Detail is absolutely essential. In 2001, I painted Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, in full military regalia. The portrait was to be dedicated to the Staffordshire Regiment and hung on a military base. Obviously, each detail of
the prince’s uniform—medals, badges, belt buckle, etc.—required the utmost attention to accuracy.
I’m always aware of the environment in which my portraits will hang. The painting of a CEO, to be hung in a corporate boardroom, should convey qualities of leadership and decisiveness. It should also complement a record of achievement and corporate stewardship.
If the picture will hang on a private wall, such as a family’s dining room or library, I want to capture a side of the person that goes above and beyond his life at work or in the public eye. I look for an expression or gesture that encapsulates his philosophy on life, one that would be immediately recognizable and endearing to relatives and friends.
 Portraitists typically have a standard range of fees based on a portrait’s size and scale. In my case, for example, a 10-inch-by-12-inch piece costs $12,000. A portrait of head and shoulders would cost $36,000. Larger pieces will vary from $50,000 to $100,000. These are small sums, however, compared to the value a portrait may have when finished. In 2001, I painted a 30-inch-by-25-inch portrait of Baroness Thatcher, England’s former prime minister. Upon completion, the portrait was auctioned for charity and garnered £250,000, around $460,000 at today’s exchange rates.
Perhaps above all, portraits are sentimental historical documents that will outlive the sitter. After I unveiled my portrait of Geng Zhao Jie, the former president of China’s largest automobile manufacturer, Geng passed me a note of thanks: “My family will keep your painting forever, and [through it] I will always remain in their hearts.”  | Richard Stone is the
official portraitist of the
British royal family. |
|
Context Is Key
