Birthmark Portrait Project

“What is the
Birthmark Portrait Project?”

This reoccurring project in my artistic practice I started back in 2021 when I was inspired to increase representation of people who, similar to me, have a vascular birthmarks. Growing up as a 90’s kid with a port wine stain birthmark on my face, there wasn’t much representation for people like me. Closest thing I had was Two-Face, a super villain from Batman, and Erik, the name of the phantom from Phantom of the Opera.

I could just design my own characters with vascular birthmarks (something I intend to do someday) or just image search for real people and paint them (which is creepy at best and problematic at worst), but I felt that the impact would be more meaningful if people with vascular birthmarks had a way to volunteer their likeness to my project. I have found that doing this not only increases representation but also helps signal boost the voices of people who are like me.

“That all sounds great!
How can I help?”

If you are a person or the guardian of a person as described above, you can fill out the form below to apply as a volunteer for the project! I’ll be going through the form submissions and reaching out to discuss the terms in greater detail and answer any questions before beginning.

If you are not a person as described above, spreading the word about this project can be very helpful. Share it directly with people who might be interested in donating their likeness to the project or within circles of people who would like to spread the word. Simple enough, right?

FAQs

Contact ryanbarnesart@gmail.com for inquiries.

  • As is fairly standard in the art world, I, as the artist, own the image rights to the artworks I produce. As such I reserve the right to:

    • Submit to and display the finished artworks at exhibitions, fairs, and the like.

    • Sell the original work or prints of the original work with the exception of portraits featuring minors.

    • Use the artwork I produce in my portfolio, on my social media, and in marketing materials.

  • The short answer is yes, the finished artworks and any prints created will eventually be available for purchase but there is a process that happens first.

    Any prints made, however, will be available for public purchase.

    The long answer is that the artwork needs to make it’s rotation through shows and exhibitions first before they will be available for purchase by anyone.

    There are ultimately 3 phases of what happens with the finished artwork:

    Phase 1: The artwork will be submitted to exhibitions, shows, and the like for public viewing.

    Phase 2: Once the series is done being on display, all volunteers will be notified via email that their “first right of refusal” window is now open and when they need to respond by. Volunteers will receive a steeply discounted, itemized quote and availability guarantee during this window.

    Phase 3: The “first right of refusal” window is officially closed and the artwork will become publicly available for purchase/donation. The discounted quote for the volunteer is still valid, but they are no longer guaranteed availability.

  • All volunteers who are accepted are entitled to one artist proof print of the original artwork as a gift. Volunteers within the USA need only pay shipping and handling. Volunteers outside the USA may or may-not have to pay additional tariffs.

    All volunteers are also guaranteed a “first right of refusal” window to purchase the original artwork. They will have a deeply discounted quote unique to them that will remain valid for as long as the artwork remains available for purchase through me. (More details about this process can be found under “Will the artwork be available for purchase”. Quotes change depending on medium chosen and size. E.g. A 16×20 inch digital painting will have a different price quoted than an acrylic painting on wrapped canvas of the same size.)

    Artist proofs and original artwork both come with their own certificate of authenticity.

Let’s work together.

Interested in volunteering your likeness to this project? Fill out the form below!

Please don’t forget to include your social media. If selected, it makes it easier for me to tag you in the post.