[Michael Fournier]

Well, Lon, if I might add a thought.

First, I find that there are two problems with large full-length paintings. One is the size of room it takes to handle such a large canvas. Not many people have such a gracious home that such a large painting would not dominate the room, even if there was enough wall to hang it. So the number of people that would commission a full-length portrait is fewer.

The second is I can easily get ten or more $500 commissions but it is very hard to find one for a full figure at even $5000. So I paint mostly head and shoulder and half-figure portraits, and paint rather small most of the time (9x12 to 16x20), since I can paint these fast.

But I rarely attempt a full-length portrait much smaller the 24x30. I have done full figure, figure paintings as small as 9x12 but I was not trying to capture a likeness that had to stand up to a client's approval on a head the size of a quarter.

But in the end, if the client has the space to hang a large canvas and I thought it would make a better painting, I would do the larger painting at the same price as the smaller one. Remember this work will be around a long time. You don't want to look back at it as a poor example of your work just because the commissions you were getting at the time were not from those able to pay more. If you stay with it, eventually you will get those big commissions. Treat every commission as if it is the most important painting you will ever do. You never know - someone may see it who actually would hire you for that most important commission.