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For many centuries, only the wealthiest and most established families could afford to have a custom oil portrait done. It was considered a sign of class and elegance. These days, however, anyone can have a beautiful custom made portrait done of themselves or their family. Before getting started, there are a few things to know.
It's common for people to be under the misconception that you will have to sit for an oil portrait. This means getting the whole family together and traveling to an artist's studio to sit, stiff legged and frozen, for hours on end. Sometimes you'd even have to go back for several sittings. The reality, though, is that if you find a professional painting with truly remarkable skills, all you have to do is send a photo in. They'll then be able to reproduce your photograph into a beautiful painting.
Once you've found an artist for your oil portrait you'll have some decisions to make. First, you'll want to decided what size you want your painting to be. Most likely you will want it on canvas, but there are many different sizes of canvas portraits available. You should decide if you want it to be a small 8x10 painting for display in the hallway or a much larger painting that will be the focal point of an entire room.
You'll also want to consider your framing and matting options. Most people prefer to have their oil portrait come with custom framing and matting. This enables them to hang their new piece of art as soon as they receive it, without waiting weeks or months for their local frame shop to get it matted and framed. You'll have a chose of colors of matting as well as different options to choose for the frame. Don't just consider what would look good with the picture you're having painted, you should also consider the decor in the room where you plan to hang it as well.
Once you've decided on the size and framing and matting options, you'll want to find the best artist to do your oil portrait. You're likely to find a local art student who will do it for next to nothing. Keep in mind though, that while their price might be cheap, if you don't get the quality product that you're looking for, it's not a very good bargain after all. You'll want to look for a self-taught professional with years of experience – who still offers great prices. A good option to start with is www.jimgleason.com.
If you want a special memento of yourself as you are now or your family, an oil portrait can be a great choice. You can simply send a photo in, to avoid having to travel and waste your time staring off into space while someone paints your portrait. You'll have several options to make as far as size and framing goes, so be sure to consider where you'll be hanging your painting. Lastly, choose a painter who is naturally skilled and experienced as well.
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