The Preparatory Sketch:
Your Portrait Takes Form

After our photographic session, I retreat to my studio to create a preparatory sketch in a black and white study, focusing on composition, form, and emotional resonance—often with contemplative expressions that allow us to refine the overall composition before finalizing the connecting gaze. When completed, I present this sketch printed on fine art paper with my handwritten notes indicating color directions and artistic intentions, providing your first glimpse of how you appear through an artist's eyes. This preparatory sketch becomes not just a stepping stone but a cherished artifact in its own right, with many clients choosing to frame these studies alongside their finished portraits.