Have you been inspired by a memorable moment, a beloved pet, or a bold idea or design?
I will collaborate with you to create an original custom oil painting on canvas that is personal and unique to you. It will be specifically created to express your vision and be something you can enjoy for the rest of your life or that you can give to someone special in your life.
Use my contact form to send me your ideas...let yourself be creative! It can be as simple as "I love this picture of my dog, I want a portrait made from it!" or as vague as "I was thinking about a painting with a bird on a branch with water flowing under it, possibly in rainbow colors!"
You can send examples of other artwork you like that give an idea of how you would like your commissioned work to look and feel. For example, you may really enjoy the style and content of one of my paintings, but want your painting to have the same colors as your favorite Georgia O'Keeffe painting.
Or, you may love the picture of your dog, but not the fact that he is sitting in your driveway. No problem! It's easy to transport him to a mountain meadow or a beach anywhere in the world!
Like almost all artists who create portraits, I work from a photographic reference, so picture quality is very important to the final result. Please see the section on PHOTO TIPS to help guide you in either taking a photograph, or selecting one from an already existing pool of photographs.
You can also provide me with your own rough sketch to help explain your ideas; stick figures and basic line drawings are fabulous! (see "Jenny's Vision" in the Examples section below).
I'll contact you to discuss your vision and to refine my understanding of your ideas. If you don't have a rough sketch of your idea, it's not a problem. Especially when a client has many elements they wish to bring together, I will take their written or verbal description and put it together in a Photoshop image to refine the layout of your painting to make sure my vision matches yours as closely a possible.
EXAMPLES: "Jenny's Vision"
Jenny contacted me with an idea for a painting. "There are these gorgeous cliffs out at my boyfriends ranch that I would love to have painted for him. I have a picture of them I can send you. I would like you to paint the cliffs with a creek down the center of the valley, adding your water style, and one of your fun tree's on the side!"
Jenny sent the picture of the cliffs and a rough sketch she put together in a PDF. Incorporating the elements she described, her sketch and the photograph, we created a beautiful 36 x 48 painting of her vision.
It's that simple!
Common Questions: What size should I order? Portraits: The smallest portraits I produce measure 8x10 inches, while the largest measure 30x40 inches. For smaller sizes, I recommend a simple head and shoulder portrait on a suitably contrasting background. Full body portraits, action portraits and depictions with scenic settings are ideal for sizes measuring 16x 20 and above. Scenic & Wild life paintings can range from 8x10 to 36x48. Please see PRICING PAGE for details
Timing: how long does it take? It is common for there to be 2 - 6 week waiting list for portraits to be completed because they involve many hours of work. Oil paintings require at least 1 week of dry time before they can be shipped. Artists tend to be busier around the Christmas holiday so it is vital that you submit your order early, to avoid disappointment. It is also possible to obtain gift vouchers for a pet portrait as a gift if a last minute commission is not possible.
What is the Process? Photo to Portrait Step 1 Placing an order couldn’t be simpler, with three easy steps. However, before I can proceed I do need to see the photographs that you wish me to work from to ensure they are clear enough for me to produce the best results. Photographs can be sent in digital format via email at high resolution so they can be printed clearly, or on CD by mail.
Send all hard copy photographs by mail only, but don‘t scan them as it can change the color considerably. Please see the Photo Tips page for some simple tips on photographing your pet. It is essential to have good photographs in order to create your pet portrait. All hard copy, original photographs will be returned with the completed portrait.
Step 2 Once I have checked the photographs, we agree on your requirements and a delivery schedule, I will ask for a 50%, non- refundable deposit of the agreed price.
If there will be a great deal of variability between the original photograph and you final vision, there will be a collaborative process where I send you the basic elements of the portrait, including sketches, for your approval before starting the final painting.
Some of my clients like to see a couple of progress photographs and others prefer to wait until the portrait is finished. Just let me know and I am happy to do either.
Step 3 On completion of your pet portrait, I will email you a photograph of the painting for your final approval. Then I will ask for the balance, which you can either pay by debit or credit card, securely online through Paypal or by check through the mail.
On receipt of payment (If you are paying by check, I will wait for it to clear the bank), I will ship your finished pet portrait, insured, using a reputable carrier.
Additional shipping and handling charges may apply, depending on the size of the painting. Please contact me for details and to discuss your individual situation.
