Commission a Portrait at The Colomb Art Gallery, London.

The Colomb Art Gallery London is proud to present a new portrait commission service for 2011. Customers can now commission one of the gallery’s represented portrait painters to immortalise themselves, friends or family within a painting.

To commission a portrait is appealing on many different levels; to those who appreciate unique art, others who never get the right results from studio portraits or for those who want to do something original. A portrait can also prove to be a wonderful and unusual present for a loved one or friend.

The two artists who undertake the portrait commissions, Stanley Kerr (oils on canvas) and Peter Wardle (chalks on paper), are masters in their field and are both represented by The Colomb Art Gallery London.

Stanley Kerr is a highly regarded painter who has worked as a practitioner of both conceptual art and commercial design. He is now a full time painter who exhibits both nationally and internationally. He has exhibited with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and his work is in many international private collections, including MCA Records in New York, with foundations in Paris, Beirut and Cyprus. His painting has been described as ‘frankly beautiful’ and ‘unnervingly perceptive’. He explains his work as characterised by ‘super realism’, where the subject is depicted in great detail with ‘sensitivity to the optical surface of the canvas’ creating enigmatic images. To view examples of Stanley Kerr’s work, please see the gallery website.

Peter Wardle has been a professional portrait painter for over forty years, working in Oxford, Toulouse, and London. His portraits are can be found in such prestigious places as The National Portrait Gallery and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. He regularly exhibits with The Royal Portrait Society and has held numerous one man shows. To view examples of Peter Wardle’s work, please see the gallery website.

The portrait process is usually undertaken over a handful of sittings in which the artist has an opportunity to talk to the sitter and gain a sense of their mannerisms and character. The painting builds over time, changing as the artist has more contact with the subject. This process can be particularly appealing to those who find sitting in the glare of the camera lens an uncomfortable experience.

The portrait commissioning service was recently featured in the Marylebone Journal, in which The Colomb Art Gallery’s Managing Director Philip Short describes the experience of having his portrait painted:
‘Part of the first sitting was just the two of us in conversation. We talked about our lives and got to know each other for a few hours. Stanley would soon discover certain gestures or mannerisms I have, and sketching he would aim to uncover these. Occasionally artists may simply place the subject into a certain position, but Stanley sketches from a variety of differing angles to find the most natural composition.’

The portraiture service that The Colomb Art Gallery provides is an opportunity for customers to take a step out of the ordinary. In a culture which is saturated with photographic visual images, an artistic portrait can be a refreshingly different experience. Photographic portraits, which are so reliant on the subject producing the perfect expression in the moment, can often be un-representative of the individual as a whole.

In collaboration with the artist, the customer can create a portrait which reflects both their physical appearance and their unique character. A commissioned portrait extends far beyond merely a visual record of one’s appearance; it is highly personal object. The authenticity of a beautiful portrait, and even the process of commissioning it, is exciting and the results are utterly unique.

The Colomb Art Gallery is a leading independent art gallery located in Central London. They provide a number of services alongside the sales and exhibiting of artwork and offering portrait commissions. 10 per cent of sales from gallery portrait commissions will be donated to the Rotary Club of Marylebone to support local causes.

To commission a portrait or for further press information, please contact The Colomb Art Gallery London by telephone, email or visit the gallery.

A Leading Independent Art Gallery in Central London
The Colomb Art Gallery exhibits and sells an exceptional variety of original paintings, sculpture and limited editions from established British and international artists.

The gallery is centrally located in the fashionable Marylebone area of London, just minutes from Oxford Street, the Wallace Collection and Selfridges. For opening hours, please see the gallery website.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
Regular exhibitions, events and private views are held throughout the year. To be included on the gallery mailing list please email your contact details to: events@colombart.co.uk

YORK FINE ARTS
The Colomb Art Gallery is partnered with York Fine Arts, a leading North of England fine art gallery for over forty years. www.yorkfineartsonline.co.uk. All art works can be made available to view at both galleries.

GALLERY SERVICES
Gallery services include: art sourcing, restoration, portrait commission, quality picture framing, wedding list services and private gallery hire.

The Colomb Art Gallery
52a George Street, Marylebone,
London. W1U 7EA

020 7487 5118 | www.colombart.co.uk
Baker Street or Bond Street Underground Stations.

This release was published on openPR.