Stories From Behind The Art

For centuries, portraits were reserved for kings, generals, and the wealthy elite — not simply because of the cost, but because of the understood weight of the thing. A portrait was a declaration. It said: this person lived. This person mattered. Remember them. That impulse hasn't changed. What has changed is our understanding of who deserves to be remembered — and how. A legacy portrait isn't about vanity. It's about intention.

A short while ago, I had the opportunity to work on a painted Legacy Portrait for General Lee Butler, USAF Retired. Nowadays, he just likes to go by “Lee,” but to be honest, it’s quite challenging to not speak his name with a title. His many years of service within the US Air Force as well as those working as an international consultant during the Nuclear Disarmament era (see “Architects of Peace: Visions of Hope in Words and Images” by Michael Collopy) invoke my respect.

Today we have more access to decorative artwork than ever before. Stores are filled with beautifully framed prints in every color palette and size imaginable. It seems like finding the perfect piece should be easy. And yet, somehow…it isn’t.

There was a time when every visit to a portrait studio ended the same way—with printed photographs in hand. Then came the digital age. Suddenly, photos lived on phones, memory cards, and forgotten thumb drives. Instead of investing in finished artwork, many people settled for quick snapshots taken by a friend—or by mom or dad—uploaded to social media and then left to disappear into the digital abyss.

Custom portraiture is both an investment and a luxury. Every client approaches it from a different financial perspective. Some plan and save. Others are willing to splurge for something extraordinary. Many fall somewhere in between, waiting to see their images before deciding how much they want to invest. Start by getting clear on your goals. Understanding what you truly need—as well as what you simply want—will help you determine a realistic budget before you ever meet wi