A Helping Hand
Answers to frequently asked questions.
What do you need to create my painting?
I work mostly from photographs, therefore, it is important that your photo is sharp and taken in a well lighted area. The photos should not be blurry and not wallet sized. Ideally, a minimum of three to four images is a good starting point. When taking pet/animal pictures, it is best to work without a flash, and if possible, to take the picture outside. If that is not possible, select images where the pet is in play, or looking slightly away from the camera. When choosing reference pictures of people, try and stay away from store or school portraits. These usually do not provide an adequate light source. "Especially choose pictures that evoke an emotion or special memory."
How do I send the photographs?
The best way to send your photos is by computer or mobile device. If this is an older photograph, it can be scanned to
a computer and sent to [email protected] .
If this is not an option, they can be sent via traditional mail. See also Contact Form.
Pricing Costs
How are painting costs determined?
This will be dependent on the medium chosen, such as pastel, versus oil paints, pen&ink, watercolor or pencil. Also, size of the painting which will be priced per square inch and the portion of the figure being painted. When choosing a medium, oil paints cost more than pastels, which in turn, cost more than pencils.
For example in a portrait, the choice can consist of the head/shoulders, half a figure w/hands, three quarters, or full figure. In the
pet & wildlife gallery, graphite and colored pencil - Pricing is based on an artist formula of area, multiplied by square inch for the medium used.
In the portrait gallery, A portrait can take any where from 25-200 hours to complete. Adding an additional figure to the same painting, will be discounted 30%. Small paintings, can have just as much, or even more detail, than a larger painting, and will be priced according to the medium, time spent completing the rendering, and size.
All pastel paintings are rendered on museum or professional archival paper, with the largest size being 24x36. Drawings, illustrations and watercolors are rendered on 100% cotton, archival, acid free papers. Canvas sizes will vary and will be dependent on the figure portion chosen.
A 50% deposit is required to begin work, the remaining 50% upon completion, which will include shipping & handling.
Pencil/Graphite start range $.80-$1.75 per square inch
Pastel start range $2.25-$3.85
Watercolor start range $1.75-$2.25
Oil start range $4.75-$6.00 per square inch
What do you need to create my painting?
I work mostly from photographs, therefore, it is important that your photo is sharp and taken in a well lighted area. The photos should not be blurry and not wallet sized. Ideally, a minimum of three to four images is a good starting point. When taking pet/animal pictures, it is best to work without a flash, and if possible, to take the picture outside. If that is not possible, select images where the pet is in play, or looking slightly away from the camera. When choosing reference pictures of people, try and stay away from store or school portraits. These usually do not provide an adequate light source. "Especially choose pictures that evoke an emotion or special memory."
How do I send the photographs?
The best way to send your photos is by computer or mobile device. If this is an older photograph, it can be scanned to
a computer and sent to [email protected] .
If this is not an option, they can be sent via traditional mail. See also Contact Form.
Pricing Costs
How are painting costs determined?
This will be dependent on the medium chosen, such as pastel, versus oil paints, pen&ink, watercolor or pencil. Also, size of the painting which will be priced per square inch and the portion of the figure being painted. When choosing a medium, oil paints cost more than pastels, which in turn, cost more than pencils.
For example in a portrait, the choice can consist of the head/shoulders, half a figure w/hands, three quarters, or full figure. In the
pet & wildlife gallery, graphite and colored pencil - Pricing is based on an artist formula of area, multiplied by square inch for the medium used.
In the portrait gallery, A portrait can take any where from 25-200 hours to complete. Adding an additional figure to the same painting, will be discounted 30%. Small paintings, can have just as much, or even more detail, than a larger painting, and will be priced according to the medium, time spent completing the rendering, and size.
All pastel paintings are rendered on museum or professional archival paper, with the largest size being 24x36. Drawings, illustrations and watercolors are rendered on 100% cotton, archival, acid free papers. Canvas sizes will vary and will be dependent on the figure portion chosen.
A 50% deposit is required to begin work, the remaining 50% upon completion, which will include shipping & handling.
Pencil/Graphite start range $.80-$1.75 per square inch
Pastel start range $2.25-$3.85
Watercolor start range $1.75-$2.25
Oil start range $4.75-$6.00 per square inch