Painting Family: 7 Tips for Working With Models
Family members can make wonderful models with a little planning and care. Get happy results with these pro tips from pastel artist Vianna Szabo.
By Vianna Szabo
Painting family is my favorite thing to do, and my favorite models for portraits are my family members. Ever since I began painting, I’ve turned to those I love as my artistic inspiration. The walls of my home are filled with modeling-sessions-turned-to-paintings of my children, in particular, and record their growth from infancy to adulthood. These familial works are more than images; they’re memories, feelings and moments captured in paint — and a testament to my creative journey.
Growth and Development
The journey into painting and motherhood began at the same time, so it felt natural to focus on my son, Shawn, and my daughter, Anna, as subject matter. In their younger years, I worked from a combination of photographic references and life — taking photos while they played but relying on life for color. Through these impromptu sessions, I learned the importance of shooting lots of photos when painting family, allowing for organic poses and play, and backing off when my “subjects” weren’t in the mood.
Because my children were used to being the subject of paintings, they were comfortable with modeling for art groups. When they were little, other artists would fuss over them, and they enjoyed the attention, which helped Shawn and Anna to be more confident in their own skin.
As the kids got older, they were paid a standard modeling fee and benefited from that. They learned the importance of hard work and doing a job well, all while I learned how to shoot and paint alongside them.
Comfort and Trust When Painting Family
When you’re painting a family member, there’s a level of comfort and trust that you might not experience with a model or commission. You’re more attuned to the subtle expressions that capture your loved one’s character and disposition. When you know someone well, you can trust your knowledge of him to create a work that goes beyond a photographic copy. My memory of moments, settings and emotions affects how I tell the visual story.
For example, a painting can mark the quiet passage into a new phase of life, as in Shawn Looking Forward. I painted this work when my son was 16 years old. It caught me by surprise when I realized my view of him had changed — literally. No longer did I see the top of Shawn’s head; he had grown so much that I would forevermore always be looking up at him. This painting recorded my feelings of his leaving childhood behind.
Camaraderie and Collaboration
Portraiture is a routine part of my family’s life. Anna, in particular, has always loved dressing up and role-playing, so she took to modeling willingly and easily. We had fun finding modeling outfits at thrift stores and then doing photo shoots. I still reference those photos today. One of those photo sessions inspired Koala Games, above. Anna wore her koala hat, pulling it off with the confidence that only a teenage girl could.
One October afternoon, we did a photo shoot in a field while she was wearing the hat. There was something in this particular shot that struck me. She looked confident and strong, but I wasn’t certain how to paint it. A few months later, my daughter lent me the Hunger Games book series to read. I spent a weekend reading it and painting this portrait. The pose became the stance of a warrior, and the hat added an odd twist to the concept.
Painting sessions weren’t the only bonding experiences we shared. As a teen, Anna would accompany me to workshops, haul and set up my supplies, serve as the model and then take down everything and load the car. I miss those days but am so glad to have had them, as they drew us closer together.
Creativity and Experimentation
I’m more inclined to experiment when painting family members, which furthers my artistic creativity and confidence. I’ll introduce poses, compositions, techniques and even media that I’d normally be hesitant to use in commission work. For example, I’d been wanting to paint my great niece, Harper, a happy, bright and curious 4-year-old. She knew I was photographing her for a painting, and she quickly relaxed and wanted me to play, which became part of the photo session.
The reference photo I eventually chose for Harper (top of page) captured her in a moment of stillness as she was thinking about what she wanted us to do next. Her rumpled dress and hair suggest the energy behind the momentary lull. Her backlit porcelain skin was a challenge to paint. Instead of relying on big value shifts for the color, I relied on many thin layers of pastel to model her delicate form. In this one painting alone, I played with composition, color and media selection.
Thirty-two years ago, Harper’s mother was the subject of one of my first pastel portraits. To paint her daughter decades later is a record of my my family’s ever-expanding modeling possibilities — and of my own artistic growth.
Painting Family: Modeling Tips
- Make the sitting or photo shoot fun. When my kids modeled in the studio, we’d listen to music or audiobooks, make silly faces to loosen up and treat the sessions as a no-pressure way to spend time together.
- Pay attention to the light. If you’re photographing in the house or yard, be aware of areas where the light is good and take advantage of that. I used to keep a small children’s table by a north window.
- Take a lot of photos. I’ll shoot several hundred photos during a session. I keep them in files on my computer where I still reference them.
- Respect their space and privacy. If your models aren’t in the mood, don’t force it. Any discomfort will show in their expression and body language.
- Avoid posing young children. Capturing them in candid moments in good light will give you the best results.
- Pay older kids. If they’re posing as a studio model, this encourages both of you to take the work seriously.
- Make it a collaboration.
Learn more at viannaszabo.com.
A version of this story was originally published in Artists Magazine. Subscribe today!
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