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| Frequently Asked Questions Q: How long will the commission take and how much notice will you require? A: Each portrait can take up to 25 hours if not more. I usually say to allow a month for portrait completion but this can be cut down to a fortnight or extended to eight weeks depending on the time of year and my workload. Q: What paper sizes are available? A: Pencil drawings are generally available in three paper sizes: A5, A4 and A3. If you wish to request a particular size then this is also possible. Q: Do you require a deposit? If so how much will it be and how can I pay you? A: A non-refundable deposit of 25% is required to secure the drawing and cover material costs, the remainder being due upon portrait completion. You can pay via Paypal or bank transfer. Q: How much will my portrait cost in total? A: Prices vary according to size of the drawing and the animal breed. For instance, black dogs require more pencil work due to the necessary layers that need to be built up and multiple animals in one portrait will require more time and proportioning. If you have a selection of photos and you would like your portrait to include elements from more than one photo then this too would have to be accounted for in the final cost of the drawing. See here for prices. Q: Will I need to pay postage? A: Yes. All portraits are sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery which guarantees your portrait being with you before 1pm the next day. A tracking number is supplied on posting which I will let you know so you can find out the progress of your portrait if necessary. Costs are £6 for an A5/A4 portrait which is packed flat with instructions to avoid damage and £10 for an A3 portrait which is sent in a cardboard tube. Q: Can you combine photographs together in one portrait? A: Yes, this is not a problem. Please note that the cost of the portrait will be more if more than one animal is to be included. Q: The photos I have are not in digital format, is that a problem? A: Not at all. You can send me the original photos as hard copies in the post, I can scan them and send them back to you. Please make sure the original photos are of a quality I can use, i.e. not damaged, blurred, dark or so small I cannot make out the detail. Q: What size reference photos are required? A: In general, the bigger the better. The smaller the photo the more difficult it gets for me to pick out the finer details of the subject which means I cannot complete the drawing to the level I would like. If you can see the individual contours of the fur then that is the sort of detail I am after. There is a degree of leeway though, I can usually use past experience of drawing animal fur to allow me to make up for a lack in detail but it is much better to have the real thing. Have a look at my page on photography tips to help you further. Q: How many photos should I send? A: A selection is preferred as often I do not get the chance to meet the pet in person and a selection of photos will give me a better idea of the animals' personality and proportion. Also, if the photo you had in mind as a reference is not altogether suitable for using then having a selection available will widen the options. It may be possible to use the photo you originally preferred providing I have enough to go on with the accompanying photos. Q: Can you frame my portrait? A: Yes, I use a very good and reliable local framer. I only offer the one choice of frame however, an untreated wood that you will then have the option of painting or varnishing yourself. Q: How should I look after my portrait? A: All portraits are sprayed with a good quality artist's graphite fixative to lock in most of the pencil and reduce the risk of smudging. Try not to finger the paper unnecessarily as you risk transferring oil from your fingers onto the paper. Keep the drawing out of direct sunlight to prevent fading. |
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