Portraits serve as lasting pieces for home, office

Have you ever wondered what it’d feel like to run the largest portrait brokerage in the Mid-Atlantic? Just ask Pat Young, president and founder of The Portrait Group.

Young, who studied art at University of South Carolina, has had exhibits at the Vanderbilt mansion on Fisher Island, Fla., and in the Russell Senate office building. She has also lectured and had an exhibit at the Greenbrier Resort and Spruce Point Inn in Maine. Young’s cottage in Maine was recently featured in House Beautiful magazine.

Young has also spoken at Renaissance Weekend, an art event President Clinton frequently attended and at which many people on Capitol Hill have spoken.

“I’ve always loved art and I’ve had lots of art in my home — it’s really an eclectic collection,” Young said. “A home without art is missing something, I think — paintings tend to become a part of your life.”

Young first got the idea for The Portrait Group in 1981. She was living in Hilton Head, S.C., and just about to make a move to Charleston.

One of her neighbors was a portrait artist. Young asked her if she could take one of her portraits to Charleston and show it.

“I hosted a wine and cheese event and started working with her,” Young said. Once she acquired her neighbor, she realized she could work with other artists quite similarly.

“I traveled to New York City to meet with people who were considered the best portrait painters in the country, and I brought them on board,” Young said. “I’m a broker, matchmaker, and I match the client with the artist.”

When Young had the best she wished to represent, she then began The Portrait Group.

Young has over 50 artists working with her, including some who specialize in corporate and government portraiture. The Portrait Group also does family portraits.

“I find that the majority of the people I work with want to get their portrait done,” Young said. “Some are those that just got to the top in their profession, company or organization, and others are from Capitol Hill.”

When clients call The Portrait Group about getting their portrait made, Young says that they try to find an artist best suited to them. It should also be suited to their budget.

“Typically, the artist travels to the sittings, then they do a photographic sitting for two to three hours, where they take a lot of photographs with the subject,” she said. “Ordinarily they share photographs with the subject before they leave so the person is not surprised with the final portrait.”

According to Young, the artists take into consideration the entire composition, not just the photograph. “I like to have them look at the overall being before going back into the studio to work on the painting,” she said. “Artists typically work with five to six simultaneous photos. They are booked heavily, working constantly and very much in demand.”

The Portrait Group’s portraits are hanging in the homes and offices of senators and House members, and CEOs and presidents of companies. According to Young, sometimes leaders ask for portraits of them and their wives in their homes. The portraits also hang in The White House, The National Gallery of Art, The National Portrait Gallery, The U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon.

Portraits typically take 10 months to a year to complete, depending on how busy the artist is. However, Young said that if the artist is working with an unveiling ceremony he or she works as closely as possible with the client to make sure everything is completed in a timely fashion.

There is no real average cost because every painter Young uses has a different fee range. “Corporate and government portraits range from $20,000 to $80,000 depending on the size, medium and artist chosen for the portrait,” she said. “Oil portraits generally cost more than other painting mediums. Children’s portraits start in the range of $3,000 to $4,000.”

According to Young, some clients wish to have their animals painted.

The most popular style of portraits is oil, followed by pastel. “Due to acid-free paper, pastels can last just as long as oil,” Young said.

To commission a portrait, Young suggests taking a look at The Portrait Group’s website , or calling its toll-free number at 1-800-234-4156.

“It’s important to remember that there is absolutely no charge from The Portrait Group — the client does not pay for a consultation. They just strictly pay for the artist’s services,” Young said.