My portraits are painted in the classical style, i.e., they are painted for the benefit of the subject. My role as portraitist is to be like a trusty but slightly dusty mirror. Classical portraiture is an attempt to reflect the subtle essence, inner beauty, and strength of an individual. Flaws and weaknesses are neither glaring displayed (as in photo-realism) nor eliminated or mythified (as in impressionism). Instead, they are embraced and given graceful refuge in the painting's shadows. In a good portrait, behind elegantly defined features, there should appear a glimmer of the subject's soul. In my attempts to illuminate that glimmer, I employ several methods. Live sittings are the surest method since they allow for such great communication between artist and subject but by this very fact they are also strenuous and time consuming. The best and most convenient alternative is to plan and begin the portrait with a series of photographic studies then arrange further live sittings as needed. If the subject will not be readily available, the photo studies provide a variety of poses and facial expressions which enable me to closely recreate the spontaneity of live sittings. It is possible to create posthumous portraits or others that necessitate working solely from photos provided by the client. In these cases, as many photographs as possible, no matter what their quality, should be made available -- much can be revealed by a candid snapshot. Also, as a means to try to know the subject, informal interviews with relatives or friends can be very helpful. Please feel free to contact me for further information: brianmakepeace@usa.net |
biography |
My portraits are painted in the classical style, i.e., they are painted for the benefit of the subject. My role as portraitist is to be like a trusty but slightly dusty mirror. Classical portraiture is an attempt to reflect the subtle essence, inner beauty, and strength of an individual. Flaws and weaknesses are neither glaring displayed (as in photo-realism) nor eliminated or mythified (as in impressionism). Instead, they are embraced and given graceful refuge in the painting's shadows. In a good portrait, behind elegantly defined features, there should appear a glimmer of the subject's soul. In my attempts to illuminate that glimmer, I employ several methods. Live sittings are the surest method since they allow for such great communication between artist and subject but by this very fact they are also strenuous and time consuming. The best and most convenient alternative is to plan and begin the portrait with a series of photographic studies then arrange further live sittings as needed. If the subject will not be readily available, the photo studies provide a variety of poses and facial expressions which enable me to closely recreate the spontaneity of live sittings. It is possible to create posthumous portraits or others that necessitate working solely from photos provided by the client. In these cases, as many photographs as possible, no matter what their quality, should be made available -- much can be revealed by a candid snapshot. Also, as a means to try to know the subject, informal interviews with relatives or friends can be very helpful. Please feel free to contact me for further information: brianmakepeace@usa.net |
I am a self taught portait artist, muralist and designer and have worked for over thirty years in upstate New York. My professional travels have taken me throughout North America where I have found great success in the Canadian, New England, metropolitan New York, Florida and Texas portrait markets. Although I specialize in portraiture, I have been commissioned to create all types of art and design -- from corporate logos, to computer game graphics, to CD covers, to building interiors. I was granted my first oil portrait commission at age 15 and have completed over 250 individual and group oil portraits since then, as well as several thousand portrait sketches in various media. My clients include hundreds of private individuals, numerous colleges and universities, corporations, banks, hospitals, local governments, and the Supreme Courts of Florida and Texas. |
