Have you ever got your hands on a piece of artwork and felt an irresistible desire to frame it on your favorite wall at home? Are you an aesthete who loves art in portrait form, but aren’t quite sure where to start?  With an abundance of aesthetic choices available on the market, and even worse the mathematical nuances associated with a handmade portrait, it can actually be a difficult task to determine which option is the best.

Worry no more; in this quick, comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the four must-know tips when you buy handmade portrait:

The Evolution of the Customized Portrait Painting

 There are tons of great custom portraits, as well as individual artists, who’re eager to craft that perfect portrait for you. But first, let’s get the basics right. Portrait painting dates back to the aristocratic times of Europe in the 13th century. The tradition was born out of devotional and then dynastic purposes and spread out eminently like a forest fire. Soon after, there were even tradespeople getting their images portrayed, and by the end of the 15th century, when the famous portrait of Arnolfini Portrait surfaced, portraiture had become its own genre— regarded as the summit of technical flawlessness.

Today, portrait painting is still conceivably an avant-garde genre that is highly sought after and commands unparalleled luxury among the wealthy. Even better, it has continued to emerge as a prolific section of contemporary art that is still commissioned by governments, corporations, groups, clubs, and individuals.

Above all, the top trend that has picked up in the 21st century is the customized Portraits that lay a personal testimony about someone’s essence in complete contrast with the mundane selfie culture! So, when you buy a custom family portrait or one for thyself, you know it will remain a tribute to you for an entire lifetime.

What are the top tips to buy a Custom Portrait? 

• Size: Because it should LOOK appropriate to your space

While your custom portrait must arguably ‘stand out’, ‘your guests should clearly be able to spot your facial expressions without having to walk face-to-face with the portrait. So, before you’re put up the question: “How big is that?” here are a few questions you must ask yourself first: 

• How many people are in the portrait? Did the artist paint your close-up reproduction or craft a wide environmental composition? As a general rule of thumb, the more the people, and the further away they are in the portrait, you’d require to buy a large portrait size to clearly convey the individual emotions.

• From what distance you typically view the portrait? So, for example, if your portrait is going to command attention from a narrow hallway, you can go for a smaller one. On the contrary, if it is put up in the living room and usually viewed from the opposite end— it needs to be larger in size.

Pro Tip: While portraits come in a wide range of sizes, from classic 8″ x 10″ to medium 20″ x 24″ to the jumbo 48″ x 72″, you must pre-decide where you plan on hanging your portrait, as location can greatly influence sizing.

• Medium Matters

Did you know that Portraits can be master-crafted in an assortment of mediums, from charcoal and pencil to oil on canvas and watercolor? While oil will possibly the costliest, pencil and charcoal are less pricey due to mono-color involved. 

All in all, the overall look and feel of your portrait can be greatly affected by the type of medium you choose! Here’s a seek peek into the pros and cons of each medium so you can make the decision wisely.

• Charcoal: Contributes to beautiful contrast adorned with a distinctive result. And if it’s okay for you to lose the rainbow of colors, then charcoal can be your go-to medium for striking black and white pets.

• Pencil: While pencils results in outstanding details, it may dig a hole in your pocket because your artist may charge you hefty amounts due its time-consuming nature. But not to mention, pencil does an incredible job to make your portrait look the most realistic.

• Watercolor: If you don’t mind your look a tad bit loose, watercolor can provide you with some very unique and creative portraits.  

• Oil Painting: Oil on Canvas is not just the traditional mediums for portraits, but also the yardstick for centuries. It can result in durable portraits while giving you a great texture. Frame for that Perfect Finishing touch

Frame for that Perfect Finishing touch

A decorative and protecting finished edging that aesthetically merges with your portrait, a picture frame not just makes displaying your custom artwork safer and easier but also adds a touch of living class to your living sketch. Bear in mind that wood and metal are the two staple materials used to frame the paintings for ages! 

Wood Picture Frames

While wooden frames are undoubtedly the most traditional material option, they further allow you to make a distinct choice on the basis among the following: 

• • Solid wood: It is least eco-friendly and one of the priciest frame options on the list. 

• Medium-density fiberboard (MDF): Prepared from recycled wood material, most affordable, and easy-to-care for.

• Finger-jointed poplar: A great middle ground between the first two choices, it is both recycled wood material as well as moderately cheap.

Metal Picture Frames

Master crafted from aluminum, a lightweight metal that can be molded, and colored as per the requirements, Metal Picture frames or Matboard(s) — is an ornate lining that you can incorporate into your frame. It is generally used to bolster your display with an elegant dynamic.