Genre Portrait

                                                                           
       As I stated in the Portait Gallery, a Genre Portrait (pronounced shanrah) is a slice of life, an illustrated event from the life of the subject person.  Usually it includes several signficant persons such as family members or friends.  It can be a painting of an annual family tradition, a holiday tradition, a sporting event, a professional event, etc.  The picture can be from any age of the subjects life.  It's a very exciting portrait for the subject person because it reproduces an event of tremendous significance.  The skies the limit.  Be as creative as you want.  Here are some of the typical details that people want to know before they commission a Genre Portrait.

Where do I find the photos needed to paint the picture?  Since a genre portrait depicts a significant event, very often there are several photos already.  Different family members or friends will have their own snapshots.  But sometimes the event happened long enough ago that there are no photos.  The genre portrait displayed to the left was just such a portrait.  When this happens, I need as many photos of the subjects at that age that they can find.  Then I will have to use parts from many photos to piece together a picture of each actor in the scene in the position appropriate to their role.  Sometimes I need to photograph a living niece or nephew who resembles the adult person at that age.  In other words there's many work arounds for a lack of photos.  I can scan and enlarge all the photos you supply so that I can return them to you right away.

How big will the painting be?  The base size for a genre picture is 24x30."  Each standard size larger is an additional $50.00 added to the base price.  Some genre portraits are painted on 30x40" canvases.  That's only $100.00 more.
 
How much will the Genre Portrait cost?  A genre portrait is charged by the number of people in the picture.  The first person is $800.00, the second two persons are $700.00 each, the fourth person is $600.00, and each additional person is $500.00 each.  I have to reproduce the setting just as the patron remembers it, so the background cost $800.00.  For example if you had a scene with four people on a 24x30" canvas, the total cost would be $3,500.00 unframed.  If you wanted the same picture on a 30x40" canvas the cost would be $100.00 more or $3600.00.

How do I begin a Genre Portrait?  Simply email me at billparsonsart@astound.net  and I will answer your email immediately.  If you prefer me to telephone you, include your phone number in your email.