Artist’s Biography
Sarah Crews Parks is an artist who skillfully blends Impressionism with Classical Realism. Her talent is evident in her ability to capture the form and her excellent use of light and shadow.
Sarah grew up in an artistic family and has had a passion to draw all her life. She admired the works of Sargent, Sorolla, and others on visits to the major museums of New York, Philadelphia, London, Paris, Rome and Florence. Sarah earned two degrees (Magna cum Laude) in Art History and Studio Art from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
In her study of portraiture, she is grateful to have been guided by some of today’s finest portrait artists, such as Daniel Greene, Michael Shane Neil, and Paul McCormack, and mentored by Bart Lindstrom, John De La Vega and Ned Bittinger.
Her love of other art genres has motivated Sarah to continually refine her technique through serious and intense study from some of the foremost landscape, still life, and figurative painters today. She has gathered instruction from classes, workshops, books and is a member of the Oil Painters of America, Portrait Society of America and the American Society of Portrait Artists. Her “The Shawl” was one of 30 out of 1,100 entries juried into the American Woman Artist Association Exhibit in Pasadena, CA.
Sarah has developed an innovative and comprehensive online drawing course, “Drawing Secrets Revealed,” that introduces the latest brain research which explains the link between the development of drawing skills and creativity and other right brain functions.
To see more of Sarah’s work, which is featured on drawingsecretsrevealed.com‘s home page, just go to www.sarahparksartist.com.
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Sarah Parks 344 Mill Stone Rd.
Sarah Parks Fine Artist, LLC Chesapeake, VA 23322
www.drawingsecretsrevealed.com 757-546-0282
www.sarahparksartist.com sarahparks@verizon.net
Commissioning a Portrait by Sarah Parks
Successful portraits are a true collaboration between client and artist. Before Sarah begins a painting, she confers with the client to discuss the size, spirit and details of the portrait, such as the number of subjects, appropriate background, where it will hang, clothing to be worn, etc.
Sarah will paint a brief oil sketch of the sitter(s) to get accurate hair, eye, and skin coloring. Then she will take photographs to explore pose, expression, styling, and background. This session can be scheduled at Sarah’s studio in Chesapeake or at a location of your choice.
There are usually 25 to 50 photographs taken at this time in various poses and lighting. After reviewing the results together on a laptop computer, the final composition of the painting is decided.
Sarah will consider working from a family photo if it is at least an 8″ x 10″ and preferably taken in natural lighting without a flash. For posthumous portraits, Sarah will help select appropriate photo reference from personal or public archives.
Sarah will create the painting in her Virginia studio using the finest materials on premium linen canvas, resulting in a portrait that will last for many generations.
| Pencil, Pen, Charcoal | 11″ x 14″ | 16 “x 20″ | 18″ x 24″ | |
| Head and Shoulders | $ 600 | $ 700 | $ 800 | |
| Half Figure (including hand/s) | $ 750 | $ 850 | $ 950 | |
| Full figure | $ 900 | $ 1,050 | $ 1,200 | |
| Pastel | 11″ x 14″ | 16″ x 20″ | 18″ x 24″ | |
| Head and Shoulders | $ 900 | $ 1,100 | $ 1,200 | |
| Half Figure (including hand/s) | $ 1,200 | $ 1,400 | $ 1,600 | |
| Full Figure | $ 1,700 | $ 1,900 |
| Oil on Canvas | 16″ x 20″ | 18″ x 24″ | 24″ x 30″ | 24″ x 36″ |
| Head and Shoulders | $ 2,000 | $ 2,500 | ||
| Half Figure (incl. hand/s) | $ 3,000 | $3,500 | $4,000 | |
| Full Figure | $4,300 | $4,800 |
Detailed backgrounds will be extra and for each additional figure included in the portrait, add 75%. Pets included in the portrait are an extra charge. Sizes are approximate and will vary with each composition. Prices do not include framing or shipping, applicable sales tax or travel expenses which are billed when incurred. A non-refundable deposit of 50% is due when painting begins, and the balance is received upon final approval. Please contact the artist for further information at 757-546-0282 or sarahparks@verizon.net.