Managing Multiple Portraits

As I’m wrapping up this commission, which consists of 3 portraits intended to be hung next to each other in a board room, I’ve got a short list of discoveries I made while trying to make them all look like they belong together.

One portrait is a challenge, but 3 distinct framed paintings pose a new set of problems to be solved.  I needed to make them look like they belonged together, while using disparate photo resources.  Also I wanted the installation to seem harmonious as a whole composition.

I didn’t have the option of posing them similarly, so instead I chose to balance different poses against each other as though they were in the same composition.  Their suits and ties are in shades of grey, with check patterns as a recurring theme - sometimes in a tie, sometimes in a jacket. 

Each man is depicted to be approximately the same age, even though they were different ages in real life.  As they are no longer all with us, they will preside for future employees in a harmonious and ageless state, I thought.  Luckily, they all have the same hairline.

Each head is approximately the same size, and all the chins nearly line up on a horizontal line. 

The facial expressions were a consideration - 3 distinct personalities to balance.  I enjoy painting smiles and teeth, and their expressions range from friendly, open smile to subtle, contemplative smile.  For the board members who knew and treasured these men, this expression of their true personalities was an important consideration.

Paper palettes really helped.  I kept all the palettes from each layer of flesh tone on each man.  That way, I could ensure they looked like separate people with different skin tones, but unify the value ranges so that they appeared to be lit similarly.  One man has a light ruddy skin tone, and the other two are more olive complected….  The ruddy gentleman’s flesh had to be subdued so he’s only relatively ruddy, rather than absolutely ruddy.

At the end, the backgrounds and fabrics were done all at the same time.  I could have tubed some premixed paint, but I thought painting them all at once would ensure they were balanced and harmonious, but not identical. 

I’ll show you after the clients accept them, but I wanted to share the discovereies.  Please chime in with more hints and tips!

P.S. If you’re thinking, “Hey, Lisa, it sounds like you didn’t use your own photo resources, even though you’ve explicitly said that’s a terrible idea,” then you are very smart.