The barter economy
For fifteen years now, I’ve been going to Dr. John Roberts for my dental care. In 2007, my dentist took an interest in my work and offered me a trade: he would commission a portrait of himself and pay me in fillings and check-ups.
Though I’d thought about doing trades like this before, I’d never actually done one. And it was only when Dr. Roberts proposed the swap that I realized why. The barter economy is based not on connecting with the right people but on building lasting relationships. In this economy, it isn’t just about who you know: it’s about how long you’ve known them.
As I started work on Dr. Roberts’ portrait, I was keenly aware of my color choices.
My dentist is not that particular about color…
...but, at some point in our conversations about my work, he’d mentioned that his wife did not love the bright candied colors of some of my portraits.
In my years of doing commission work, I’ve learned to pick up on cues like this one.
It’s a useful skill business-wise, but also aesthetically.
While I tend towards fresh and even outrageous colors if left to my own devices, I am always happy to have an excuse to work with a different palette.
And I much prefer taking color direction from clients and their loved ones to the alternative of diving into a rainbow and hoping to resurface with an array that suits the subject.
Once I learned that mauves and taupes were themes in Dr. Roberts’ home, it was simple enough to steer my mixing in that direction.
The most complicated part of this portrait was getting the friendly attitude of my dentist’s neck and shoulders right.
And including his special glasses meant showing a lot more shoulder and fabric than I usually do.
Every portrait I paint presents me with a new set of challenges and lessons, but this one went well beyond the usual difficulties of capturing a likeness and a person.
Gwenn Seemel
Dr. John Roberts
2009
acrylic on canvas
24 x 18 inches
(detail below)
Perhaps the most educational part of my experience with this portrait was the double interview that my dentist and I did with JoAnn Boatwright of the Hillsboro Argus. I got to listen in as the reporter asked Dr. Roberts about how he felt about the portrait—just the sort of feedback I love to hear.
photo by JoAnn Boatwright with the Hillsboro Argus
For more information about what my dentist thinks of his likeness, see Boatwright’s article.
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CATEGORIES: - Process images - Practice -
