Family photographer
EVANS PORTRAITS
The Portrait Journey: From Concept to Legacy
The Photographic Portrait Study:
Capturing Your Essence
With our vision established, we move to the photographic portrait study—a crucial step where I observe how you naturally move and express yourself. This isn't a typical photography session; it's an artistic study where I capture different angles, expressions, and poses.
I guide you through various positions and lighting scenarios, searching for those moments that reveal your authentic self. These photographs are not the final product but rather sophisticated references that inform the next stages of creation.
When commissioning a portrait with Evans Portraits, you're not simply purchasing artwork—you're embarking on a thoughtfully curated journey that transforms who you are into a timeless legacy. Many clients are curious about what this process entails. Using a recent portrait creation as an example, I'm delighted to share the artistic journey we'll take together.
The Consultation: Designing Your Vision
The Consultation: Designing Your Vision
Our journey begins with a personal consultation where we discuss not just how you wish to be portrayed, but where your portrait will live. I carefully consider your home's architecture, existing décor, and the specific space where your portrait will hang.
During this conversation, we explore influences that resonate with you. Perhaps you admire the dramatic elegance of John Singer Sargent's society portraits, or the luminous intimacy of Vermeer. These references help us develop a shared vocabulary for your portrait's aesthetic direction.
This consultation is where your portrait begins to take shape in my mind—where I start envisioning colors, composition, and the story your portrait will tell for generations.
The Preparatory Sketch: Your Portrait Takes Form
After our photographic session, I retreat to my studio to create a preparatory sketch like the one shown here. This sketch, rendered in fine pencil, represents the first tangible manifestation of your portrait.
In this critical stage, I focus on composition, form, and emotional resonance. You'll notice that I often render these sketches with a contemplative expression or downcast eyes—a deliberate artistic choice that allows us to focus on the overall composition before finalizing the gaze that will ultimately connect with viewers.
When completed, I present this preparatory sketch printed on fine art paper with my handwritten notes indicating color directions, texture considerations, and other artistic intentions. Many clients are surprised by how moving this first glimpse of their portrait can be—seeing themselves through an artist's eyes often reveals aspects of their character they hadn't fully appreciated.
This preparatory sketch becomes not just a stepping stone but a cherished artifact in its own right. Many clients choose to frame these studies alongside their finished portraits, appreciating the narrative of creation they represent.
The Painted Portrait: Bringing Your Vision to Life
With your approval of the preparatory sketch, I proceed to the painted portrait. This is where the monochromatic world blooms into a sophisticated palette designed specifically for you and your environment.
Every element is carefully considered—from the background textures that complement your home's aesthetic to the subtle color harmonies that bring dimension to your complexion. Unlike the preliminary sketch, the painted portrait typically features a direct, engaging gaze that creates an immediate connection with viewers.
Hand Embellishments:
The Artist's Final Touch
The journey culminates with what is perhaps the most intimate part of the process— hand embellishment of your portrait. After your image is printed on museum-quality canvas, layers of paint are added to enhance dimensional quality and luminosity.
These hand embellishments add a depth that cannot be achieved through mechanical reproduction alone—subtle highlights on jewelry, dimensional texture in fabrics, and luminous quality to skin tones. This final stage transforms your portrait from a beautiful image into a one-of-a-kind work of art with presence and dimension.
Installation: Your Legacy Established
When your finished portrait is installed in your home, our artistic journey reaches its destination. What began as a conversation has transformed into a legacy—a work that captures not just your appearance, but your essence and spirit.
A true portrait lives beyond the moment of its creation, gathering meaning as it witnesses the passage of time and generations. It becomes part of your family's story—a testament to who you are that will speak to those who come after you.