Commission a Portrait

When considering to commission a portrait from anyone you are essentially putting your faith in the unknown! I will do my best to break down the process here and hopefully help to ease that process.

The Process

Step 1

Get in touch with any questions, or if you need a price. I will always respond with no obligation. If you then decide to proceed we will continue to speak via email or telephone about exactly how you want your portrait to turn out, in terms of size, materials used, pose etc. Have a good look through my gallery and if any of those portrait styles catch your eye, let me know.

Step 2

Take and send some photographs! As many as you can of the subject from different angles and in different poses so that I can get a feel for the subjects characteristics and features. We can then work together to choose that perfect photograph to use. The best pictures for me to work from are high resolution, usually better from a digital camera, which can be picked up relatively cheap if you don't already have access to one. Try to avoid using smartphone cameras as they're not really suitable for me to work from. Make sure your pictures are taken nice and close up and are clear. If you're unsure how close, think about a school photograph, or, again, you can refer to my gallery to see positioning.

Natural light is the best lighting option, so taking the photograph outdoors is pretty much the way to go, but try to avoid bright sunlight though as it will create strong shadows and make the subject squint.

Don't worry about backgrounds as these will not be included in the portrait.

Step 3

If the portrait consists of more than one subject, I will mock up a digital layout and email it to you to check over.

Once we have agreed the final details I will produce an agreement for you to sign and return. This is in place to give you comfort knowing that your portrait is in good hands and will be completed to a high standard. I also require a 50% non refundable deposit before I begin the portrait (details on how to pay will be included on the agreement). This is to protect me as I put a lot of time in to each portrait, and it also covers the initial cost of materials. 

Step 4

Once the portrait is "off the ground", and it starts coming to life, I will send progress update photographs to you so that you can see how your portrait is progressing. If you would rather not see these then please let me know.

When I feel that the portrait is finished I will scan it and email the scan over to you to check over. At this point you can let me know if there are any amendments you would like me to make. I'll then make the requested changes, rescan and resend.

When you're completely happy with the final scan we will arrange final payment (as set out on the final invoice and will include delivery charge) and delivery date and then I'll send the portrait straight out to you.

Framing

I don't offer a framing service but I recommend visiting a frame specialist rather than ordering online as they can offer better advise on what style of frame will compliment your artwork.

Any drawing or print should always be framed behind glass to protect it because a paper surface can be easily damaged but it should be mounted with a piece of thin card between the drawing and the glass as the glass can smear any loose graphite on the paper and it will allow a nice breathable gap for air to circulate around the drawing. Again, a framing specialist will be able to advise you further on what kind of mount you should use.

Also, always make sure to only touch the artwork with very clean hands and try to handle it as little as possible to avoid contaminating it with the natural oils and acids in our skin.

Avoid hanging your artwork in direct sunlight and I recommend a UV deflecting glass when framing to prevent light damage over time, and avoid hanging it near a heat source, such as a radiator, fireplace or cooker.

Absolutely do not, under no circumstances, hang your artwork in a "damp" area, such as a kitchen or bathroom, or a newly painted wall.

Delivery

After you have approved your portrait I'll send over an invoice. Details on how to make payment will be included on the invoice as well as the delivery charge. For UK deliveries I use Royal Mails next day special delivery courier service. This is a fully tracked and signed-for service and I will provide details of your tracking number for you. We can agree on a specific delivery date that works for you to receive your portrait. Large portraits and overseas orders will be sent by DPD. Delivery pricing details can be found on the prices page.

All portraits are sprayed with a fixative to stop the pencil from smudging and rubbing onto your fingers when you handle the portrait. The portrait is then placed into a acid-free sleeve and placed between two pieces of rigid MDF board to ensure it won't be bent in transit. I then wrap the whole thing in clear pallet wrap to guarantee its safe arrival.

Ready to Capture Your Vision?

Commission a breath-taking portrait today and cherish it for a lifetime.