David Draime grew up in Paris, France where, at the age of seven, he began taking his first formal art lessons. His love and appreciation of classical realism, however, he credits with spending endless hours wandering around the Louvre, the Musee de l’Orangerie, the Uffizi in Florence, and many other of the world‘s finest art museums. After receiving numerous awards in high school for his exceptional drawings, David continued his studies at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington DC, and Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his BFA and MFA in painting and printmaking.

While he continues to draw and paint landscapes and still lifes, David considers portraiture to be the most challenging and rewarding subject matter. “With portraits, you have the added dimension of a specific character, beauty, and all shades of emotion potentially realized by the artist,” he says. “It never ceases to amaze me the depth of feeling and emotion that can be captured with paint on canvas.”

A member of the Portrait Society of America since 2005, David is beginning to receive national attention for his outstanding work. At the Society’s 2008 and 2009 International Conferences, he received the prestigious Best Portfolio award. He also won a Second Place award for his painting “Greta” at the Portrait Society of Atlanta’s 2008 juried Portrait Competition.

David’s process typically includes these steps:

1. An initial consultation is arranged to discuss the size, setting (indoors or outdoors), clothing, pose and other details of the portrait. This can be done over the phone or via email.

2. A meeting is arranged to photograph the subject. This may take place at the client’s home, professional environment or other location. Typically, 150 or more photos are taken of the subject that explore various poses, lighting, background, expression, etc. David and the client can then review the digital images immediately on a laptop computer to get a sense of the final composition and spirit of the painting. (For posthumous portraits, David will work with the client to select the appropriate photo reference). At this stage, David may also do a charcoal or small oil sketch of the subject for later reference.

3. David will prepare a small preliminary color study for your review, to convey the style and composition of the portrait. At this stage, the final size of the painting is determined.

4. David will create the painting in his California studio using the finest materials on premium Belgian linen canvas. The finished portrait will be a work of art that will last for many generations.

5. When possible, it is preferable to arrange a final sitting, at David's studio or your location. This gives David a chance to refine the subject’s likeness from life and make important finishing touches.

Fees starting at $3,000 for charcoal.

Fees do not include framing, applicable sales taxes, or travel and shipping expenses. Preliminary costs, such as travel, are billed when incurred, and a non-refundable deposit of 40% is due when the painting begins. The balance is due upon final approval and acceptance of the portrait..