Portraiture a Dying Art?

[Michael Fournier]

Originally Posted by Mary Reilly

Then about a month later I received another phone call from a different bar association. They were looking for portrait artists for a retiring judge and received my name along with other artists from another bar association. You can guess what happened. Myself and the other artists lost the commission to an out of town photographer who was capable of making a photograph "look like a real oil painting". I then knew who gave them the list of names to contact, and also knew that the photographer was included in the list. They probably also told them the decision they had made. This second courthouse is also large, and in a very populated area which is located about 10 min. from D.C. Money should not have been an issue for them.

The real concern for both of these Bar Associations is that a new precedent has been set for future portraits, and the way the first one influenced the other, who knows how many other Bar Associations they could influence.

Mary

I feel That the person making the decisions here was not looking for a painting in the first place and someone should tell them that using a photo especially if there are paintings of previous judges hanging is tasteless and tacky. And that it distracts from the honor they are intending to pay this retiring judge. It reflects very poorly on them as well and in my opinion they dishonor this judge by only hanging a photo no matter what the photographer does it is still a photograph.

[Mary Reilly]

Originally Posted by Michael Fournier

I feel That the person making the decisions here was not looking for a painting in the first place and someone should tell them that using a photo especially if there are paintings of previous judges hanging is tasteless and tacky. And that it distracts from the honor they are intending to pay this retiring judge. It reflects very poorly on them as well and in my opinion they dishonor this judge by only hanging a photo no matter what the photographer does it is still a photograph.

Michael, I agree. I tried to nicely explain to the committee why a painting would be more appropriate then a photograph, but I didn't want to sound like sour grapes, so I didn't belabor the point. Their choice was truly a disservice to the retiring judge, and that is where educating the public can make a difference. Unfortunately, the choice for a judicial portrait is left up to a committee that may or may not know the best choice to make. It would be very appropriate for portrait artists to come up with information that would enlighten the "committees" that make some of the portrait decisions. Just as a Realtor will point out the reasons why a house is worth a a specific amount of money. People don't buy pricey things just because they are pricey, but rather because they have a perceived value. If someone perceives that the value of a photograph is the same value as an original painting, then why pay more for the painting. However, educating the person is a way to help them know the value of the painting is worth the higher price.

On an indiviual basis I try to educate my potential clients, but I think information offered on a broader scope would be great. An individual jeweler may educate a specific customer about diamonds, but what stirred the interest in the first place is the knowledge shared by the diamond industry to the masses. Yes, there are many who will always want original portraits painted, but there are also many more that could benefit from the knowledge of why they should choose original portraiture over photography.

[Ngaire Winwood]

Mary and Michael, I agree, great stuff.

Yes, there are many who will always want original portraits painted, but there are also many more that could benefit from the knowledge of why they should choose original portraiture over photography.

Mary, I think this hits the nail on the head.

[Mike McCarty]

I tried to nicely explain to the committee why a painting would be more appropriate then a photograph, but I didn't want to sound like sour grapes

Mary,

I think that if I had suffered through these circumstances I would be sending a letter off straight away. You've already lost the commission, unless their sensibilities are altered you probably won't get any future work. I think you would be doing them a huge favor by pointing out, in a very frank way, the error of their ways.

And besides, how many times do you get to blister a bunch of lawyers?

PS: From this point on I would like to disassociate myself, my daughter, all heirs and assigns, subsidiaries, comingled funds, loose conjoinments in kind, from Mary Reilly and any actions she may take in the above styled matter. Any percieved association with this thread has been induced through either alcohol, drugs (including peyote for religious purposes), or genetic defects.

[Mike McCarty]

Where the wind comes... comes... oh I can't remember the rest.

There is up in the Oklahoma legislature, Senate Bill 1347 - State of Oklahoma: Art in Public Places Act.

I met today with the head of the Oklahoma Arts Council, among other things we discussed the above mentioned bill which I will describe briefly here:

One and one-half (1 1/2%) of the cost of construction or renovation of state owned public buildings shall be allocated to incorporate artwork in, on or near the project. One percent (1%) is allocated for the commissioning of the artwork, one-half percent (1/2%) is allocated for administration of the program and maintenance of artwork.

Cost of renovation or construction must be $250,000 or more. The maximum assessment shall not exceed $500,000.

[Michele Rushworth]

Did he say anything about how you apply for any of the projects being planned?

[Mike McCarty]

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

Did he say anything about how you apply for any of the projects being planned?

Actually it is a very nice lady from Oklahoma City.

Reading from the information she gave to me ...

*
A Site Committee selected by the project agency includes representatives from the community and is charged with making recommendations to the Oversight Committee in the selection of the location for the artwork, artist selection and development of a project-specific educational program for tourism and public school curriculum.
*

Bureaucracies are always a mess but often the only way things like this can be put forward. I doubt that the State has a huge building fund, but, all things considered I thought it was a pretty nice gesture. Of course it hasn't passed yet.