The Larson Insider

Commissions

October/November 2021 // Issue Seven

I’m sure that many of you are familiar with Jeffrey T. Larson’s signature paintings – smoked oily fish, paper plates and Styrofoam, glowing laundry scenes and game birds sprawled amongst other inanimate still-life objects. What you often don’t see displayed, however, are commissioned pieces. Commissions are paintings that patrons have contracted Jeffrey to do, often representing something important specifically to them. Jeffrey has done a wide variety of commissioned pieces over the years from key political figures to portraits of loved ones who have passed on and heirloom objects. Jeffrey really enjoys commissions especially when he as the artist is given the freedom to artistically represent the chosen subject. The patron chooses Jeffrey as the artist because they love his work, so trust is generally assumed all while working closely alongside the client to achieve the finished product they have dreamed of. In this article, I will show you some past examples of commissions as well as a few pieces that are in the works at this moment. My hope with this publication is to get your creative juices flowing – if you were to dream up a custom Jeffrey T. Larson what would the picture contain?

Typically for imaginative paintings the patron comes to Jeffrey with a thought, concept or idea. Often they may not have an image in mind but more of a theme. Jeffrey starts with small color thumbnails working up a depiction and showing to the client frequently to make sure he is grasping the idea. Next are compositional studies and a series of “roughing out” ideas, eventually hiring models to wear and pose the desired attire and finding fitting locations.

The process for capturing a portrait of someone is slightly different than that of an imaginative piece. First, Jeffrey likes to spend some time with the client and get to know them and their mannerisms as well as a sense of how they want to be depicted. Next comes picking out clothing, the setting and lighting and working up a bunch of ideas that makes excited about the piece - both the client and the artist. Sometimes a color study is done first to give the client a sense of what the final piece will be like (still very loose but gives an idea). Typically it ends up being a fun, interactive process with the goal of making the client very happy in the end while also allowing the artist to create.

Clients have had Jeffrey paint family heirlooms and antiques, items that depict a lifestyle or achievement, memories, or at times, simply objects around their home that they love.