Who would paint YOUR portrait

Jeff Fuchs · 09-21-2003, 08:09 PM

This is a sticky question, but I'm surprised it hasn't already been asked:

Of all artists alive today, who would you commission to paint your own portrait. Money and geography are not an issue, but it must be a living artist, and it can't be yourself.

I'm not even certain what my own answer would be, but I'd lean toward Odd Nerdrum. Don't throw stones. His painting style is exceptional, and he wouldn't paint a boring portrait. I love his portrait of his daughter.

So who would you choose?

Here's a link to Nerdrum's daughter's portrait. I think they kept the jpeg quality deliberately low to discourage copyright infringements.

http://www.nerdrum.com/works/index.php?id=34

Steven Sweeney · 09-21-2003, 09:42 PM

Being insignificant as a wisp of smoke in the historical winds, art and otherwise, I hope never to have my portrait painted, and indeed I would refuse the sitting. I dislike even posing for family photographs. I do not wish to be remembered at all, save by family and friends, and there only in memory and story and incident (of which there have been some). This likely seems at odds with my professional intentions, which are to convince others that they should pay me to paint their portraits, for posterity . . . and so on.

I like to paint or draw portraits of a person in the moment, but not

Peter Jochems · 09-21-2003, 10:08 PM

I don't like being portrayed to be honest. Maybe a self-portrait one day...

My answer to the question: Scott Bartner
www.bartner.com

Kimberly Dow · 09-21-2003, 11:26 PM

That is a tricky question, not because of insulting anyone, but because of vanity!

I love Stephen Gjertson's work. Wow. But he is SO clear. I would not want MY face that clear.

If I were to have a portrait painted of myself though, it would have to be someone I could twist & manipulate so that I could look exactly as attractive as I wish I were! That is highly unlikely so I may have to paint one myself. Can I still call it a self-portrait if it is more fantasy than reality?

Jean Kelly · 09-21-2003, 11:45 PM

I hope I spelled his name right. Like Steven I don't like to have my picture taken, I'd much rather do it than "be" it. But if I had to, I put myself in a rock filled beach, with trees and wind and have Yuqi Wang do it. And I would have to be surrounded by animals.

Jean

Cynthia Daniel · 09-22-2003, 12:39 AM

I'm afraid I'm also in the "don't want my photo taken." Not at this age. I try to stand behind others in group shots.

Marvin Mattelson · 09-22-2003, 09:48 AM

I have heard it often stated that, "any lawyer who would represent himself must have a fool for a client."

That said I would still be interested in having Marvin Mattelson paint mine.

Jimmie Arroyo · 09-22-2003, 11:16 AM

Although I don't like having my picture taken, painted worse, but I would also choose Odd Nerdrum to do my portrait. I definitely wouldn't want it like "Self portrait in Golden Cape".

Jeff Fuchs · 09-22-2003, 11:22 AM

Quote:

I definitely wouldn't want it like "Self portrait in Golden Cape"

I wonder how he "held that pose" for so long.

Administrator's Note: Anyone interested in being in on the joke, can see it here: http://www.artsiteguide.com/nerdrum Jeff, you may start competing with Mike McCarty for humor.

Carl Toboika · 09-22-2003, 11:40 AM

Quote:

"any lawyer who would represent himself must have a fool for a client. That said I would still be interested in having Marvin Mattelson paint mine."

Joining you on the fools list, I have already had Carl Toboika paint mine, and he's almost done. He's cheap with paint though, he only did an 8x10, and he painted it backwards like it was done in a mirror too (bet Shanks wouldn't think to paint me like that).