When drawing pet portraits, do I need to send a photo and what is the best way to do so?
When commissioning a pet portrait I need a reference photo with your pet in the pose you would like to see it in. Pets generally don't like sitting still, and my portraits take hours to draw (depending on size, upwards of 8 hours!)
Generally it is best to send a handful of high resolution photos of your pet, and have an idea about which pose you would prefer. You can send this information any way you'd like, most use either facebook or email.
How long does it take you to complete a piece?
This depends on a lot of things, such as sizing, and medium. A typical pet portrait usually involves around 4-6 hours of work. As the work becomes more dense, and more subjects are used, this time gets magnified. Recently I've done complex collages that have taken upwards of 100 hours of work to complete.
What is your typical turnaround time?
Single pet portraits are typically 1-2 weeks. Other projects can be significantly more complex and take longer. Due to the extreme variety in custom commissions I will have to discuss with you what a timeline would look like for your piece.
How are completed pieces delivered? Do you ship?
Colored pencil work is typically done on extremely high quality, art grade paper. This paper, while quite hefty, is actually fairly delicate and requires delicate transportation.
Colored pencil work, since it is done on paper, is able to be shipped rolled in shipping tubes. Shipments for originals will be insured with USPS for up to $5000. Buyer assumes shipping responsibility and cost. Once an item is rolled in a tube it will need to be removed and framed flat immediately to avoid damage to the paper.
Canvas pieces, such as oil paintings are subject to shipping on a case-by-case basis and will need to be discussed with the buyer.
Local pick up and delivery is of course available for residents of Northeastern Wisconsin's Fox Cities area. (Oshkosh to Appleton).
What mediums do you work in
My most popular work is done in colored pencil, using high end artist-grade pencils and papers. I am also trained clasically in oil painting and have done several commissions in that medium. If you have an idea for a project in any other mediums, don't hesitate to ask if that's something I've worked with or am comfortable in!
Do you have offer any escrow services?
I offer escrowed freelance work via upwork.com