Official Portrait Procedures
Meet the Artist – Jamie Lee McMahan
There are as many stories as there are portraits of subjects, some famous, most just the opposite. it’s my job as the artist, or let’s say, the messenger, to capture the real person as best I can with the brush and paint and canvas just as it has been for the last five or six hundred years and to relate that story. That’s the joy of this endeavor!
There are about eight billion human faces on this planet. Each one is different from the other and the miracle is that we can immediately distinguish the ones we know on sight!
My process is roughly the same as that of the old masters, putting oil paint on a canvas and moving it about until a likeness is reached. I use photos a lot and I love to have my subject sit for me where I can engage him or her in conversation to see “that which is beneath the surface” come to light. The famous genius Italian sculptor, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, said years ago that a person gives himself away just before or just after speaking… absolutely true!
What it comes down to is that a portrait is a way to honor someone whom we admire, respect or hold dear. It is a celebration of one’s life and I try to make the process exciting and fun, and to tell a story.
And who doesn’t love a good story!
Portait Procedure
During the course of the official portrait, there will be no surprises.
Step one, the artist begins gathering images of the subject with necessary sketches, and photos, in person if possible, to produce a small oil study of the proposed composition. Once approved, he starts the full size canvas. Here, the real work takes place. Periodically, over the project he shares occasional email photos of the painting’s progress, again, no surprises.
The artist works on location or at his studio.
Before the canvas is finished, the artist will assist in the selection of an appropriate frame to compliment the portrait in its full effect. It is a collaboration of artist and client that allows those concerned the joy and magic in the creation of a commissioned oil portrait!
Inquire
Commissioning an official portrait is a deeply personal and rewarding experience. From the first sketches to the final brushstrokes, every step is carefully considered to ensure a timeless piece that captures the essence of its subject. The process is straightforward and collaborative.