Commissioning a portrait
I predominantly work in pencil/graphite for all human portraits and pastel or coloured pencil for pets. Please scroll down for further portrait information and FAQ’s.
My current turn around time for portraits is around 3 weeks (not including postage/delivery time).
Reference Photos
My goal is to produce the highest quality portrait I can. A portrait can only be as good as it’s reference photo. The two main qualities of a good reference photo are lighting and resolution.
Lighting - this is important for creating depth. A portrait can look dull or flat if it is from a shady or under-exposed image.
Resolution - The more detail in the original reference photo, the more detail that can be captured in the portrait. Fuzzy photos produce fuzzy portraits.
I have made a few exceptions when there is no alternative e.g. a very old or damaged photo. In this case I will work with the client to combine the reference material with other reference images and recreate the original image as best as possible.
Size and Pricing
Prices may fluctuate depending on the complexity of the subject. Additionally, if you’re looking for a portrait with more than one subject please contact me for an exact quote.
Pastel portraits
A4 - £180 A3 - £240 A2 - Subject dependent
Pencil portraits
A4 - £280 A3 - £420 A2 - subject dependent
FAQ’S
How long will my portrait take? My current turnaround time is 3 weeks
Will my portrait be framed? I don’t offer a framing service but your picture will come with a card mount which can be used in a frame.
Is it safe to post my portrait? Yes, I make sure all my portraits are securely packaged and send them tracked first class.
What if I can’t decide on a reference image for the potrait? Not a problem! I like seeing more than one image of the subject to grasp a sense of their character so I can help decide which is the best to draw.
My only reference image is damaged in places, can you work with it? I haven’t been defeated by an image yet - if there is concern about the image provided I will always point it out before I start drawing but generally I can (within reason) fill in some details that may be missing