Neo traditional
Traditional's bold outline with a wider palette, more depth and illustrative detail: animals, portraits, florals and ornament that still read at a distance.
The style
Same bones, more flesh
Neo-traditional keeps what makes traditional last, a heavy outline and solid fills, and opens the palette: jewel tones, gradients, ornament, decorative framing, more realistic faces and fur. Animals, women's portraits, florals and art-nouveau borders are its home ground.
It suits anyone who wants a piece with more detail than traditional but the same confidence in how it will age: the outline holds the shape for decades while the color and shading do the talking. Animals, faces, flowers and ornament are its natural subjects.
Work
Neo-traditional work from the shops
What to expect
Who to ask for neo traditional
Arty
Traditional · Black and grey · Cover-ups
Madison Sweet
Traditional · Illustrative
Slaine
Traditional · Illustrative · Black and grey
Roger Solis
Floral · Watercolor · Black and grey
One or two sittings, lots of color
A palm-sized neo-traditional piece is one sitting; a large thigh or upper-arm piece is usually two. Color packing takes time, so plan for the artist to work slower than on a traditional piece of the same size.
Slaine, Madison, Arty and Roger all work in neo-traditional here, each with a hand of their own. Bring references for the subject and for the feel you want; the artist draws the piece fresh rather than copying one.
At a glance
- Lines
- Bold black
- Palette
- Full, saturated
- Sessions
- One or two
- Ageing
- Very good
- Best for
- Animals, florals, portraits
Questions people ask
Is neo-traditional good for a portrait?
For a stylized portrait, yes: it keeps the likeness while giving the artist room to design around it. For a photographic likeness, see realism.
Does it work in black and grey?
Yes. Black and grey neo-traditional keeps the bold outline and uses grey washes for depth. It is a common choice for larger pieces.
How do I pick between the artists?
Look at the portfolios on the artist pages. Each has a recognizable hand; pick the one whose animals or faces you like, then book them directly.
