Step By Step...

The first meeting: This first meeting is primarily to acquaint the client with the process and the choices that can be made that will effectively influence the outcome of the final portrait. Decisions include whether we are looking for a portrait that is formal or informal, indoor or outdoor. Each portrait is unique and special and personal. We discuss clothing choice, location and select a day for the photo sitting.

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Photo sitting: This session is to achieve great natural lighting, composition and expression with the subject/s. I will be photographing a selection of compositions as well as facial expressions to find the perfect creative reference. The photography starts the creative process.

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Charcoals: A charcoal is then made from the best compositions shot at the photo sitting and these are done life size. Often at this stage the client is unclear how large the portrait should be and this is why various cropping options are drawn onto the charcoal.

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Going to canvas: When the client has had opportunity to evaluate the charcoals and photography we proceed to canvas. The client will view and have opportunity to make comments when the portrait is near completion. This is an opportunity also to discuss framing options.

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“Life member of the Portrait Institute (Founder: John Howard Sanden) Member of The Portrait Society of America. Richard James Cook, American portrait artist and official, family or children painter by commission in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Delaware, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Richard James Cook painter and artist paints prominent and famous people both in America and Canada. While official portrait painting contributes to becoming respected in his field, Cook as a portrait artist and painter equally enjoys family portrait commissions and children portrait commissions. Cook’s museum quality fine art commissioned portraiture at its essence is said to capture the subject’s inner spirit. Cook is regarded a realist, he is an artist and painter with impressionist influence.
      American portrait artist and painter Richard James Cook has commissions of president portraits, C. E. O. portraits, lawyer portraits, college dean portraits, bishop portraits, military portraits.
      As a Member of The Portrait Society of America and The Portrait Institute, Cook is considered a portrait artist and painter of renown. Clients liken his light and color oil portraits to John Singer Sargent, a master artist and painter with a stroke of genius. Whether a luxury portrait painting is for prestige or for posterity, child or president, Cook’s commitment to uncompromising quality is evident in his art. Often pets and animals will appear in Cook’s portrait paintings.
      Before Cook became an American portrait artist he spent a short time as a wildlife painter. Cook’s art career began with being accepted at Cambridge College of Art in 1973 but he opted for a college with a more commercial art application. He graduated in 1976. Cook is known as an artist and portrait painter in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Canada. He has been a painter and professional portrait artist for over 20 years and has been represented as a portrait artist by brokers and galleries specializing in portrait artists in both Boston Massachusetts and Toronto Canada.


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