Pet portrait FAQs
Q. Do you need to meet my pet?
A. It’s always a pleasure to meet the pets I am asked to paint, but because I work from photographs, it’s not necessary for me to do so. I do like to know a little about them though, so a paragraph or two describing their personality along with a bit of history enables me to get a feel for your pet’s character, which helps to me to add an extra something to the portrait.
Q. How long will I have to wait for my portrait?
A. On average, a portrait takes me between 20 and 30 hours to complete over a 2-week period. I do have a waiting list, which is normally between 2 and 3 months. On hearing this, many people say that they’ll wait until I’m less busy, but 'less busy' doesn't happen! Please don’t wait to place your order - the sooner I can reserve your place in the order queue, the sooner you will get your portrait.
Q. What kind of photos do you need?
A. The most important aspect of any photo is that it is clear and sharp. Digital photos are preferable, but if you have only hard copies, you can post these to me and I will return them with your portrait.
Q. I’m not sure that my camera is up to the job …
A. If it’s a small phone camera, then no, it won't be, however, digital photo technology has come on in leaps and bounds and any standard digital camera nowadays has the capacity to take high resolution photos.
Q. How do I send you my photos?
A. Initially as small files (200KB or thereabouts) either by email, or if you are a facebook or photobucket user, you can upload your photos to an album and send me the link. I can then look through the photos without having to download enormous files and risk exceeding my monthly download limit! Once I have looked through the photos either as small files or online and we have discussed which photos to use for the portrait, you can then send me higher resolution copies of those photos. Alternatively, you can copy your photos onto a disk or memory stick and post them to me. As with hard copy photos, I will return your CD/stick with your portrait.
Q. I’m no David Bailey - how do I take a photo that's good enough for you to use?
A. No need to call in the professionals! So long as your camera can take high resolution photos (5 mega pixels is fine) you are off to a good start. I will need one ‘main pose’ photo to work from, so the one that I copy most closely, and I may need a few more photos for colour and detail reference. For the ‘main pose’ photo, consider angle and lighting - an angle that shows your pet off best, and taken in natural but not strong light. Please do not use flash photography as this will distort your pet’s true colouring and bleach out details - remember, if I have not met your pet, your photos are the only reference I have to get colouring and detail correct. It’s also important that the ’main pose’ photo actually speaks of your pet, to you. It’s always a good idea to have a few of your pet’s favourite treats at hand so that you can lure her into a photogenic position, but if she is so intently focused on the treat in your hand, this may make her expression look forced and unnatural. The bonus of digital photography is that you can take LOTS of photos at zero expense! Have a play and enjoy your pet’s 'photoshoot' - often the best, most natural shot comes along all on its own, without trying too hard!
Q. My pet is very camera-shy and he just won’t look at the camera - what can I do?
A. Your pet doesn’t need to be looking straight at the camera - gazing into the distance makes for a really nice portrait! Try using some tasty treats to gain and keep his focus - ask a friend to help with this so that you can concentrate on taking the photo while your friend ‘entertains’ your pet. If your pet is so camera-shy that he turns away from the camera completely, consider taking a naturally lit shot of him when he is sleeping. A good portrait isn’t all about having eyes forward and saying “cheese”!
Q. I can give you only hard copy photos of my pet - will these be good enough?
A. So long as they are clear and sharp, and you have one ’main pose’ photo amongst them, then this should be fine. The best thing to do is to send them to me, and I will tell you what I think is possible.
Q. My pet has passed over. I don’t know whether any of the photos I have are good enough …
A. If sadly, your pet has passed over, I will do my best to work with the photos that you have. My priority is to paint the best portrait possible of your pet - one that will bring you happy memories when you look at it - and so if I really don’t think that I can work with the photos, I will be honest and tell you. Artistic licence is one thing, but sometimes it's just not possible to create a true-to-life painting from blurred, badly lit or low resolution photos. I wish it were.
Q. You quote approximate sizes on your website - why is this?
A. Although I use standard paper sizes (A3 and A2), I measure the actual artwork-size of each portrait in order to get the size of the inner frame mount just right, with the pet’s head/body placed how it looks best within the mount opening. I then order up the mounts and frame to perfectly fit the artwork and importantly, to compliment and set it off. What I aim for is 3-4ish cms of space (i.e. blank paper) to the top, sides and bottom of the actual artwork, but sometimes I will set the portrait slightly closer to one side/bottom so that the pet's forehead is more central to the portrait. The width of the frame itself also differs slightly depending on which frame I choose for each portrait.
Q. What medium do you use to create your portraits?
A. My portraits are created using chalk pastel. Pastels are sticks of pure powdered pigment plus a binder. I draw a rough, outline sketch of the subject in graphite or pastel pencil, and apply colour using soft pastel sticks, blending colours together using a variety of tools (paper stumps, brushes, sponges, my fingers) to create shape, depth and detail. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all coloured art media including wet media such as oil, acrylic and watercolour paints.
Q. I love your work and would love you to paint my pet, but I don’t live in the UK …
A. Oh the beauty of digital photography, email, electronic money transfer and worldwide postal services! It doesn’t matter where you live - if you can get photos of your pet to me, can pay me and have a postal address, I can paint your pet for you.
Q. How much do you charge?
A. Please see my current price list.
If you have a question for me that is not answered here, please use the contact form to send me a message.
A. It’s always a pleasure to meet the pets I am asked to paint, but because I work from photographs, it’s not necessary for me to do so. I do like to know a little about them though, so a paragraph or two describing their personality along with a bit of history enables me to get a feel for your pet’s character, which helps to me to add an extra something to the portrait.
Q. How long will I have to wait for my portrait?
A. On average, a portrait takes me between 20 and 30 hours to complete over a 2-week period. I do have a waiting list, which is normally between 2 and 3 months. On hearing this, many people say that they’ll wait until I’m less busy, but 'less busy' doesn't happen! Please don’t wait to place your order - the sooner I can reserve your place in the order queue, the sooner you will get your portrait.
Q. What kind of photos do you need?
A. The most important aspect of any photo is that it is clear and sharp. Digital photos are preferable, but if you have only hard copies, you can post these to me and I will return them with your portrait.
Q. I’m not sure that my camera is up to the job …
A. If it’s a small phone camera, then no, it won't be, however, digital photo technology has come on in leaps and bounds and any standard digital camera nowadays has the capacity to take high resolution photos.
Q. How do I send you my photos?
A. Initially as small files (200KB or thereabouts) either by email, or if you are a facebook or photobucket user, you can upload your photos to an album and send me the link. I can then look through the photos without having to download enormous files and risk exceeding my monthly download limit! Once I have looked through the photos either as small files or online and we have discussed which photos to use for the portrait, you can then send me higher resolution copies of those photos. Alternatively, you can copy your photos onto a disk or memory stick and post them to me. As with hard copy photos, I will return your CD/stick with your portrait.
Q. I’m no David Bailey - how do I take a photo that's good enough for you to use?
A. No need to call in the professionals! So long as your camera can take high resolution photos (5 mega pixels is fine) you are off to a good start. I will need one ‘main pose’ photo to work from, so the one that I copy most closely, and I may need a few more photos for colour and detail reference. For the ‘main pose’ photo, consider angle and lighting - an angle that shows your pet off best, and taken in natural but not strong light. Please do not use flash photography as this will distort your pet’s true colouring and bleach out details - remember, if I have not met your pet, your photos are the only reference I have to get colouring and detail correct. It’s also important that the ’main pose’ photo actually speaks of your pet, to you. It’s always a good idea to have a few of your pet’s favourite treats at hand so that you can lure her into a photogenic position, but if she is so intently focused on the treat in your hand, this may make her expression look forced and unnatural. The bonus of digital photography is that you can take LOTS of photos at zero expense! Have a play and enjoy your pet’s 'photoshoot' - often the best, most natural shot comes along all on its own, without trying too hard!
Q. My pet is very camera-shy and he just won’t look at the camera - what can I do?
A. Your pet doesn’t need to be looking straight at the camera - gazing into the distance makes for a really nice portrait! Try using some tasty treats to gain and keep his focus - ask a friend to help with this so that you can concentrate on taking the photo while your friend ‘entertains’ your pet. If your pet is so camera-shy that he turns away from the camera completely, consider taking a naturally lit shot of him when he is sleeping. A good portrait isn’t all about having eyes forward and saying “cheese”!
Q. I can give you only hard copy photos of my pet - will these be good enough?
A. So long as they are clear and sharp, and you have one ’main pose’ photo amongst them, then this should be fine. The best thing to do is to send them to me, and I will tell you what I think is possible.
Q. My pet has passed over. I don’t know whether any of the photos I have are good enough …
A. If sadly, your pet has passed over, I will do my best to work with the photos that you have. My priority is to paint the best portrait possible of your pet - one that will bring you happy memories when you look at it - and so if I really don’t think that I can work with the photos, I will be honest and tell you. Artistic licence is one thing, but sometimes it's just not possible to create a true-to-life painting from blurred, badly lit or low resolution photos. I wish it were.
Q. You quote approximate sizes on your website - why is this?
A. Although I use standard paper sizes (A3 and A2), I measure the actual artwork-size of each portrait in order to get the size of the inner frame mount just right, with the pet’s head/body placed how it looks best within the mount opening. I then order up the mounts and frame to perfectly fit the artwork and importantly, to compliment and set it off. What I aim for is 3-4ish cms of space (i.e. blank paper) to the top, sides and bottom of the actual artwork, but sometimes I will set the portrait slightly closer to one side/bottom so that the pet's forehead is more central to the portrait. The width of the frame itself also differs slightly depending on which frame I choose for each portrait.
Q. What medium do you use to create your portraits?
A. My portraits are created using chalk pastel. Pastels are sticks of pure powdered pigment plus a binder. I draw a rough, outline sketch of the subject in graphite or pastel pencil, and apply colour using soft pastel sticks, blending colours together using a variety of tools (paper stumps, brushes, sponges, my fingers) to create shape, depth and detail. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all coloured art media including wet media such as oil, acrylic and watercolour paints.
Q. I love your work and would love you to paint my pet, but I don’t live in the UK …
A. Oh the beauty of digital photography, email, electronic money transfer and worldwide postal services! It doesn’t matter where you live - if you can get photos of your pet to me, can pay me and have a postal address, I can paint your pet for you.
Q. How much do you charge?
A. Please see my current price list.
If you have a question for me that is not answered here, please use the contact form to send me a message.
