Frequently Asked Questions

The first thing we do is talk about what your likes and preferences are in a portrait. I will ask you how you envision this person (or yourself). Perhaps you have ideas of how you would like them portrayed, often; casual poses in favorite clothes among personal possessions or pets work best. I will take a lot of photos, edit them and send them to you via email. If we are ‘on to something’ in the first shooting but need to capture additional things, I will come back to do it all again, but usually one or two photos will stand out from the rest right away.
Upon photo acceptance, I will start a contour line drawing sketch in charcoal, usually on a 24 x 36 inch pre-stretched canvas for a single subject (linen canvas lasts years longer but is more expensive than the duck canvas ones; I will paint on which ever you choose.) Larger canvasses for additional people in the portrait are a fee of $500 for each additional person, (pets posing with their masters are free)!
Upon completion and acceptance of the sketch, I will begin to paint and will need approximately 80 to 100 hours to complete your painting. I could reveal your painting within a month of ordering but it depends on the process and your involvement in it and how many commissions are ahead of yours.

The cost of your beautiful oil portrait begins at $XXXX.

No. The cost of your painting includes the canvas, any supplies that I use, the time I spend photographing the subject, the time I spend meeting with you and getting to know you on at least two occasions prior to the reveal, and any shipping costs if sent outside of state. The painting will be fit with eyes crews and wire for immediate hanging.

You will have an opportunity to as I take the photos for the painting (for free!) and you will be very involved in the actual composition of the portrait as we change poses and move to different locations within your environment.