Everyone Deserves A Portrait

Cost, where does you donation go?

I meet all my portrait subjects, and most of the time I'll spend, (if they will have me) a week to get to know them. I speak to family and friends if I can. I see them go about their daily life as you or I would. Spending time and asking as many question as they allow. Spending a week away from home and traveling back and forth takes time and funds.

So in this case funds go towards travel, to and from, accomadation for at least a week, transport, living expense (gotta eat and not smell) this is important.

After that week I'm back in a rented studio. (More funds), where I go over all my reference materials (more funds) photos, drawings, sketches, oil sketches .

Now if I feel we are ready to commit to a portrait I require more materials (more funds)

Oil paints, brushes, solvents, paper towels, charcoal,canvas (on average I'll be using a $500 canvas for each portrait, we want these paintings to last a least 400 Hundred years, so I paint on the best canvas I can get my hands on ) ,stand oil, linseed oil, white spirits (another solvent).

While I'm painting the canvas I have to rent my studio (more funds )

When the painting is complete, we will get the sitter to come to me with support if need be to view the painting alone, to have time with it .(more funds ) So more travel, accommodation and living expense for them to come to me, which is cheaper than the painting and I going to them.

Once the painting has dried a vanish is applied twice and once dried in to storage (more funds)

This will happen at least 12 times as we are after 12 amazing kiwis.

But wait there is more.

Once all 12 are complete I have to get them to the gala event . So FREIGHT Is a big cost not to mention insurance for all the works.(more funds)

At the gala we have to hire the event room, food, drinks, promotion, pay the ushers, storage of the works, power, more insurance, duty managers licence etc.....

But most of all if we can I want all 12 sitters there to meet the other 12 and to meet you the donors. All your names will be recorded in a book which will be present for you to see your name as a kiwi that donated funds.

It's all about funds (sick of the word now) but without your help I can't pay it forward for them.

After the event I'm giving all 12 paintings away as one permanent Exhibition at TE PAPA....FREE

SMW.