Portrait Commissions

COMMISSION INFORMATION - Addtional Costs, Photo Requirements, Delivery, Payment Methods.

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Additional Costs: Backgrounds, Full-Body Portraits & Adding Missing Items
The price for portraits including backgrounds varies from composition to composition. I can provide several quotations, giving various size and background options: a fine detailed background will cost more than one with a washed in background. The same also applies to a full-body portrait rather than just a head shot. I will be happy to email examples of the various background options.

Portraits can be composed with a different background to the photo supplied. For example, replacing an urban setting with countryside.

The portrait shown to the left was done from a combination of photos of the dog and his owner asked if I could add some pheasants into the foreground. Because of the addition of the pheasants, I worked out a rough sketch of the layout which I emailed to my client to approve before I drew up and commenced the main portrait. The background is a combination of a detailed foreground with a washed in background.


Missing items such as ears and paws can also be added to complete the portrait - the price may increase according to the work involved.

If you have a budget and are not sure what kind of painting you can commission for that amount, I will be happy to advise.

Photo Requirements
To best capture the subject matter, there are a few pointers regarding photographs so that I can get the best from your images.

Ensure the image is clear and in focus.

A natural light source on the pet's face shows up detail better than photos taken using a flash, as this can wash out colour/detail.

The larger the painting you require the better the photo I need - it's not easy working from small or out-of-focus images to produce a large-scale painting as they lack detail.

The larger the digital photo size, the better, as this will show up more detail when printed.

Low resolution images, such as those taken with some mobile phones or photos that have been cropped, are not the best to work from as the image can be very small once printed out or pixelated.

I am happy to have a look at photos and advise which would be the best to work from.

How to Send Your Photos
Please email me any images you wish me to look at, you can send just one or several, noting any favourites.

I will always confirm when I have received photos, so if you don't hear back from me I've likely not received them - this can happen when sending large file sizes.

Hard copy photos can also be posted to me and these will be returned when sending the art work.

Two or More Pets in a Painting?
If you want a painting with two or more pets in it, then don't worry too much about trying to get them to sit still together. Two separate similar images can be put together to create a portrait, either as 'floating' headshots or side-by-side.

Delivery
Once the art work is ready for approval, a scan/photo of it will be emailed to you.

If you require any adjustments to the work, these will be done and then a revised scan/photo emailed to you for reapproval.

Once approved, payment will be required. See 'Payment Methods' below.

Art work will be despatched once payment has been received, usually within 2-7 days. An email is sent to confirm posting. Art work will need to be signed for on delivery.

Items are posted in board-backed envelopes or similar.

If I have at least a month's notice for art work required by a specific date, this timeframe should be achievable. I can sometimes fit in last-minute commissions, so please email to enquire.

Early booking is advisable leading up to the Christmas period.

Payment Methods
Once the art work is complete and approved then payment is required. This can be made by cheque, credit/debit card or Paypal - a free and secure service. An invoice will be emailed to you via Paypal upon approval of the art work, and this has details of how to pay.

You do not need to have a Paypal account to pay using a credit or debit card. The easy-to follow instructions will guide you through the check-out process, similar to any online store.

Overseas Addresses
I am happy to accept overseas commissions. Please contact me for a quotation, which will be calculated based on airmail costs and the current exchange rate.

Payment via Paypal only, in either US Dollars or £s sterling.