C o m m i s s i o n s

Of course I would be delighted to take on your portrait commission. Please read on for more information and prices and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Materials
Graphite portraits are relatively quick and affordable and give a very stylish result. Graphite portraits are drawn on paper. Oil or Pastel portraits will take longer to create and are accordingly more expensive, but you will truly have an heirloom in the family!
Pastel portraits are painted on pastel paper or card. They need to be framed with a mount behind glass.
Oil portraits are usually painted on canvas or linen and might take a little longer. The colours are deeper and the result more traditional than pastel.

Procedure

After we have agreed on the materials, budget and size we will arrange for a photo shoot at a preferred location. After discussing options and wishes I will make a large number of photos from which we can later choose. If possible I would like to make some sketches or studies while the subject sits for me. Sittings can be as short as an hour or as long as various sessions of a few hours. If sittings are not possible I am happy to work from photos entirely. Once I have reviewed the photos I will create several setups to choose from. Once we are both happy with the setup, price and details I will create the portrait in my studio.

When the painting is finished you can come and view it in my studio or I will send a large image by email. If you are not totally happy, I can still make some minor changes at that point in order to perfect the portrait. After you are happy with the finished portrait, payment will be required. If, for some reason, you are not satisfied with the finished painting and I cannot make amendments to fix the problems, you are under no obligation to buy. Thankfully so far all clients have been very pleased with their commissioned portrait! Once payment has been received your painting is ready for you. Framing can be arranged if you so wish.

If you have a favourite snapshot or you wish to surprise someone with a portrait I am happy to work from good quality existing photos that you provide. Read more here about working from your photos.

Timing
Many people ask me how long I need for a portrait. It varies enormously depending on your availability, how things go and the nature of the commission itself. But as a very rough guideline I will need a few weeks for a graphite portrait, a couple of months for a pastel and a few months for an oil. Do contact me if you have a deadline like a birthday or other special occasion as I can usually fit things in quite well. I've had happy clients for whom I drew a portrait within a week and happy clients who waited a few months to enjoy their art work. Just tell me your requirements and I'll do my best!

Payment
Cleared payment is required before or upon collection/dispatch of the final painting. You can pay with a personal cheque or, for international clients, by Paypal. For larger commissions I might require a non-refundable deposit.

Price indication:

Prices are indicative and depend wholly on the circumstances and specifics of each commission.

A single head & shoulders oil portrait of around 30x40cm would start around £900 depending on details of the commission.