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Guest post by Deirdre M. Folley Usually, I have the pleasure of being the one to make the behind-the-scenes arrangements for John's painting commissions. This time around, I had the experience of sitting for John and getting the formal portrait treatment. Since I've been working with John on this kind of thing for years, I knew basically what to expect. But for many people, this process is shrouded in mystery. I decided to go ahead and let you in on the experience. For those young adult or adult patrons who are up for the full experience, the portrait process will be mostly in-studio and will involve several sittings. For these, John relies in part on photos for reference, but the bulk of the work on the portrait is done from life. This yields the best results: the colors will be most accurate and alive; the shapes, form, and proportions will be more clear and present to John; and, perhaps most importantly, the subject's personality and likeness come through the most clearly when the painting is done from life in the actual presence of the person. This does require a time commitment (several sittings of a few hours each) -- and the subject (that is, the person who's sitting) has to be up for sitting still! (With breaks, of course!) In the case of child portraits and for the purposes of this post, however, we're discussing one photoshoot from which a portrait will be painted. Without further ado... Professional Insights Or, what to expect when you go to John's studio for a photoshoot for your painted portrait:  1) The process is fluid. A patron may expect to walk in, have the artist line up three shots systematically, execute according to a clear set of rules, and then wash hands and send the client home. What you need to keep in mind is that John is an artist by trade, not a surgeon. He doesn't know in advance exactly how it will go, how many photos he'll shoot, or exactly what colors he'll use; the process is intuitive and depends on variables like the light and the mood. While there are certain things you can expect, not every aspect is predictable. By trying different poses and draping and by working with the natural light, John will gradually hone in on the shot or shots that seem to capture the subject handsomely and achieve the desired goals for the painting. 2) The photoshoot takes some time. Because, as we've noted, the process is a gradual one, it's best not to rush it. John will want some great pictures to work with at the end of the session. So he'll want to ensure that he's explored different options and that he's caught you from your best angle and you're looking and feeling comfortable. For this to happen, expect that two hours will fly by. (We were a little pressed for time when we did the photoshoot for my portrait, but we enjoyed it nonetheless and got some good results!) 3) Sitting for your formal portrait painting is not intimidating. You don't have to be an experienced model (or anything closet to it) in order to do this! While having your portrait painted is a very exciting event and the result can be very formal, the process doesn't have to be. With John, you can expect a quiet studio atmosphere and his typical laid-back manner. Some drinks and snacks will be provided so you can stay comfortable while you hang out. You'll be encouraged to bring a friend along with you to help you feel at ease. For child portraits, one or both parents will be present throughout the session. Depending on my schedule, I'll be available as well as John's assistant in making you feel comfortable and look your best.  Some outtakes from a fun time in the studio. Some tips for getting the most out of your portrait painting photoshoot:
{Curious about the photoshoot of the little girl, above? See the finished product on John's portraiture page. } {And if you can see yourself giving a portrait as a gift this Christmas, don't wait too long! The lead time from scheduling a sitting to receiving a finished painting is a matter of months!} Usually we hear from parents who are interested in having a portrait of their child or children. I'm curious: if you could commission one portrait painting of someone in your life, who would you want it to be? Can you imagine where it would hang?
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Guest Author: Deirdre M. Folley A few years ago, John had a portrait commission that was a little different from other such jobs he's received: a mother, Mary, requesting a memorial painting of her recently deceased daughter who had suffered tremendously from a seizure disorder and other difficulties and disabilities in her short life of twenty-two years. John knew Courtney only through what he heard from her mother and from the photos Mary provided as source material. He did his best to capture this young lady, by talking with Mary and by keeping her closely engaged in the painting process with frequent updates of his work in progress. Recently, I had a chance to ask Mary a bit about that experience of working with John to have this portrait done. Below, she shares about what the process and the product meant and mean to her: DF: What made you want to commission a painting? My daughter Courtney passed away in 2014. I wanted a permanent reminder in our home of our daughter. I love portraits and after some research I decided to see if John was available to paint one of Courtney using photographs of her. It is the focal point of our living room and the most talked about piece of art in our home. DF: And did it come out to be what you were hoping for? Oh yes. It is a stunning piece. His attention to details is amazing. The details of Courtney’s face are spot on. He even got her smile right which is tough because she had buck teeth. The shading of Courtney’s hair and his attention to the texture and size of her curls make the portrait come alive. Courtney was in a wheelchair for most of her life and had severe scoliosis. John was able to paint her in such a way that you would never know that. She is just beaming with joy. He captured her personality perfectly. It’s so beautiful. DF: How was the experience of working with John? An absolute delight. John communicated a clear and concise timeline for the project, worked out a just and fair payment plan and included me in every step of the process. He was sensitive to my grief and honored every request I made from adjusting the shade of her hair, the bend of her nose, to the color of the background of the painting. He left nothing to chance. DF: Do you receive feedback from others who see the painting? People love it. Anytime we have people over, the portrait makes them stop for a moment and ask about Courtney. It’s a conduit for sharing about our daughter and the amazing young woman she was. We are blessed that John shared his gifts with us. I highly recommend John Folley for his portraiture and other fine art. He incredibly talented and we are honored to have his work in our home.  'Courtney' 16 x 20" Learn more about commissioning a portrait by visiting the Portraiture page, or by reaching out directly at contact@johnfolley.com.
 One of my very favorite New England faces: my daughter, Evangeline. I am pleased to announce the launch of my current project: a series of paintings and general focus of my work surrounding the theme of The Faces of New England. No doubt you immediately think of human faces -- and so do I. I am available to take on portrait commissions and will be excited to have local patrons who want to be part of this project and who want their faces to represent the beautiful states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. There is no one face that encapsulates the character of this region. I myself will be scouting out subjects that I think embody some aspect of New England and what it means to me. The possibilities here are vast and fascinate me! What are the New England "types?" Are there some folks who may not immediately come to mind, but who deserve to be included? Who do you believe represents New England? I will also be seeking out the Face of New England in the landscape and architecture of the area. Those spots that give us our character; sights and buildings that make New England memorable; places that people come from elsewhere to see -- or perhaps would, if they knew about them! Finally, this theme will make its way into my still life work within the studio. I'll be looking to include objects and products unique to New England within my still life paintings. I'm excited to find inspiration in the things that are around us that we perhaps take for granted: natural objects, artisan products, New England furniture, etc. Keep this in mind for a custom still life request: you might have something that's near and dear to you that you'd like incorporated - and frozen in time - in a still life painting. And, if so, I'd love to hear the story behind it!  Plein air sketch in Portsmouth, NH As we know, Boston is the most prominent city in this region. I'm very proud to be taking my traditional, Boston School training and applying it this way to look all around the region and develop a series that will be meaningful to everyone who cares about this part of the country. What are your favorite places in New England? Do you know someone who somehow embodies the the region or one of the states, specifically? What are the hidden treasures of this beautiful area that are waiting to be preserved in art? I'd love to hear! I'll have more to say about this project as it develops! #facesofnewengland |
AuthorHello there, I'm John H. Folley. Thanks for visiting the Beauty Advocacy Blog, where it's my job to help you become a more discerning art appreciator. 
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