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Occassionally I do accept portrait commissions. Your portrait can contain people, pets (my specialty), a house or building, a car, a child’s beloved toy, etc. I charge per photo, not per subject. So, if the portrait is directly from one photo, there are no extra charges for the amount of subjects! Even if there are 3 people and a dog! However, if you wish to combine subjects from different photos, which I can do, there is an alteration fee per subject because it takes time to correctly scale your portrait.
To request a quote, fill out and submit the Portrait Commission Quote Form. I will then email you a free quote (a PayPal or PDF invoice will be issued depending on payment type selected) in 1-2 business days, which is good for 30 days.
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Media and Pricing: This a comparison of the portrait choices I currently offer and related info. Notice that the background of each drawing below is treated differently. The price ranges are based on a direct rendition of one photo including background. Shipping/handling is additional. The photo may have more than one subject, but please keep in mind that large groups of people are not suitable for small portraits. Normally I’d never draw the same thing over and over (which takes away originality and it’s boring), but it will help you compare the choices. This is the photo I snapped of my son, Shane. The portraits below are all 8"x10".
Mixed Media Drawing Media: this drawing was created with pastel and colored pencil. I also might add acrylic, ink or watercolor to best suit the texture or feel of the portrait.
Graphite Pencil Drawing Media: may have tiny amounts of white ink or acrylic for highlights.
Pen & Ink Drawing Media: this is more suitable for illustrations, but it can also be used for portraits.
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Charcoal, Sepia or Sanguine Sketch Media: your choice of charcoal (background: diagonal lines), sepia (background: none) or sanguine pencil (background: solid). Not as detailed as other mediums. Sizing starts at 8"x10". |
Size: I usually size portraits so that they will fit standard mats/frames. The suggested sizes are: 3.5"x5" portrait (fits 5"x7" mat/frame), 5"x7" (fits 8"x10"), 8"x10" (fits 11"x14"), 8"x12" (fits 12"x16"), 11"x14" (fits 14"x18" or 16"x20"), 12"x16" (fits 16"x20"), 12"x18" (fits 18"x24"), 16"x20" (fits 20"x24"). If you want another size, just ask. I will also consider ACEO size and miniatures.
Description of Drawing: how many figures, what type of figures (adult, child, baby, cat, dog, etc.) and what type of background.
Alterations: are an additional charge of $25-50 per alteration. Additional supporting photos maybe necessary for accuracy. Examples: remove glasses, add ear/tail/arm that is missing in the photo, use different jewelry, combine head and body from two different photographs, combine subjects from different photos, etc.
Color Matching: I will do my best to match the colors in the photos that you send me and with the materials that I am using. I will use artistic liscence where necessary to make a pleasing portrait. However, if you need a more exact match, you will need to send a hardcopy photo and/or a sample of the item (paint chip, fabric swatch, etc.) to be matched through snail mail. Progress reports will be sent via snail mail also. This will delay the finish of your portait and there will be an extra $75 charge for this service.
Scheduling: you will need let me know if you need your portrait by a specific date, so that I can determine if it is possible. After I receive your payment and the photo(s) (which can be emailed jpeg or snail mail hard copy -- snail mail photos are returned with the portrait), I will let you know when I’m going to start the portrait. It will take 1-3 weeks to complete the portrait depending on the size and media.
Shipping/Handling Charges: are additional. Let me know if you have any special requests. I ship USPS Priority normally, but can also ship UPS. Orders $250 and up require a signature upon receipt, which can be waived and the carrier will sign for you. Your portrait will be shipped in a box with bubble and/or foam and tracking will be emailed to you.
Quality Control and Customer Satisfaction: I send progress reports during the process to insure quality and satifaction. Communication between the artist and client is key in creating a fine art portrait. I will email an outline drawing for your approval. Changes for accuracy should be made at this time and there is no charge. Extra alterations at this time will incur addtional charges. If changes are made, an additional reports will be sent until until the outline is correct and before I proceed with the details. If the portrait is a complex one or one that will take 2-3 weeks to complete, I will send a progress report in the middle of it. Some changes can be made at this time. If possible, extra alterations at this time will incur addtional charges. A final progress report will then be emailed before I seal the artwork with a final fixative. Minimal changes (ones that will not affect the intergrity of the materials) for accuracy are possible. Alterations at this time are usually not possible. Should there be additional costs, they will need to be paid in order for the portrait to be shipped.
Photo Quality and Artistic Judgement: The clearer your photo is, the more accurately I can draw it. Too many subjects in a portrait will affect the amount of detail I will be able to render. I reserve the right to request photos of better quality, which could delay your portrait. I will try to render your subject(s) as faithfully as possible, but will use artistic license where necessary to make a pleasing work of art.
Copyrighted Photos: I cannot draw a direct rendition of a copyrighted photo (it will be stamped/signed with the photographer’s signature or logo), unless you obtain a letter from the photographer stating that I may do so. I can however, use a copyrighted photo as reference for that missing tail or when combining photos. The key is that my portrait is not allowed by copyright law to be recognizable as the work of the photographer.
Unforeseen Delays: I will do everything I can to complete your order in as timely a fashion as possible. I cannot be held responsible for delays due to natural disasters, fire, theft, sickness, injury or family emergencies. I will notify you as soon as possible if there is a problem.
Care Instructions: care instructions will be sent with your portrait, which should be matted and framed. You can also see the Artwork Care and ACEO Display page on this website. A link to the care page is also available under Information.
Certificate of Authenticity (COA): your portrait will come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
For examples of commission work that I've sold, go to my Portfolio page.
For more information on shipping costs, restrictions, packaging, etc., go to my Purchase Information page.