How about it?

[Lon Haverly]

I have been commissioned to paint this in oil, and I am excited. I liked Karen Wells unveiling of "David" and want to use the same old style background.

[Mike McCarty]

Wow, what a photo. I'm not sure I agree with the landscape (?) background. Seems like that might get a little complex for all that you have to deal with. I kinda like what you have right here. It appears that the person is sitting? If I'm right, then the background I see would suggest that they are indoors and I don't need anymore explanation re: what the person is sitting on. If you put them out of doors I might start to wonder. Sounds like you are going to paint color? Also, I like the slightly abstract nature of whatever that is on the left. I bet you can do this well.

[Lon Haverly]

There are flowers on the left on what looks like a trellis of some kind. They are seated on a chair. I will add contrast to see the white detail. It appears that this may have been taken in a studio with a mural behind with flowers, perhaps sky, some foliage, but not much real detail - just subtle. That is how I want to paint it - with subdued colors. But there is nice detail in the figures. I relish the challenge. Thanks for your vote of confidence! This will be fun.

[Mike McCarty]

I must have read it wrong; I thought the object on the left was a dining room sideboard or table-type furniture, with a flower arrangement on top. Whatever it is, I like its vague appearance. I look forward to the comments of others. A challenge indeed. Good luck.

[Lon Haverly]

It may be a long bench rather than a chair, and the designs are the back of the chair, which has a high wood design. Behind is just a vague floral mural.

I printed this out at 18" x 24", and the faces at that size are only about 3". Too small, in my view. I am going to show the customer the print out. I think the faces should be at least 4" high to paint adequately, putting the oil at 22" x 28". She may object to the price increase. I will ask her to make a decision on the size based on the outcome rather than the price.

Thoughts?

[Mike McCarty]

Always tough issues. I think if it were me, depending on the relationship I had with the client, I might ask for more money, but would be inclined to paint the larger image regardless of whether she paid the extra price. The difference in price weighed against your desire to paint the piece. Worst case, based on cost, you are forced to create something that you would not be proud of.

[Lon Haverly]

My thoughts exactly.

Thank you, Mike. How nice to have your friendly advice. I really appreciate it.

[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.

[Lon Haverly]

Thank you Michael, for your wise advice.

The customer agreed to a larger version, and was delighted to pay extra when she saw the prep work I had done. It will be 24" x 20", and cropped just below the bottom of the child's shoe, which makes the grandma's head 5" in height, a workable size for me, and a very nice composition, eliminating the rather large expanse of black dress.

I sold her on the size by printing out a full size image and tiling it together, in three different sizes, the last of which was the cropped, and best sized - making the heads the largest of the three options.

I will start tomorrow. Thanks for your input. I paint to post.