Figure of a Historical Phenomenon
Children are growing up faster and faster, and getting all the family together for a family portrait while they are little ones and still at home enables us to keep the family all in all, long after the children have flown the nest.
Archaeological proof shows that the art of taking a portrait go back to pre-historic times and ancient civilizations, especially the rulers of ancient Egypt. Over the centuries, portraits were painted on all kinds of materials containing stone, clay, metal, plaster, wood, and even ivory.
Before the invention of photography, portrait paintings were for the rich and strong, and recorded the status and position of notable figures in civilization; they were traditionally created in oil paints. Over time it became conventional for the middle-classes to commission portraits of families or loved ones. Today it is the likes of governments, corporations, clubs and individuals that are keeping the trend of portrait paintings alive.
The popularity of photography in the 19th century made portraits a cheaper and more accessible option for the masses, and has been our preferred mode of capturing point in time on print ever since.
These days the trend for an official, composed family portrait makes for a true family souvenir. It’s an excellent contribution that can be passed down from generation to generation. Many local trained photographers offer a gathering at a studio or will even come to your home. Online companies, like Gaya, offer many different kinds of styles of portraits to appropriate all tastes and homes – from the classic, relaxed family pose, to fun, fresh images.
An emerging trend is to have a favourite family picture turned into a work of art. Working from the print, artists can recreate the image as an oil painting, ensuring it will last for ages. By choice you can have a photograph printed onto canvas, to make a really modern work of art. Either of these can be an creative and apprecatied goodie for a father or grandparent.
Alternatively, if we need something less formal and a lot cheaper, taking our own family snaps is the essential option. The digital age has enabled us to come to be much better photographers, and we have the ability to take as many shots as our digital camera’s memory card allows. Using on-line resources, we can edit and enhance until our heart’s content, download them onto a memory stick and slot images into our digital photo frames, thus creating constant reminders of those specific memories with our beloved family.
Commissioning a family portrait will not only grant some quality time with our loved ones but will provide us with an one-of-a-kind way to keep our favorite family memories alive.
Olga, the composer of this article is an art prints shop owner
Processing your request, Please wait....
