Commission Process
If you are interesting in purchasing a commission, please read the information below before proceeding. This will explain how the process works and what you will need to do if you choose to go ahead.
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Processing Time
Current wait times for portrait delivery are 4-6 weeks. Please note that at certain times of year this will be subject to considerable change so if you are planning to purchase a portrait for a specific occasion, please allow plenty of time.
Your deposit secures your place on the waiting list as portraits are hand painted in the order in which they are received and you will be notified via email when your portrait is started.
The time taken to hand paint each portrait varies depending on size and drying times, along with many other factors. Once a portrait is finished you will be emailed with a scanned proof for approval. Once the portrait is approved by you, the payment balance will become due and the portrait will be shipped as soon as payment is received.
Pricing
Each price level is based on the materials and time required to complete the commission. These vary by type and size, however in all cases your commission will be completed using high quality materials designed to last. Some materials are quicker to work with than others and this is also reflected in the pricing. Payment can be made in instalments if required. Full details here.
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The standard prices and options listed are for a single pet, head and shoulders only. Additional pets or full body can be discussed with additional costs starting from £40. Contact for a personalised quote for any additional services. Gift certificates are available.
Portrait References
As your portrait will be created from photographs, it will require 1-3 good photos of your pet in order to create your portrait. Ideally you should choose one for the 'pose' and then provide 1 or 2 alternate images so that there is a good view of your pet's features and colours. It is highly recommended that you use bright natural lighting for your photos as these will give the best image of your pets colouring and fur texture and enable them to be captured best in your portrait. Please see Photo Advice for more information.
Quality Assurance
All portraits are created using fade resistant materials and sturdy, high-quality papers and boards. Brands used include Daniel Smith and Schminke watercolours, and Rembrandt and Carbothello pastels. All of the highly lightfast watercolour paintings come on heavyweight (300gsm or higher) 100% cotton paper and all pastelworks use light grey Pastelmat board. Graphite portraits are available on white artists paper in 160gsm or higher. All pastel and graphite portraits are sealed with a fixative spray to protect the artwork from smudging or fading. The aim is to create artwork that will, with proper care, last a lifetime so that you can preserve the memories of your beloved pets.
Shipping & Delivery
All portraits are shipped flat, via courier service, secured between protective layers of either acid-free tissue or glassine paper and then packed into sturdy cardboard shipping cartons. Where necessary, additional cardboard sheets are used for strength. Fortunately the selection of standardised portrait sizes available allows them to be shipped flat with no need to roll. Postage & packing costs a flat rate of £15. If you have ordered a graphite pencil drawing, you can reduce shipping costs by having your portrait shipped rolled in a tube. This costs £8. See Pricing for more information.
Framing & Mounting
Currently, framing or mounting services are not offered. Choosing the perfect frame for setting your portrait in your home is a very personal decision and so all portrait sizes are standardised and carefully chosen to fit into widely available frame sizes. Portraits will have a margin left around the edge to support mounting and framing.
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Mounting Pastel or Pencil Portraits
In order to make the mounting of your pastel or pencil portrait easier, it will have been sealed using a carefully chosen fixative spray. Pastel is very easy to smudge and can drop fine particles of colour. The spray minimises this and has been specially selected to not affect the colour of your finished portrait. This means that you can choose to either frame your portrait yourself or take it to a specialist local framer for extra special treatment.