BRENDA MYRICK
Lincoln,Vt. 802-453-6323
wonder@gmavt.net
Portrait Gallery
About Me
Portrait Pricing
Questionaire
Works in Progress
Paintings for Sale
Contact
I work with photos, preferably taken with a telephoto lense. You can take them your self, have them taken by a professional, or set up a photo session with me. When you photograph your subject move in close enough to fill the frame with the part of the subject you want painted. You can achieve this by being positioning yourself far enough away and then zooming in on your subject. Picture what you would like see included in the portrait. The larger the image, the more accurate the finished painting will be. Please take 24 to 36 exposures, outdoor lighting is best, in the morning or early afternoon.
The photo does not need to be perfect. I just need clear, undistorted 35mm prints with good color. If you have an old photo you would like me to consider working from you can e-mail it to me, and I will get back to you about it's suitability. Please remember you are under no obligation, and I am happy to give free estimates.
Here are some more general guidelines on photographing your subject; Be sure to position yourself at eye level with your subject. Take lots of photos in different positions and allow for blinks and movements. Make sure you get one good shot of the subject posed as you would like it painted. If you are commissioning a head and shoulders portrait please frame it that way. If you are having a full body portrait take some of both head and shoulders and also full body shots. If you want two or more subjects together in one painting, you can take the photos separately. What will be important here is that you are sure to shots of your subjects in relatively the same position, from the same distance between you and the camera, and that the light comes from the same direction.
If your animal is a horse make sure the ears are forward, the horse looks animated, and head slightly turned. For a full body portrait of a horse make sure the horse is standing with it's weight on all four legs. If you are commissioning a horse and rider please provide additional photos of the rider off the horse.
I'd also like to hear your stories. I want to paint a personality not just the external. It shows in the final portrait. Please send me all your prints and negatives. Choose the pose you would like me to use to paint the portrait and mark it on the back-"portrait pose". Make notes on the other prints on the true color of the coat, eye color, etc.