FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How do we start if I'm not sure which photo to use?If you're not sure which photo to use, or what size you want, send me some photos, and I can make suggestions. Tell me about your pet's personality, and what you want the portrait to feature. (Some people want to show the whole body, especially if it's an athletic animal, others just want the face featured.) From the photos, I can see which might work best as a portrait. Once narrowed down, I can send you mock-ups, and once approved, I start the portrait. What if I don't know what size I want?Once we know which photo I'll be working from, I can suggest a minimum size, and you can choose anything up from there. The minimum depends on the pets' pose, if it's the whole body or just head, and the medium. For example, small pastel portraits are hard to show any fine detail, but oils on canvas are more precise, and oils on panel even more so, as they have smooth surface. What if I don't have a good photo?Send me them anyway, and I might be able to work from them. They don't have to be perfect, as my techniques improve upon the image. (I have done work from photos others probably wouldn't use, especially if the pet is deceased.) If they really are unworkable, you could do some photo shoots, using my Photo Tips. Some clients take weeks to get a shot they're happy with, and that's fine, as the art will be a lasting tribute. I wouldn't take a commission if I thought the photo was unworkable, as the result couldn't be guaranteed. How much do you charge for multiple pets, or scenic backgrounds?For each additional pet, approximately 30-40% will be added, depending on complexity. For scenic backgrounds, approximately 20-40%. It also depends on complexity, and if the background is in the original photo, or is from another photo that needs to be added. For example, if the pet is in front of a house, versus a meadow scene, the house takes much longer to paint, so costs more. If you want me to add a background, it depends on if you supply it, or I do. It is easier if you supply one to be used, so the cost is less. What are the pros and cons of Oil on Canvas or Oil on Panel?Oil on canvas is shows the texture of the canvas, and that texture can make very fine details and long, silky fur hard to achieve if the size of the canvas isn't large enough. In those situations, I sometimes recommend archival wood panels, as the surface is very smooth, therefore allowing more detail and finer fur. (See examples below.) Wood panel was used frequently in the Renaissance period, including Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", but a lot of people prefer the look of canvas. How do I care for my Oil Painting?Oil paints are usually dry to the touch within one to two weeks but take up to a year to fully cure, so be careful with the surface, so you don't damage the paint. Oil paintings should be framed without glass. Protect your oil paintings from environmental damage, such as too much sun, heat, cold, humidity, and smoke. Dust your oil paintings. A thick layer of dust will dry out the paint, possibly causing cracking. Don’t spray anything (like Pledge) on the painting. A soft, clean brush, like a paintbrush, may be used to dust paintings. For a more complete instruction sheet, click Are Pastels lasting, or hard to care for?Pastels are valued for their long lasting beauty. Because they are almost pure pigment, and have no liquid binder, they do not degrade, yellow, or crack over time. Historically, pastels can be traced back to the 16th century and have been used by many famous artists, such as Manet, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Whistler, and Degas. These works still look great. Once properly framed, and under glass, preferably UV blocking, pastels are easy to care for. They just need to be kept in a non-humid space, so that no condensation can occur. Temperature should be relatively stable, no extreme heat/cold fluctuations, for the same reason. Even with UV blocking, avoid placing in an area with extended periods of direct sunlight. Special care is needed for shipping, because of the glass. See below for more instructions. Do you offer framing?Only in special circumstances, such as the client has no easy access to a frame shop. The reason is that everyone's taste and decor is so different, and it can be very time-consuming to try all the frame possibilities, send digital pictures, get approval, etc. And, if being shipped, it adds to the cost because the package is bigger and heavier. But I will try to answer any questions you have about framing, and offer suggestions if you want. What if my artwork is damaged during shipping?If it is something fixable, such as a small tear in the canvas, or a smudge in a pastel, return it and I will repair it. If it is beyond repair, I will replace it free of charge. What is a temporary varnish?It is a "Retouch Varnish" used to protect paintings that have dried to the touch, when it is still too early to apply a permanent varnish. (Oil paintings take up to a year to "cure".) It protect them from dirt, dust, and pollution in the environment, and unifies the painting's sheen, bringing the color up to the brilliance it had when the painting was wet. (When a painting dries, some areas appear glossier than others due to variations in the types of pigments used.) How and When do I apply a permanent varnish?It takes 6 months to a year for the oil paint to "cure" before a final varnish should be applied. In my paintings I usually don't paint very thickly, so 6 months might be fine. The temporary varnish might look good for years, but if the colors and tones appear less brilliant, it is time. You can return the painting for me to varnish, or take it to a good frame shop, or art restorer. (Or do it yourself; it's not that hard, and there are many instructions on the web. Just be sure it's a varnish for oil paint, such as Damar Varnish.) |
