The importance of portrait painting. 

We can take photographs. Why paint a portrait? Is it make an idealized image of a person? I’d say probably not, look at Matisse’s “Femme au chapeau” or works by Duran, Van Gogh, I could go on but, the point is those are not exactly as the sitter looks. They are as the Artist sees them. So let’s think about that. When you choose to paint a portrait of a person with a mean disposition, using only very chromatic colors. You may end up with a fauvist type picture that will have colors that symbolize the meanness, contrasting abrasive combinations to tell you a little about the character of the person being painted. We also have to look a little deeper at the idea of color and what it represents to different cultures and through time. Those factors can play a part in How the viewer perceives the person. In addition to color the crispness of lines and edges as well as any distortion that may be implied. That is why we paint a portrait. It’s a two person story. The artist and the model. A painted portrait: marks a period in culture, a time in a life, an artists perception of that life, and the collectors stewardship of the work. Painting a portrait is more important than ever. With the digital age upon us. Things are changing fast. Our views need an a place in history.  We should take that place with our friends and family neighbors and coworkers. Thanks for all your support.

~Artist, Mike Packer.