front with people trying to understand what they really want, and whether I am the right match for them. We are going to walk hand-in-hand together for some time down the road, and I want both of us to end up happy.

My advice, graciously decline.

Chris