Visitors' poll

I am a fiber artist . I stop in to see the work that is being done in the field of Portrait paintings along with other art forums. I think all artists in all mediums struggle with many of the same issues. I often want to comment , usually to voice support and encouragement! I love the work that is featured here and indeed have improved upon my own skills with some of the advice and comments I have read here.
Karen http://threadstory.blogspot.com/

I am not sure how assisting budding artists into the profession of portrait painting applies to me. For fifty of my seventy-six years, continuously and without interruption, supported my family by producing print advertising. Currently retired, I have, in this past year, returned to my earlier plan to paint portraits.

By your choice this group is for professional portrait painters and serious students. Based on my experience and age I may not qualify, however if I were twenty-seven instead of seventy-six with my knowledge and skill, I would have no doubts or second thoughts about qualifying as a serious student

Ed

[Alexandra Tyng]

Originally Posted by Edward A. Kole

Based on my experience and age I may not qualify, however if I were twenty-seven instead of seventy-six with my knowledge and skill, I would have no doubts or second thoughts about qualifying as a serious student.

Ed, I don't understand. Why would your age and experience disqualify you from being a serious student? Anyone, of any age, can be a serious student. There are also many artists who went to art school, had careers in computer graphics or illustration or other art related fields, then decided to become fine artists later in life. These are highly skilled and experienced individuals who are still open to learning. Or maybe I have misunderstood you.

Originally Posted by Alexandra Tyng

Ed, I don't understand. Why would your age and experience disqualify you from being a serious student? Anyone, of any age, can be a serious student. There are also many artists who went to art school, had careers in computer graphics or illustration or other art related fields, then decided to become fine artists later in life. These are highly skilled and experienced individuals who are still open to learning. Or maybe I have misunderstood you.

Regarding "Anyone, of any age, can be a serious student."

I think the formost purpose of this group is to teach, discuss and exchange ideas about the art of painting portraits. It is a forum open to "profssional artists" and "serious students." Regarding "students," the purpose of this group is to prepare the student to sell and/or exhibit his portraits and if he is of that mind, to teach others.

There comes a time when the "serious student" [or amateur] becomes a "professional." As in other professions, professionalism happens when that person earns his living from selling his work.

Galleries and Agents are essencial to a portrait artist's success. They will invest their time and money only when there is a more than a promise to profit from their "front end" investments.

Because I am a seventy-six years old "unknown," and regardless how "professional" my portraits appear, the fact remains, profitwise, an agent's "window of opportunity" is more shut than open.

Bottom Line for "Anyone, of any age, can be a serious student." It is in the context of this conclusion that I question my "qualification" I do not intend to be a "Professional Student."

I also hold no illusions as I recognize that I am, for my age and anonymity, not a promising property. Nonetheless, I will continue to paint portraits because that is what I love to do. I will also continue, if permitted, to visit this forum as a "visitor" though I know a participating "membership" will accelerate my "professionalism."

Still, you may be right and I may be wrong. As a student my "window of opportunity" is wide open, but as an agent/gallery represented "professional" that "window" is, for the most part, closed.

Ed

[Alexandra Tyng]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

as an agent/gallery represented "professional" that "window" is, for the most part, closed.

Ed,

With all due respect, you sound pessimistic rather than realistic.

The fact is, there are other ways to be "successful" as a portrait artist besides relying on galleries and agents. I painted commissioned portraits for 30-some years without outside representation, before recently signing up with a portrait broker. Most commercial galleries won't even show portraits. Many artists get commissions from friends, business associates, etc., on their own with a little hustling. It's a nice way to make anywhere from a little extra income to a substantial income while doing what you love to do. I think there are many artists on this forum who would attest to that fact. Lots of artists started painting late in life and have had time to make a modest success, and sometimes artists achieve more than that.

The key is to look at portrait painting as not just a commercial enterprise, but as a creative endeavor. Then you will see the possibilities open up in front of you.

You can certainly choose not to apply for membership; that is up to you.

[Chris Saper]

Alexandra,

I completely agree with you. I just finished a 5-day sculpture class. One of the students was 90. Ninety. And this was her first attempt at sculpture. She did a great job, but the overriding aspect of her invlovement was the sheer fulminant joy she took every day in the learning and building process.

As you say, it just depends on what any given individual is seeking.

Originally Posted by Alexandra Tyng

Ed, With all due respect, you sound pessimistic rather than realistic.
[snip]
The key is to look at portrait painting as not just a commercial enterprise, but as a creative endeavor. Then you will see the possibilities open up in front of you.
[snip]

Dear Alexandra,

You are correct. I will continue to do portraits, and the rest will happen because of what I produce and for the directions I choose, That it will be the sensitivity, uniqueness and quality of my paint and not for my perceptions, that my measure of success will be decided.

Thank you for the generosity of your thought, time, and advice.

Ed

Ps: Am I correct to assume

[Alexandra Tyng]

[QUOTE=Unregistered] Am I correct to assume

Well that answered one question I had .

Was wondering if I was too old to start .( I think we think that about everything we attempt beyond our 15th birthday. "If only I was 14 ,then I could do it "

[Steven Sweeney]

Your work will speak for itself, in the final analysis. If you can get the job done at 76, then you'll be way ahead of the 27-year-old who, for lack of realistic ability or discipline or fire, doesn't perform. The galleries and agents come after the work is there, so focus on that.

I'm 54 and I decided a couple of months ago that I wanted to learn how to play the trumpet, and play well enough to join a high-caliber community band. I practice two hours a day, before and after the day job, and it's going very well, better than I'd hoped -- I play almost as well as a fifth-grader now! After the 20 years it would take to reach a minimum level of mastery, to really "own" the instrument, I'd be about your age now and my best performances would likely be behind me. With such a late start, I'll not likely ever play lead or really get into the high register with any skill, but somebody's gotta be in those second and third chairs to do the yeoman service, and it might as well be me.

Just last weekend I assisted with an art exhibition in which a top prize -- which included a month's exhibition at a high-visibility local gallery -- was won by a man who has AIDS, degenerative brain disease which is robbing him of motor skills, and is confined to a wheelchair. The artwork was judged anonymously, without any personal knowledge about the artists, so this was no charity award. It was recognition of his desire to create art, despite all the reasons why it was "too late for him, anyway."

Do what your heart tells you to do, without thought to the agents and accountants, or to age. A passion discovered late in life is no less valid than one developed in youth. When you have that first exhibition, I'll come play some solo ballads and old standards for background. Nothing too fancy, though. I'm not as young as I used to be.