Karen begins her commissioned portraits with a consultation and photo shoot. She’ll discuss the style, setting, and other details that the client desires in a portrait. In an hour or two, she takes up to one hundred photographs of the subject(s) and of the settings that are to be included in the background. A second meeting is held to review the photographs, make final decisions on pose and background, make sketches, as well as to take more photographs if needed. A contract is signed and in keeping with standard professional portrait practices, a non-refundable deposit of 50% is paid.

If the client wishes to have Karen paint from pre-existing photographs, she will take a look at the photographs and determine if they are suitable to give her enough information to convey not only the pose and look of the subject(s) with detail, but also a sense of the personality or spirit. If Karen feels that the connection is right, she will proceed with them; if not, she will decline the commission.

When all design considerations are clear and approved, the painting is begun back in Karen’s Centerbrook, CT, studio. The balance of the commission price is paid when the portrait painting is accepted.

Karen stays booked six months to a year in advance. However, she does juggle completion dates to accommodate paintings that are gifts for special occasions.