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In (cyberanon) writes:

I am a professional portrait artist and was wondering whether people
think it is a good idea to offer my services to boat owners, that is,
I would like to paint boat portraits. I am already involved in the
portraiture of people, animals, homes, etc., but would really like to
paint (or possibly use pastels) a cherished boat: I love to do large,
graceful "objects" (architecturally interesting buildings and streets,
large homes and gardens, for example) and feel enthusiastic about
doing a boat. All I need is a client! Any ideas...? Is this even a
good idea itself?

Thanks,
D

This is a good idea, if the artwork is any good. I have a friend who has
been doing this kind of painting for some time (perhaps 50 years). The
best customers (moneywise) are companies that order portraits of ships
for thier main offices, captains etc. These are mostly modern merchant
ships. As a sailor he of course has more interest in painting sailing
yachts, but the owners can not match the price tags of tankers. The
paintings are mostly bought as birthday presents for keen sailors for
their adcanced round figures (60, 70,...). Especially yacht clubs buy
these for their commodores birthday but some succesfull racing yachts
could get their picture in the club premises. I must say that for many
sailors, who have just about everything a painting of their beloved
yacht has been a very dear present.

In painting a sailing yacht (usually sailing in a nice breeze) is not an
easy task, first you have to get the rigging details just about right
and then you have to get the yacht in the waves and the angle to be
right to match the wind and sea conditions. As the pictures usually go
to the sailors, if these details are not in line with their years long
experience and memory images, they will not get the emotions the picture
is supposed to wake. Of course if you are doing it in a very abstract
way, you have more artistic freedom, but I am sure, it will be harder to
sell.

Good luck with your artwork.

- Lauri Tarkkonen