Frequently asked questions
What medium do you use?
I use Professional grade coloured pencils with high lightfastness, with the addition of Professional grade pan pastels and pastel pencils when necessary [ backgrounds or underpainting], and the eyes etc, may have highlights enhanced with white or black acrylic paint.
The paper I use is Clairefontaine Pastelmat. Pastelmat has a velvety surface that's made from a coating of cellulose fibres. It's a sanded paper, but isn’t abrasive like other sanded papers. It has more “tooth” [the ability to accept lots of layers of colour] than other traditional papers, so it produces better results than standard watercolour papers, since allowing more layers increases the density of colour, and the artwork looks more textured. One of its best features is that light colours can be added over dark ones without diminishing them, which is ideal for animals with white whiskers. With standard watercolour papers white cannot successfully be added on top of darker colours so it requires other techniques to be able to do this, so far none of which I’ve been entirely happy using.
What image format do you use?
I work mostly from digital images, but photos may be acceptable if the animal is no longer with you. They will be vetted in the same way as digital images. An SLR camera is best, but if you have a smartphone with a good camera these images may be acceptable.
How long does a commissioned artwork take to complete?
This is governed by several factors, size of the commissioned piece, complexity, and current workload. A single artwork takes around 2-4 weeks without a “queue”, but you will be appraised of the length of time when you make a request, and I try to put the wait times on the commissions page.
Can I get the drawing more quickly?
Possibly. If you want a painting for a specific event, like a birthday, Christmas etc, it would be wise to allow a generous time interval ahead of the date needed. at least 2 -3 months. You will be given a completion date when you make your request.
Christmas orders must be placed by October.
Do I see the drawing before delivery?
Yes, the artwork will be photographed and emailed at least once during the process for your approval. Bear in mind that only small changes can be made as coloured pencil cannot easily be erased or altered once committed to paper. You need to be sure before the project is started that you are happy with the proposed layout etc.
What does it cost?
Check the price list page for the answer to this, several sizes are available.
When do I to pay?
A 50% deposit is required to start the commission, and once the drawing has been started this is not refundable. The other 50% is required on completion and your approval of the artwork. Payment must be paid in full before artworks are mailed.
How is the drawing delivered?
As a rule, most drawings can be rolled and fit into a solid cardboard tube to protect them during transit. The drawng will be placed in a waterproof plastic bag with a seal, along with some glassine [ the opaque paper similar to that in photo albums] on top of the drawing to protect the surface. All drawings are “fixed “using a protective colourless fixative that is ozone friendly [no CFC’s] to give some added protection.
The tubes are despatched via Australia Post to your destination with tracking.
What are the postage costs?
Postage and packing, with tracking, is included with the price to most destinations. You will be notified if this not applicable to your order.
Can I get a different size drawing than those listed?
Other sizes are available, but it will depend on how big or small you want to go from the listed sizes, so please email me for a quote.
Do you frame the drawing?
No. Framing is not included.
Do I need to frame the drawing?
Yes. Preferable behind UV non-reflective glass, hung in a dry area free of moisture or high humidity, and away from direct sunlight or any other heat sources.
Will you sell prints of the commissioned drawing?
The copyright of the artwork, by law, belongs to me, the artist, so I may, if I wish use images of your commissioned work for cards, prints etc. You can purchase notecards, or prints, usually A3 size, printed with a professional quality printer on fine art paper.
Can I make reproductions of the drawing or use the image for personal or commercial use?
Sorry, no. When you commission an original piece of art, the physical artwork is yours to keep, but the copyright of the image remains with me, the artist unless otherwise agreed.