Artist and Commissions
What to Expect
Commissioning a portrait is an individual process and each piece is created based on your individual preferences.
I will work to understand your needs and the subject as well as any individual features you'd like to capture in the painting.
Below is an outline of what you can expect and tips to ensure the finished painting meets your expectations.
Mediums
I primarily work with high quality professional range acrylic paints and oil paints. If you have a preference for your portrait, please let me know. Keep in mind that acrylics are best suited to paintings with a set deadline due to their quick drying time. For oil commissions, I will need to keep them in my studio for several months after completion to allow for drying time before they can be shipped and framed.
The Process
I work from photographs, therefore high quality, high resolution photographs are essential for capturing fine details of your chosen subject.
I work with you to review photo references and help us choose the right image(s) that capture the ‘look’ that you would like for the portrait. Upon agreeing a portrait size, we can discuss reference photographs and background options before agreeing a price and timescale.
I require a deposit of 50% to secure your booking. The balance will be due on completion before collection or shipping of your portrait.
Photography Tips for the Perfect Portrait
Photos should be in focus at high resolution.
Usually this means using a camera and not a phone but we can review what you have.
Individual hairs should be visible when zoomed in, with details of the eyes also visible.
Photos should be taken in natural lighting avoiding flash where possible.
If it's sunny, try and avoid the sun being behind the subject to prevent shadows.
For horses consider whether you'd like them in a headcollar or bridle or without.
You may want to consider time of year for taking your photos as horse colour can vary depending on winter and summer coat and whether they are clipped.
With horse and dog portraits, try to get as eye level as possible (I appreciate this is difficult particularly with big horses!).
Take photo from at least a metre distance.
Having the horses and dogs with their heads slightly side-on is usually a good pose.
For horses, avoid taking photos over a stable door if possible, it is good to have their neck and some chest in the photo and I can crop the photo as necessary.
Some horses are much more natural posers than others – you may have to persist with some horses until you get an interested, ears forward expression that best captures your horse’s personality!
If you would like a specific background for your painting (for example a field, favourite walk, garden) ideally try to get a photo of the subject in this setting. Otherwise I can try to work with two photos, one of the animal and one of the background.
