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Madelaine Boothby · 03-11-2009, 06:09 PM

I am a relative newcomer in the world of portraiture. I have painted a little from life (not enough!) and a lot from photos.

Suddenly friends and family all want me to do a portrait painting.
Can someone here talk to me about "artistic license?" When you paint a portrait, do you flatter the person? do you nakedly show their double chin and signs of age?

I have begged people to NOT give me flash photos, but that is generally what they have. And in the case of the dead mother, there aren't that many photos to choose from.
And what about makeup? So many women think they look their best with purply-rose colored lips and eyeshadow that reminds me of the protective coloration of so many butterflies.
Thanks for anything you have to say about this.
Mimi

03-11-2009, 06:09 PM	#1
Madelaine Boothby Juried Member Joined: Nov 2008 Location: seattle, wa Posts: 11	Please paint my dead mother I am a relative newcomer in the world of portraiture. I have painted a little from life (not enough!) and a lot from photos. Suddenly friends and family all want me to do a portrait painting. Can someone here talk to me about "artistic license?" When you paint a portrait, do you flatter the person? do you nakedly show their double chin and signs of age? I have begged people to NOT give me flash photos, but that is generally what they have. And in the case of the dead mother, there aren't that many photos to choose from. And what about makeup? So many women think they look their best with purply-rose colored lips and eyeshadow that reminds me of the protective coloration of so many butterflies. Thanks for anything you have to say about this. Mimi