A preliminary discussion is important to plan the portrait’s look. It’s best to decide ahead of time what clothing and background settings will be needed for the sitting. This can be done by telephone or email.

The next step is to meet for the portrait sitting, which usually takes 2 to 3 hours. Allow time for an informal social visit before any photography or sketching begins. This helps me get to know my subject, develop rapport, and observe characteristic gestures and expressions.

Children require a little extra patience to ensure they are happy and cooperative during the sitting. Mornings are usually best. I prefer “visiting “with the adults first, while the child is present. This strategy helps make the child feel comfortable with this new “friend of the family”, resulting in more natural expressions for the portrait.

The actual sitting follows. While the subject gets ready, I arrange whatever is needed for the setting, including professional lighting. Then I take a great number of photographs of the subject in a variety of poses.

After reviewing a selection of images, we decide together on the best ones to use as reference for the final portrait. The painting is usually completed without need for additional sittings. In the event of a posthumous portrait, the portrait may be painted from existing photographs.

General Information

Oils are painted on stretched linen. Pastels are on archival paper.

Oil portrait fees start at $5,000. Please contact the artist directly or one of her representatives for more details. Contact Lois here.

Travel expenses are included if within a reasonable driving distance. Long distance travel, framing, shipping and any applicable sales tax are not included.