John Burton 
Member since: October 19, 2008
Total live articles: 36
Portrait artist working mainly from clients' own photographs.
The point of this article is to attempt to highlight some of the traits that may signal a bad customer. The following hints are by no means fool proof, but merely good indicators of potentially disingenuous clients.
I don’t claim to be an expert, but I have owned two Hovawarts (or Hovies), and hope I can offer any prospective owners an unbiased insight into the breed.
If you hold information about customers, whether it’s on paper, in data files, or on a web site, the Data Protection Act 1998 applies to you. This article provides an overview of the Act, to help you better understand your legal obligations.
The stop-start nature of a seasonally influenced workload can be extremely frustrating. It’s like waiting for a bus; nothing for ages, then three come along.
Common sense advice to preserve your mental, physical and financial safety. This article is in two parts: simple steps to ensure you and your clients' safety, and networking with other artists to safeguard your mental health and prevent feelings of isolation.
Anyone deriving an income from artwork should declare this to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). This article provides an overview of the self-employed sole trader's obligations, and tax liabilities.
Tillie the ten-year-old Jack Russell terrier who paints has notched up her 20th solo exhibition, earned more than $100,000 from sales of her work.
This article attempts to clarify SEO, and pose the question – “do you really need it”? I am not an SEO expert; my knowledge of this subject comes from personal experience only.
If you are an artist selling your work or services on the Internet, you need to be aware of the requirements of the UK distance selling consumer laws.
If you produce any form of artwork on paper (canvas, etc), you might occasionally have the opportunity to sell copies your images for use in printed material, or as a digital graphics. The aim of this guide is to provide an overview of the licensing options available, and give you some clues as to how you might price your images.
A good pose should suit the sitter and be harmonious with their personality. Accordingly, there are few hard and fast rules. This article aims to highlight some simple methods for finding a suitable poses for any subject, and focuses primarily on a head and shoulders portrait of a single sitter.
According to the “science” of Numerology, the name of an individual exerts an influence upon their character and potential (karma, or destiny). It is not the aim of this article to explain how the system works, but rather to invite the reader to examine the logic of such a contention.
The use of any art medium requires a little knowledge. This article focuses on the tools you should use, and some of the techniques of pencil drawing.
The Use of Any Art Medium Requires a Little Knowledge, and Some Equipment. This Article Focuses on the Tools You Should Have to Hand for Pastel Painting and Sketching.
As a professional portrait artist, I aspire to keep alive the traditional standards of natural colours, perspective, etc. The act of creation is subordinate to the output. My purpose is to copy from life, paint something pretty (delight rather than shock), and make no political statement. On the "Duchamp" scale, my work has no merit; indeed, it probably doesn’t even qualify as "art".
The following article is written from the perspective of a Portrait Artist who works mainly from reference photographs supplied by the client. Sadly many of the photos I see fail to observe fundamental principles that underpin successful photography (and art).
Cezanne is yet another eccentric artist of the nineteen century who is considered to be a “great” artist. He is credited with being the father of modern art, and paving the way for abstract art.
When working from a reference photograph, I rarely reproduce backgrounds. The key reasons are that the backdrop to portrait snaps are usually obtrusive, or completely inappropriate.
The truth of the matter is that becoming a professional artist has very little to do with artistic ability: the transition is wholly about becoming a businessperson, and learning to sell yourself.
As a young boy, I dreamed of becoming an Artist, and that single word proficiently expressed my desire to paint and draw. Today I am a professional Artist, or am I something else?
As a professional portrait artist, I aspire to keep alive the traditional standards of natural colours, perspective, etc. The act of creation is subordinate to the output. My purpose is to copy from life, paint something pretty (delight rather than shock), and make no political statement. On the "Duchamp" scale, my work has no merit; indeed, it probably doesn’t even qualify as "art".
Two months ago, I had to have my dog put to sleep. It broke my heart: I grieved deeply, and am still grieving today. I realise that my feelings are not unique, and many people must be feeling the same way. I hope I can offer some help and comfort to others in a similar position.
As a young boy, I dreamed of becoming an Artist, and that single word proficiently expressed my desire to paint and draw. Today I am a professional Artist, or am I something else?
The truth of the matter is that becoming a professional artist has very little to do with artistic ability: the transition is wholly about becoming a businessperson, and learning to sell yourself.
According to the “science” of Numerology, the name of an individual exerts an influence upon their character and potential (karma, or destiny). It is not the aim of this article to explain how the system works, but rather to invite the reader to examine the logic of such a contention.
A good pose should suit the sitter and be harmonious with their personality. Accordingly, there are few hard and fast rules. This article aims to highlight some simple methods for finding a suitable poses for any subject, and focuses primarily on a head and shoulders portrait of a single sitter.
Tillie the ten-year-old Jack Russell terrier who paints has notched up her 20th solo exhibition, earned more than $100,000 from sales of her work.
Rousseau believed that his paintings were stylised, yet highly realistic representations, and their surrealistic worth is entirely accidental. That doesn’t make him a great artist.
The following article is written from the perspective of a Portrait Artist who works mainly from reference photographs supplied by the client. Sadly many of the photos I see fail to observe fundamental principles that underpin successful photography (and art).
Cezanne is yet another eccentric artist of the nineteen century who is considered to be a “great” artist. He is credited with being the father of modern art, and paving the way for abstract art.
