Buying a special present for that special person can be a real problem. Perhaps you already have all the material things you both need. You may also want something really unique, which is a difficult thing to achieve. Engraving and embroidery are very nice touches and will be greatly appreciated, but they can't add uniqueness to a present that is ultimately a standard catalog item.
If you really want to demonstrate you have put a lot of thought and effort into pleasing the one you love it is much better to have something utterly unique created for them. There are many ways of achieving this and you could literally commission an entire yacht or holiday home if you wanted. Another alternative would be a portrait. Portraits can capture the essence of a person and their character at a given point in their life and create a priceless heirloom for future generations. Again you may already have done this and many of your friends may likewise have portraits of themselves and family members hanging in their homes. The question is how do you capture your loved one's personality yet end up with something really special and unique? This is the task of a fantasy portrait artist.
Everyone has fantasies of living in other times or under other circumstances where the rules that constrain us do not apply. We might have a favourite celebrity, historical figure or fictional character we would like to meet. Ancestry is a very popular theme for fantasy portraits, bringing together family members from different centuries. You can follow the path of someone's life through significant events, including graduating from college, marrying, fighting in wars or building a home. Their achievements at different points in their life can be depicted. However, you might want to show your loved one with something they particularly love - wolves for example, wild horses or snow leopards. They could have a passion in life, like ornithology, fast cars or gun collecting. The list really is endless and is entirely down to your own imagination and that of the portrait artist you choose.
You will want to surf the world-wide web to find an artist whose work you like and which you think will appeal to your loved one. A wide range of media can be used for your fantasy portrait, ranging from graphite, through colored pencils, to watercolors, acrylics and oils. Even digital art can be used and can accomplish amazing results not possible with other media. It is essential that you understand what your fantasy portrait artist needs from you and that you build a good relationship with them. A special relationship and bond can form that can last a lifetime and result in many more unique works of art and family heirlooms. Recipients in turn are often quite emotional as not only does such a gift prove you really care, but it can open up a window to their psyche in a way they have not before experienced.
You need to take some time out to imagine how your loved one would most love to be depicted. It helps to have a piece of paper and write these things down. Your portrait artist will take this 'mind map' and take you through the creative process step-by-step. There may be sittings, or the artist could work from photographs - but these need to be of very good quality. For the best possible result and to avoid any misunderstandings, they will continue to involve you at the work at each stage, getting you to approve and sign off on changes as they are requested and made. It is important to realize that, with some media (colored pencil for instance) there are limits to the changes that can be made once elements are incorporated. With others, changes are possible, but can be time consuming and thus expensive. Communication and close cooperation are vital. It is also vital to consider how long it will take to create the piece, where the subject will want to hang it and what kind of frame will best suit it. There is no point in getting a huge portrait that they have nowhere to hang and a small portrait could well fit in a special place more easily.
I hope this article has given you the opportunity to give someone you love a truly unique and special present and that you will build a lasting creative relationship with the artist of your choice.
If you really want to demonstrate you have put a lot of thought and effort into pleasing the one you love it is much better to have something utterly unique created for them. There are many ways of achieving this and you could literally commission an entire yacht or holiday home if you wanted. Another alternative would be a portrait. Portraits can capture the essence of a person and their character at a given point in their life and create a priceless heirloom for future generations. Again you may already have done this and many of your friends may likewise have portraits of themselves and family members hanging in their homes. The question is how do you capture your loved one's personality yet end up with something really special and unique? This is the task of a fantasy portrait artist.
Everyone has fantasies of living in other times or under other circumstances where the rules that constrain us do not apply. We might have a favourite celebrity, historical figure or fictional character we would like to meet. Ancestry is a very popular theme for fantasy portraits, bringing together family members from different centuries. You can follow the path of someone's life through significant events, including graduating from college, marrying, fighting in wars or building a home. Their achievements at different points in their life can be depicted. However, you might want to show your loved one with something they particularly love - wolves for example, wild horses or snow leopards. They could have a passion in life, like ornithology, fast cars or gun collecting. The list really is endless and is entirely down to your own imagination and that of the portrait artist you choose.
You will want to surf the world-wide web to find an artist whose work you like and which you think will appeal to your loved one. A wide range of media can be used for your fantasy portrait, ranging from graphite, through colored pencils, to watercolors, acrylics and oils. Even digital art can be used and can accomplish amazing results not possible with other media. It is essential that you understand what your fantasy portrait artist needs from you and that you build a good relationship with them. A special relationship and bond can form that can last a lifetime and result in many more unique works of art and family heirlooms. Recipients in turn are often quite emotional as not only does such a gift prove you really care, but it can open up a window to their psyche in a way they have not before experienced.
You need to take some time out to imagine how your loved one would most love to be depicted. It helps to have a piece of paper and write these things down. Your portrait artist will take this 'mind map' and take you through the creative process step-by-step. There may be sittings, or the artist could work from photographs - but these need to be of very good quality. For the best possible result and to avoid any misunderstandings, they will continue to involve you at the work at each stage, getting you to approve and sign off on changes as they are requested and made. It is important to realize that, with some media (colored pencil for instance) there are limits to the changes that can be made once elements are incorporated. With others, changes are possible, but can be time consuming and thus expensive. Communication and close cooperation are vital. It is also vital to consider how long it will take to create the piece, where the subject will want to hang it and what kind of frame will best suit it. There is no point in getting a huge portrait that they have nowhere to hang and a small portrait could well fit in a special place more easily.
I hope this article has given you the opportunity to give someone you love a truly unique and special present and that you will build a lasting creative relationship with the artist of your choice.
About the Author:
Johanna Pieterman has produced fine fantasy portraiture for 25 years. Visit her fantasy portraits web portfolio to see how a fantasy portrait could be that special once in a lifetime gift for that special occasion.
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