COMMISSIONS
I generally draw and paint from reality and like to depict the more commonplace but personally notable aspects of life. So if you have a specific place, person, animal, or thing that exists and is special to you or someone you know, I would be happy to discuss a potential commission. See some examples of my previous work below and read the FAQ for more details. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Place portraits.
Paintings and drawings come mounted, matted, and ready to put into a standard size frame.
Ideally everybody would take their artwork to the framer, but I want my work up on a wall sooner than later.
Therefore, I use archival materials and techniques to mount and mat my work to a standard size (11x14, 16x20, etc.) so that you can fit it into the frame of your choosing.
See FAQ below for more details on preserving your artwork.
People, pet, whatever portraits.
FAQs
What does it cost?
It depends. For an 8x10 place portrait: a watercolor would start at $200 and a charcoal drawing at $100. I can potentially do smaller for less, but larger and/or more complex paintings will be more. Please contact me with your idea, and I will quote you a price. Mounting, matting, and shipping to the US is included.
How long will it take to complete?
Again, it depends. If all goes well, I can generally complete and ship out a painting in less than 10 days and a drawing in a week. However, it can take me longer during busy periods like the holidays. I will include an estimated time of completion with my price quote.
What do you need to get started? What is the process?
I can work from photos that you provide, but I have found that the artwork is only as good as the reference. Please provide as many photos as possible from different angles and with different lighting. If the subject in question is in the St. Louis area, I can also arrange to take the reference photos myself.
I can sometimes change certain aspects of the final piece — add/remove something or make a composite of several images — but the integrity of the final work will take precedent. I can send you a sketch of the final composition for approval before beginning.
Can you make prints of the final piece?
Nope. I like to focus on crafting the unique, hand-made objects that are the drawings and paintings themselves.
How do I protect my work? What kind of frame should I get? Doesn’t watercolor fade?
I will mount and mat your artwork such that it is only in contact with acid-free materials, can naturally expand and contract, and won’t stick to frame glass or acrylic — all important in conserving works on paper. Just remove the art from the protective, plastic sleeve and put it into any frame of your choosing. You can get fancy and use UV-resistant glass or acrylic, but I use only lightfast paints, so as long as the painting isn’t exposed to direct light all day every day, it should last for a generation or three.