Building a Portfolio

[Doreen Lepore]

Thanks, Leslie.

I do have alot of photos and a huge family that lives up north. However, I'm trying to get more experience painting from life, something that's hard to come by. You're right though, I should drag some of those out too. Gotta get off the computer!

[Michele Rushworth]

Be aware that if you paint from any shots you take of strangers on the beach or in a park, you need to get their signature on a model's release, especially if the painting might ever make it into your portfolio. There are privacy laws involved and the subjects of your photos/paintings may well see or hear of the painting you made of them. It's better to get the legal issues out of the way up front.

When my kids have been photographed in candid situations for local newspapers, the photographer takes the picture, then approaches us for the model's release. That way he gets the candid photo, but only uses it in the paper if I sign the release. (I guess you could call this the "shoot first, ask questions later" approach!)

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Hi Michele!

Great advice, I had no idea such a law exists. I have a couple of portraits from models who posed in art studios, as part of an exhibit. I do not have a signed release and now you made me think that maybe I better take them out of the exhibit.

[Michele Rushworth]

Whenever I draw or paint from a model in a class, or an open studio session where there's a model, I get him or her to sign a release for me, before the session starts. I don't know what kind of arrangement the model has made with the art school who hired them, but I want to know that I personally have permission to use their image, in case it turns out to be something I want to show later.

You might want to contact the art school where you saw the models that you used. They often use the same models over and over again, and you might still be able to get their signature.

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Sounds good! I'll try that.

[Leslie Ficcaglia]

Newspapers here do not get model's releases before printing photos. In fact, I've been irritated with one in particular because they have run photos of my paintings twice, in different articles, without giving me attribution as the artist. I'm not talking about pictures in which there was a barely distinguishable painting in the background, but a photo of the portrait and a relative of the subject of that portrait, both prominently displayed, to make a point about the relationship between the two. That's not exactly the same issue but maybe it's close enough.

Back to the original issue, the newspaper's theory is that if the photo of a person was taken in a public place the individual can't claim that his or her privacy was breached. Don't know what a lawyer would make of that but this is the rationale I've heard.

I have only done this once or twice, but when I paint someone without having gotten permission first I just make a few changes in the features so that it's no longer a portrait of that particular person.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Doreen,

Wow, I am jumping in here late. When I got started, I offered to do portraits of my friends and their kids. The first understanding is when I have a show, they have to let me use it whenever I want. This way they have paid for the framing... plus, I think one of the best ways to market yourself is for people to see your work actually hanging in someone's house.

I have also done this with some businesses... I don't know if you caught the beauty salon photo in the pastel section of critiques, but that was along those lines, too.

Another thing I have asked of people if they are in "high" places is to compensate me by having open houses - where I show lots of art and meet lots of people. My last one was well attended. A lady that came owned a lovely store, offered to hang one there, and I have got a number of people from seeing the portrait hanging there.

My contract for commissions acts as a release. I also, having a graphic backgroud, keep a "book" of all my work, which consists of "sell" sheets with the portrait reproduced with a digital camera. That way I can release the portraits I mentioned above.

[Doreen Lepore]

Thanks folks for adding more information! I have all the appropriate release forms, just need the models! Oh yeah, I could also use more time and energy and a more settled life. But I guess that's normal.