Non-Profit Portraits for Good Inspires Pet Paintings With Proceeds to Charity

Photos by Alix Greenberg, story by Tiffany C. DuBois

Explore friends, meet a remarkable lady named Alix Greenberg. She is the founder and president of Portraits for Good, a non-profit organization that allows people to pick a portrait that is already done, or commission a portrait and part of the proceeds benefits the charity of their choice. Below is my interview with Ms. Greenberg and I hope you enjoy it!

Q: I know that you have a master in portraiture, do you occasionally mix your formal education with your painting?

A: I have a Master of Arts in Modern Art, Connoisseurship, and the History of the Art Market – I received my masters at Christie’s Education – the school is through the auction house, so my training is very practical. For my BFA, which I received at Cornell, I concentrated on painting and focused on portraiture. Of course, my formal education influences my painting and vice versa – one cannot exist without the other (in my case).

Q: What is your fondest memory of a client you have had?

A: This is a difficult question because every situation is so unique and I learn so much with each client and each new experience! It is always fun though when they send me photos of it and especially if it’s a surprise gift – it’s always fun to see/hear about the reaction!

Q: Are there other charities that you have been in partnership with that is your go to charity?

A: I don’t have a go to charity, but I have done the most work with JDRF. Through portraits for good, we partnered with JDRF and artist Mike Natter in adding a framed limited edition print to the Bags of Hope which are distributed to children first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The frames are plastic of course! The kids loved them! JDRF and I are also working on planning an art project with Mike to lead an art class in NYC on April 1st. He has Type 1 diabetes so this cause is VERY important to him, and of course now me, through osmosis.

Q: How do you pick the theme of a portrait?

A: When the customers provide their photograph to base the artwork on they will tell me what they want in the background, their favorite colors, if I can use sparkles or not… Or they tell me to do what I think is best.

Q: Has there ever been a client who didn’t like the finished product?

A: Yes, there have been a few. I want the client to be happy – and art is so personal – so I have redrawn a few complimentary if the timing works out and I am not overloaded with orders.

Q: Do you have any plans to expand the company list of charities to include the press?

A: Yes! I am the sole operation and I also have a 9 to 5 job, so it is difficult to do everything! I am working on that though, as well as bringing more artists on. Definitely more to come!

Q: What is the best part of painting?

A: I love painting but because I work from my apartment, which does not have proper ventilation for painting media, I use color pencil in creating the portraits. The pencils I use have this really milky quality so it feels like painting. I can combine and layer the colors easily, giving the subjects texture and depth. I also use an eraser a lot – it is a great tool! Painting, drawing, erasing – it is all super therapeutic!

Q: Did you encounter another company that does the same thing that you do?

A: I haven’t encountered one exactly like mine with the same boutique feel – through the charitable component and my interactions with all the buyers, we provide a personal touch while also giving people the ease of an online buying experience.

Q: How did you meet the other artists?

A: Harley Langberg went to my high school and we were in AP art history together! I reached out to him last year after a decade of not seeing each other! He quickly came on board and he’s one of my closest friends. Mike Natter was all timing! I reached out to him over Instagram on the suggestion of my friend Ashley who said I would love his work. Mike responded to me and said he was totally overwhelmed with requests to buy his work so could use the help in this area. It has been a dream working with him and I am so lucky! Melissa Brice and I were in the same class at Cornell and we were both art majors. She is also a very close friend and she is extremely talented. Denton Burrows went to my high school as well – he is a very talented artist and he has done extremely well in the street art space. I called him and he was so happy to come on board. Joey Feldman is a successful LA artist – Harley and he are fans of each other and Harley connected me with the artist. I am very lucky to have Joey on the site as well.

Q: How long does it take to do a portrait?

A: It can take anywhere from 3 to 9 hours. Sometimes longer – it depends on the composition and detail of the photographs provided by the client.