Painting celebrities is not new in the arts if we consider influential people from the past as the celebrities of their times.
They had the power and the money to commission portraits of themselves and their families as a legacy for future generations or as a statement of their status in society at the time.
In painting a portrait, the artist is challenged not only to capture the physical resemblance to the subject, but also their inner essence from the artist’s perspective.
Portrait painting is present in all historical eras, from the Ancient world, the Middle Ages and Renaissance, throughout all cultural movements up until the present day.
In today’s art scene, portrait painting is not reserved only for the rich and powerful, but for any family that is willing to commission portrait paintings from local artists for a personal touch in their homes.
Putting commissions aside, the diversity to choose from is overwhelming, and artists are inspired by celebrities too. Pop artists they admire, the royal family, famous Hollywood stars – the list is endless.
Again, the challenge for the artist is to capture the model’s personality and not just their appearance. Elton John’s eccentricity, The Beatles’ originality or Pink’s edgy personality are just a few examples.
Whether they depict personalities from the past, today’s celebrities or ordinary people, portrait paintings will always be a popular choice for artists and collectors alike.
