What is a life cycle portrait?
A life cycle portrait is a unique way of celebrating an important milestone or event. It is a one of a kind gift that celebrates a pivotal moment or event in a person’s life.
I developed the term “life cycle portrait” to describe works I create around a significant moment in someone’s life. Often it is created as part of a major life cycle milestone, such as a birth, b’nai mitzvah, graduation, wedding, anniversary or another type of special occasion.
When I interview my client, the conversation focuses on the lifecycle event that is being celebrated. I ask my clients a lot of questions: When I am working with a B’nai Mitzvah student, my questions tend to focus on his/her interpretation of the torah parshat. These ideas are often based on their D’var Torah. The painting may also include very personal symbolic references. I try to focus on universal themes, such as “nature”; “music”, “sports” and I try stay away from the momentary likes of the twelve year old, such as a particular band or clothing style. The process of creating a B’nai mitzvah painting also involves conversations with the parent and what they view as important. For example, in the painting for Lilly, the musical notes in the rainbow are the melody of the song that she played on the cello during the celebration of her Bat Mitzvah, the flowers are lilies, a reference to her name and the fruit tree and fruit symbolize sacrificial gifts from her Torah portion. These detailed conversations inform the finished painting in many ways. In the painting for the Diamonds, his huge shoes and her tiny ones are a funny design element. For the Kuddish portrait, created to commemorate their 50th anniversary, precious family heirlooms were lovingly “smuggled” by their daughter-in-law out of their home for me to photograph.
The painting becomes a way for the family to remember the celebration. Often, the client will choose to reproduce the painting on the invitation for the event and may also have giclée prints of the image made for other family members.
What is the difference between a story quilt and a life cycle portrait?
My first life cycle portraits, such as the “Diamond Quilt Portrait”, were based on American quilt designs and I called the images “story quilts” because they told the story in patchwork form. Since then, I have based some of my Judaic images on ancient Ketubah, Mitzrah images (paper cutting) and other types of illuminated manuscripts. My newer work also tells a story, but usually the story relates to a specific, often ritual, event, such as, a bar/bat mitzvah, wedding or an anniversary.
How do I order an original painting?
• Prices begin at $600.00 and increase according to the size and complexity. Contact the artist or click here to learn more about commissioning a painting
How long does it take to commission a painting?
• Original painting- Depending on the complexity of the painting, the turn around time from start to finish will usually be approximately 6-8 weeks. Rush orders can be completed sooner for an additional fee.
What are the steps involved when commissioning a painting?
• After an initial conversation with the client, click here for client interview form, a detailed sketch will be created. After the client approves the sketch, Lori will begin the final painting. The client will be sent a digital version of the painting and upon approval; the painting will be sent or delivered to the client.
What is the payment schedule for an original painting?
• As an initial deposit after the initial interview and planning phase, the client will pay 25% of the price of the painting. After the sketch has been created, the client will pay an addition 25% of the cost of the painting. Upon completion of the final painting, the client will pay the remaining 50% price of the painting. If at any stage, the client does not want to proceed, the artist will keep payment for that amount.
ABOUT BAR/BAT MITZVAH PAINTINGS
Read more about commissioning an original B’nai Mitzvah Painting
How do I order a personalized print? – working with existing inventory of images
• There are a few levels of personalization.
B’nai mitzvah
• I will include the name, date and Torah Parshat of the B’nai Mitzvah child.
• If you would like me to embellish the work in order to add images and symbols that reflect the interests of the B’nai Mitzvah child and also add the name and date of the B’nai Mitzvah. $25 -$125 dollars, in addition to the original print.
Read more about commissioning a B’nai Mitzvah Print
Click here for B’nai Mitzvot questionnaire
What sizes are the prints available?
• Most prints are approximately 12” x 16”- image size, 16″ x 20″-mat size – all prints will be matted using 100% archival mat board. There are other prints that are different sizes. Mats will fit in store bought ready made frames. Prints are available in other sizes. Please contact the artist for more information.
How long does production take on a personalized print?
The turn around time for a personalized print is between two weeks and four weeks.
ABOUT KETUBAH PAINTINGS
Please contact the artist to with specific questions about personalized prints. These range in price depending upon the level of personalization. Read more about Ketubah here
Can I order a Life Cycle Portrait for a friend or family member?
• Yes, the process would be the same as if you were ordering a life cycle portrait for yourself.
What occasions can your Life Cycle Portraits and prints be used for?
• All occasions. Lori has done paintings for political events, cycling and running races, as well as, more personal life cycle events.
How do I order invitations?
• Invitations are only available if the client commissions an original Life Cycle Portrait. Clients will often use the image of the painting for their invitation. Prices per invitation, including invitation, envelopes, return card, usually start at $2.50 per invitation. There is also a $50.00 layout fee to set up the graphics for the invitation. Click here
How do I order prints?
Please specify which print you would like. Click here for more information about prints.
What is a Giclée Print?
A giclée is a high quality fine art print. Images are generated from high resolution digital scans and printed with archival quality inks onto various substrates including canvas, fine art and photo-base papers. The giclée printing process provides better color accuracy than any other means of reproduction.
Giclée (pronounced /ʒiːˈkleɪ/ “zhee-clay”) is a French term meaning to spray or quirt, which is how an inkjet printer works. However, the printers used in giclee production use pigmented based inks. Prints are created on high quality fine art papers or canvas and generally have a longevitiy of 75-100 years.
The particulate nature of pigment inks ensures their archival superiority. A particle of pigment is less susceptible to destructive environmental elements than a dye molecule. Sometimes it is referred to as a digital pigment print, or pigmented paper print, which are understood to be a digital image rendered onto an uncoated, natural fiber substrate with pigment inks. The quality of the giclée print rivals traditional silver-halide and gelatin printing processes and is commonly found in museums, art galleries and photographic galleries.
How will the painting/print be shipped?
• The artwork will be shipped by UPS. The client is responsible for the cost of shipping the artwork.
How do I commission an illustration?
• Prices begin at $300.00 and increase according to the complexity of the image. Click here for more information about illustration and graphic design work.