- -- ---- Home | Whose portrait? | Paintings | What's new? | Blog | Press | Bio | Contact me ---- -- -
 
   
 
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 Swollen are examples of that kind of work. Currently, I am working on a conceptual series which focuses on what it means to be an American.
 
For either the individual portraits or the portraits in series, the process is as follows...
   
   
 


  - -- ---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.
To commission me to paint a portrait, simply sign yourself or a loved one up for one such conversation and see a favorite face in a new way!

  
   
 
"Seeing Gwenn's other work, I already knew how accurately she captures her subjects. She works in a brushy, gestural style, exposing the anatomical structure beneath the skin, which seems to reveal a layer of vulnerability and truth. This made me nervous. If the painting captured the real me, and no one liked it, does that mean no one likes the real me?"
Author Marc Acito wrote about the experience of having his portrait painted. Read the full story!
       
       
  - -- ---PRICE LIST--- -- -
 
Do you want a portrait of someone special? Hire me to paint their portrait! Please ask about pricing for custom sizes.
 
  $900 for a 14 by 16 inch canvas.
  $1300 for a 24 by 18 inch canvas.
  $1800 for a 36 by 24 inch canvas.
  $2400 for a 48 by 34 inch canvas.
  $2000 for a canvas bag.
 

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. Please contact me for more details.

Besides the more traditional wall-hung portrait, consider having a portrait done that you can take with you everywhere. Portraits on handbags are a new direction in my work.
 
I paint one face per canvas, but happily work on canvases in pairs or in larger quantities to create diptychs or groups of portraits. The portraits are created to complement each other, like these two below.
 
 
 
 
I create simple portraits and also 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 2007 gallery or Swollen.
  
 
         
         
  - -- ---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 at gwenn.seemel@gmail.com.
 
     
  The Note Is The Winding Path It Takes 2007 - - - $1500
  After: Another Year 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1700
  Before: Breast Enlargement Surgery 2006 - - - - - $1700
  After: Breast Enlargement Surgery 2007 - - - - - - $1700
  Before: Sex Reassignment Surgery 2006 - - - - - - $1700
  After: Sex Reassignment Surgery 2007 - - - - - - - $1700
  After: Puberty 2007 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1700
  Once Was My Father's Hero 2007 - - - - - - - - - - $900
  Over Grown Up (Woman) 2006 - - - - - - - - - - - $3300
  Over Grown Up (Man) 2006 - - - - - - - - - - - - - $3300
  Bill Bradbury 2005 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1200
  Shauna Parsons 2004 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1700
  Matt Zaffino 2004 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $1700
     
     
     
 
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 portfolio.
  
     
     
     
 
 
     
 
- -- ---- Home | Whose portrait? | Paintings | What's new? | Blog | Press | Bio | Contact me ---- -- -
 
 
Copyright 2008, Gwenn Seemel.