FAQ's
Pet Portraits - Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I have a Pet Portrait ?
- A professionally painted portrait will be more expressive and can show the personality of your animal much better than an ordinary photograph would do. You will also be owning a unique work of art.
People commission pet portraits for any number of reasons, they may wish to display a painting of their favourite pet on the wall for everyone to admire, or often as a lasting memory of a cherished companion no longer with them. They also make excellent gifts. For example: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings & Christmas
How do you work ? - On receiving your photographs, I set to work making a selection of the best or studying the pose you prefer. It is at this point that I may wish to contact you for clarification of any detail or if I need any more information. At this stage I may also suggest a different pose if I think this works better artistically and think it will give you a better result on the finished painting.
If necessary the photographs are then scanned digitally to alter contrast and to help me see as much detail as possible. A line drawing is then made with a pencil emphasising the areas I wish to define and when I am happy with the shape and layout, I begin the painting process.
I start your portrait using large washes of base colours to block in areas of colour and shadow. As the painting progresses, I use smaller brushes and more specific colours to develop the painting artistically, constantly referring to your photographs to ensure I capture the character of your pet. For the last stage, I use very fine brushes for those last touches of detail, such as fur, eyes and whiskers. Finally I refer back to the photographs one last time to make sure I have created a painting that I, but more importantly you, will be pleased with. Please visit the Gallery page where you can judge the quality of my work for yourselves.
I have been painting pet portraits for over 20 years and over that time have produced hundreds of true likenesses and can honestly say that I have never had a dissatisfied customer. Rest assured, you will not be charged the balance of your payment until you are 100% satisfied with the finished painting.
How long do orders take ?
- Generally allow four to six weeks from start to completion, depending on my workload at the time, I can advise you on this when you place your order. However if your portrait is required sooner, eg. as a last minute gift, then please email or call me to discuss, as it may be possible to complete the portrait within a week or two, although this would involve putting some of my other orders ‘on hold’ if possible and would therefore incur a small extra ‘priority service’ charge.
Obviously I get very busy at Christmas time and normally stop taking orders around mid-late October
When do I have to pay ?
- I ask for a 40% deposit when you place your order. When the painting is finished I will email you a copy for approval, it is at this stage that any minor adjustments you think necessary can be made to the portrait. The painting can then be mounted and or framed and the balance is due.
Do you do Gift Vouchers ?
- Yes, you may want to order a portrait for family or friends, but do not have access to photos or are not sure what size they would want, so a Gift Voucher is an ideal alternative.
Also, as all portraits are individually hand painted and therefore involve a lot of time and care, it may not always be possible to create a portrait in time for your special date, so a Gift Voucher would be an ideal option - all the preparation could be done - the choosing of photos, size etc and then the order would be placed in the commission list ( I usually have at least 2 or 3 paintings that I am working on at any one time, and several waiting to be done.)
How can I send the photographs ?
- email is the easiest - I can accept most image files, although JPEG or PDF Formats are the best - either insert the images into the message or send as attachments. Alternatively you can send the photographs through the normal post to me - All original photographs will be returned.
I cannot stress enough how important good quality photos are, so please read the Photo Tips page for hints and tips on how to take and select the correct type of photos - The better the quality of photographs, the better the finished pet portrait will be.
Do you paint the whole animal ?
- I normally only do a “Head & Shoulders” painting, as this is the part that most owners recognise and contains the character of the animal. However if you wish, I can do an entire body portrait, but please be aware that in this case, the actual head will be a lot smaller (generally about 1\5th to 1\7th of the size) and therefore will not contain as much detail as a head & shoulders only portrait.
I have 2 pets on 2 different photos - is it possible to put them both on the same painting ?
- Yes, if you want 2 or more pets on the same painting I can work from separate photos and make them look like they are all sitting together.
I use the latest version of Adobe Photoshop, so I can create a "mock-up" of how they would look together, this enables me to interact with the client to make sure the composition is perfect and exactly what you require.
What size portrait should I have ?
- The decision is up to you, but I can advise you depending on the type of animal and detail required. However there are a few basic things to take into consideration - apart from your budget, you should take into account where you intend t o display the artwork (remembering to add a little extra in size form mounting and framing).
Do you only do standard sizes, or can I have a bespoke size ?
- Yes, as all of my commissions are one-offs and unique to the client, you can have any size portrait, although the 2 standard sizes are acceptable for most people. The final shape/proportion of the portrait is determined by the shape/pose of the animal. Please do not hesitate to contact me for advise if you are unsure.
Can amendments be made to the finished painting ?
- Yes, all clients receive regular updates on the progress of their commission. A final photo of the finished portrait is emailed to the client, and they can then recommend any final touches or tweaks to the artwork. (please note - it is not possible to make any major changes at this stage.)
Can you take the reference photographs for me ?
- Yes, I would be happy to, it can add to but as I would need to cover my transport costs and time, this would naturally add to the price. I would be happy to provide you with a separate quotation for this.
Can I use my painting commercially ?
- No, the client holds the copyright of the image that I work from, however the artist holds the copyright on the painting created. I will never reproduce or sell prints of your painting or allow its usage on any other websites apart from mine without written permission from the client.
Do you display the finished portrait on your website ? - Yes, once the portrait is finished, I reserve the right to display the artwork on my website, blog and social media. This really helps other people see the quality of my work and seeing other peoples commissions has probably influenced your decision to commission your own portrait. However, if a client is unhappy about their artwork being displayed, I will not use it.