drawing of someone no longer here

[confusedx3]

hello,

I recently purchased a drawing from someone online of my partner, our baby and his late parents - I completely appreciate the photo of parents was not the best as they died pre 2010 and these photos were taken with a phone but it is clear enough to see their faces. just not in the detail we of course have today. this person did their absolute best and my partner and baby look amazing but his parents sadly just do not look anything like them. does anyone know of somewhere/online someone who can do these, and more importantly, who can do it even from older photos? I think it would be a really lovely gift for my partner for Christmas and a keepsake for our baby if it can be pulled off.

know the chances arent great cos of photo quality but feel like I dont want to give up yet!

I do also wish the person online was honest and said they couldnt do it of the parents but hey I get it this years been hard and everyone has to make a living right!

thanks

Can't you scan an old film photo to send to the artist?

An old photo taken with a camera phone shouldn't really have made that much of a difference unless it was so bad that you can't see their features. If that is the case, you should have expected the artist would be unable to draw them.

Does the drawing look like the photo? If it doesn't, the issue is with the artist. If it does, what did you expect?

It looks nothing like the photo. In my opinion, not even a passable resemblance. Because this person has spent time doing it, I really can't see I will be able to get any money back anyway.

It's a shame as I was really excited by the idea as had seen a friend do something similar with her late mum and daughter.

There is genuinely only 2 pictures of his dad that exist to our knowledge - he was 1 of 12 siblings so I can't scan a film photo sadly :(

Thanks for the suggestion anyway!

So, you want somebody to do a drawing of your DH and baby, then add in drawings of his parents who died over 10 years ago, as though they were still alive and the 4 of them had all grouped together for a family portrait? It sounds like a tricky thing to pull off well, especially using a poor quality photo, but also the whole concept sounds bizarre.

It's sad that your DH's parents never lived to see their grandchild born, but this idea is a bit macabre IMO and I'm unsure your DH will find it a comfort - it might just be a constant reminder of his loss.

I don't have any advice but that's a lovely idea.

unusual it may be but it's not an uncommon or new concept. Also, this person specifically advertises that they can do merged pictures. I don't think he would be saddened by it at all. His friend said it was one of the nicest things he thought anyone had tried to do for him since his parents had died (I got a second opinion just so I didn't think I was being too harsh). He will never have pictures with his parents and his children, ever.

@Defenbaker

So, you want somebody to do a drawing of your DH and baby, then add in drawings of his parents who died over 10 years ago, as though they were still alive and the 4 of them had all grouped together for a family portrait? It sounds like a tricky thing to pull off well, especially using a poor quality photo, but also the whole concept sounds bizarre.

It's sad that your DH's parents never lived to see their grandchild born, but this idea is a bit macabre IMO and I'm unsure your DH will find it a comfort - it might just be a constant reminder of his loss.

This is very popular now. A lot of people are doing it and the reaction videos I've seen to people opening these paintings are very emotional. They found comfort in them.

Can you find a better photo? Even of them separately where their faces are clear to help the artist

sadly there is only 2 that exist of his dad and the one I sent is the clearest - it is the only one of him facing the camera.

I wouldn't mind if the drawing didn't come out bang on, I think you have to be an exceptional artist to achieve this and I would imagine it would cost more than 40 pounds, i'm just disappointed that there isn't even a passing resemblance - it is to the point I feel like I would of had to tell my partner that it was supposed to be his mum and dad. like I said, I just wish that the artist had been honest and said they wouldn't be able to do it, feels a bit unfair to accept the pictures before I paid and then still take money, the end result really was poor.

I'm going to keep looking around and keep my fingers crossed!

Hi I sell pencil portraits. I couldn't promise, but do you want to send me a private message with the photos and I can tell you if I could do it for you if you want to try again? I could also send you examples of the drawings I do. It's a long shot but I'd know if I'd be able to do it or not looking at the photos!

I appreciate that some people would love this and if your partner would then I hope you find someone who can do it well for you. You know him well enough to know what he would like. Just to add my two penneth to the debate though, one of my parents didn’t meet my children as they died earlier and I would not like this kind of drawing at all. I certainly wouldn’t display it as it would upset me, I’ve made as much peace as I can with the fact that they never met and a drawing of them together would not be something I would enjoy looking at.
We’re all different though!

this is why I got second opinion from his friend (both of the idea and the drawing) and he said he thought it was the nicest thing and that my partner would of loved it and that its a shame it hasn't worked out. I know it probably isn't for everyone but the majority of reactions I have seen have been positive.

I have taken from my own personal feelings too - I have lost family members and think I would find it deeply touching if someone had arranged something like this for me. I am not sure I personally see it as that different to having the existing photos next to each other, it's hard to explain but it doesn't look exactly like it is a real photo or copied from a real photo. I think it also depends when the loss occurred - my partner lost his parents a long long time ago and when he was young so I think he would of come to terms with it and would of grown up through his teens knowing that his parents wouldn't meet any potential children he had. I totally take on board and respect what you are saying though but that is the way I have come to think of it in my mind anyway.

@train84 that is very kind - could you PM me some of your work?

Thanks!

I think something like this is difficult to judge, my parents died in 2017 when I was pregnant with my daughter, and I'd absolutely hate if someone did this, just be certain in your mind that it would be something he would like. Can someone sound him out?

Is it because as the PP said it would be a reminder that they wouldn't meet your child?

He has expressed in the past that he is gutted there aren't more pictures of him with his parents, particularly his dad, so I didn't think it was too much of a stretch to extend this to the baby,

His friend and I think he will like it - not many more people I could ask unfortunately.

I'm an artist and I'm not offering to do this as in the past the gap between expectation and possibility in many clients minds was too great. And i sincerely hope you're offering more than £40 !! You might be better off getting a good photoshop artist to meld the pictures.

Well, OP, if you feel confident that your partner will like it then I have an idea. Does your partner have any siblings or relatives who bear a strong resemblance to his dead parents? If so, perhaps photos of those could be sent to the artist as well, to give the artist a better chance of achieving a family likeness.

As for the existing drawing, if the parents look bad/unrealistic, perhaps you could carefully erase them from the drawing, or even just cut the picture down to just leave a nice drawing of your partner and the baby. Put it in a decent frame and present it to him as a gift, then perhaps add the comment "I had thought about getting your parents added into the drawing... but wasn't sure if you'd like that idea?" Then you'd know for sure, and it might save you wasting money if he's not keen.

@ginandbearit the price is what the person has set it as on their website, it's not someone I personally know. I have also acknowledged for an exact realism I would expect to pay a lot more but its misleading to accept money after you've seen the photos knowing that you are not going to be able to do it. I was disappointed that it didnt even have a resemblance. genuinely, I wouldn't of known who they were supposed to be.

thank you for suggestions, I have found someone else who is going to give it a go and does sketches in a different style who thinks it will be better suited. we will see how it turns out!