My work comes in two varieties:
the individual portrait
-AND-
the portrait in a series.
I paint portraits of individuals for commission, and I also paint portraits of groups of people for the purpose of exploring a particular issue. I exhibit the latter in conceptual shows—Mutually Beneficial and Apple Pie are examples of that kind of work.
For either the individual portraits or the portraits in series, it works like this...
-—PROCESS—-
To paint my portraits, I work from photos of my subjects that I have taken myself during the course of an interview. And that interview is an easy and informal matter. I get my models talking on a topic that most everyone is happy to discuss...I get them talking about themselves! I require one hour of conversation with my subjects in order to photograph them adequately.
“This thing gets me more play than one of those tiny lap dogs celebrities carry around!”
“Wow, what can I say? I was so reluctant to have you do my portrait, and why? I was nervous when I came to pick it up, and why? You are amazing—but I already knew that! You captured the essence of me and even I can see it. Thank you for the portrait.”
“When I saw the painting [of my mother] all I could do was cry. You managed to capture not only her physical likeness, but her spirit as well. Being away from my family has been the biggest challenge of living [here]. All I can say is that when I sit with the painting, which I do often now, I miss her less.”
“Your painting, Indian, grabbed hold of me and won’t let go. I love it!”
“This portrait is so amazing! ...I really feel like you nailed [my son’s] personality, which is fascinating, since at 3 months I don’t think I had a great handle on describing his personality.”
To commission me to paint a portrait, contact me so that we can arrange a meeting and, if you’re interested, a studio visit as well.
-—PRICE LIST—-
I require half the fee as a deposit at the time of the interview and the balance upon completion of the painting. If you would prefer a payment plan, we can arrange that too.
I paint primarily on canvas or other stretched materials, but I also work on panel to create miniature portraits. The canvases come hang-ready, with finished sides and a hanging wire already installed. The small panels are finished neatly, but unframed and not hang-ready.
There are three main options for commissioning a painting. Single portraits, double portraits, and You Bags are explained below with prices and sizes listed. For custom sizes, please ask about pricing.
I paint single portraits with just one face in the composition.
Gwenn Seemel’s Lola 2010
- --SINGLE PORTRAIT-- -
$800 for a 7 by 5 inch composition on panel.
$1000 for a 10 by 10 inch composition on canvas.
$1300 for a 16 by 14 inch composition on canvas.
$1800 for a 24 by 18 inch composition on canvas.
$2400 for a 36 by 24 inch composition on canvas.
$3300 for a 48 by 34 inch composition on canvas.
And I create double portraits with two subjects appearing in the painting.
Gwenn Seemel’s Emily And Tristan 2011
- --DOUBLE PORTRAIT-- -
$2800 for a 24 by 24 inch composition on canvas.
$3300 for a 30 by 30 inch composition on canvas.
$3800 for a 36 by 36 inch composition on canvas.
$4300 for a 48 by 34 inch composition on canvas.
Besides wall-hung paintings, I also create portraits that go with you everywhere.
Gwenn Seemel’s Megan 2007
- --YOU BAG-- -
$2000 for a You Bag with a single portrait.
And I paint groups of matched compositions in which the portraits complement each other, as in this diptych.
Gwenn Seemel’s Curnis and Becky 2010
Gwenn Seemel’s Michèle 2010
Along with simple portraits, I also make portraits with a little something extra going on. The “something extra” is a compositional element that is informed by a detail that the subject tells me about her-him self during the interview.
When commissioning a portrait with that something extra, add $500 to the prices listed above. For other examples of this kind of painting, please visit my galleries devoted to Swollen or to Apple Pie.
-—FOR SALE—-
To view an image of a painting that is for sale, click on its title below. If you are interested in purchasing any of the following paintings, please email me.
- — TJ Norris 2010 — $3300 —
- — First American 2008 — $2600 —
- — Raha The Riveter 2008 — $2600 —
- — Amazigh Gothic 2008 — $2400 —
- — Nixon Returning Home Robed In Embroidered Silks 2008 — $2800 —
- — Letter From The American Cousin 2008 — $1600 —
- — Why The Wabbit Wears White Gloves 2008 — $2100 —
- — This Looks Like A Job For A Chicano! 2008 — $1500 —
- — You Ain’t Nothing But An American Citizen 2008 — $2100 —
- — The Declarer 2008 — $800 —
- — The Susan B 2008 — $1600 —
- — Paula Bunyan’s Pine Nut Planting Pouch 2008 — $2600 —
- — Ellis Island Pilgrim 2008 — $2100 —
- — The Real Babe 2008 — $2100 —
- — Chú Xam 2008 — $2100 —
- — Erzulie Fitzgerald 2008 — $1400 —
- — Nowa Flaga 2008 — $2800 —
- — I And Cosmonaut Neil Armstrong 2008 — $2700 —
- — Liberty 2007 — $2400 —
- — The Note Is The Winding Path It Takes 2007 — $1900 —
- — After: Another Year 2007 — $1900 —
- — After: Puberty 2007 — $1900 —
- — Once Was My Father’s Hero 2007 — $1000 —
- — Over Grown Up (Woman) 2006 — $3300 —
- — Over Grown Up (Man) 2006 — $3300 —
- — Bill Bradbury 2005 — $1400 —
- — Shauna Parsons 2004 — $1900 —
- — Matt Zaffino 2004 — $1900 —
Besides those listed above, find out whose portrait I have already painted. Or, to get a better idea of what I might make you look like, check out my paintings.
