Portrait vs. figurative work; paintings of people that strangers would buy

[William Whitaker]

Administrator's Note: This thread was split off from http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...&threadid=1007

Linda asks what thoughts I have on the difference between a "portrait" and a "figurative" painting. How would one go about producing paintings of people that "strangers" would want to hang on their wall?

First, figure paintings are well down the priority list of gallery buyers, who much prefer landscapes and still lifes. When they do buy paintings of people, they go for narrative paintings first. Nudes are popular as are ethnic types. At the very bottom of the list are images of white men in suits. If you have a rejected portrait of a corporate board chairman laying about your studio, don't count on selling it in a gallery.

However, my gallery just sold what amounts to a portrait by any definition. Here it is.

[William Whitaker]

Here it is.

[Mari DeRuntz]

That painting takes my breath away.

[Linda Ciallelo]

That is "Outstanding"! I can see that it has many elements that would make it desirable to people who didn't know her. In my opinion, this is probably one of the best paintings that I have seen on any of three forums in several years. Superb!

Thanks for answering and posting it.

Linda C.

[William Whitaker]

If it succeeds, I owe it to the subject. She has a wonderful carriage doesn't she? Personally, I tend to slouch.

You're both so kind that I'm including a head close up. I haven't cleaned up the scan yet, so there are a few specks on the face and hair that are not on the painting.

[Mike McCarty]

My understanding of portrait vs. figurative would be this: A Portrait is done of a specific person and is intended to create a definite likeness of that person. Figurative paintings are paintings which include generic "people." Their presence is meant to give further context to the overall story. Would this painting, by Serra Santa from Argentina, be considered a seascape or figurative or both?

[Linda Ciallelo]

I would imagine that there are many versions of "figurative" paintings. It would all depend on how close one was to their subject. I would guess that types of paintings would cross over a lot. For instance some of Cassatt's paintings of people included still lifes. The painting would then be both figurative and still life. I guess that a close up painting of an individual could be both portrait and figurative, depending on the eye of the beholder.

[Anthony Palliser]

This a beautiful painting, quite aside from likeness. I'm not surprised it sold!

I have also sold portraits that were for one reason or another turned down by the commissioner, or that I just did for myself.

Isn't the answer that any portrait must first and foremost be a painting - just like a nude or a still-life?

[Chris Saper]

Dear Bill,

Gorgeous piece. To me, this painting bridges the gap between portrait and figurative work - I think perhaps because there are so many timeless elements at play. For example, the mood of the painting is very powerful, serene and contemplative. The clothing and hair could be from any of several centuries; the painting has the feel that it was executed in a studio, from life, before the invention of electricity. (Yet I know you could have have done this from a photo just as believably.) Just because she isn't pouring milk from a lovely old pitcher doesn't mean I don't believe she just set it down, just out of view.

When the viewer can gaze back and become engaged in the image, as in this painting, I think its appeal becomes increasingly universal. I'd hang it in my home in a heartbeat. It doesn't matter to me who the model is; in fact, I'd probably rather not have any factual information to intercede on my response to the canvas.

Oh, BTW, what color have you used in the background? It seem on my monitor to be fairly untextured; is this so?

[Mike McCarty]

I would like to agree with everything that Ms. Saper just said. Well said, Chris. I am curious to know the size of this beautiful painting.