Commissions/Price List
A portrait of your pet is a lasting and special memento of the happy times you spent together. It also makes a fantastic and very personal gift.
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Mothers Day, Chrismas........ Or for yourself!
You will need at least one clear photograph, which can be emailed or posted to me.
Please check the photograpy section below for more information about choosing a suitable photo.
Also see notes below on sizes.
Large; Mounted size; 16 x 12, image size, 12 x 8.
This is similar to A4.
Extra Large; Mounted size; 20 x 16,
Painting size 11.5 x 15.5
I can however be flexible about this, and do smaller or larger sizes on request. Please contact me to discuss.
Note.
(The larger sizes stated, are the actual size of the picture to go in the frame. The mount goes on top, so the actual image will be smaller)
Pastels have to be mounted, and framed behind glass. These sizes will fit standard frames. I can arrange framing, at extra cost.
Each extra head in a portrait, £40.00
I can include a complimentary background for no extra cost, unless it is very complex and more detailed, in which case i will make an extra charge. Please contact me to discuss this and agree a price.
Prices include a cream mount to fit standard frames.
Packing and postage will be extra.
A £20.00 deposit is required in advance, and full payment when portrait is finished, before delivery.
Please make cheques payable to Patricia Hickson.
I will email pictures of the portraits progress to you for approval, and any alterations can be made before completion. You know your pet best, and I want you to be satisfied.
I will email an image of the finished portrait, and if everything is to your satisfaction, you pay the full amount due and I will post it to you immediately, after clearance of cheque.
You are also welcome to collect from my studio.
Payment is by cheque please, made payable to Patricia Hickson.
If you are taking a photo especially for a portrait, the following tips may help.
Try to take the photo on a bright, preferably cloudy day. Too much light bleaches the colours. Mid morning or mid afternoon are ideal. Late afternoon light tends to be more golden, which may not be what you want, and midday light can be harsh. Keep the light behind you if possible, and try to fill the frame with the animal. If it is not possible to take the photo outside, indoors by a window is the best alternative. Black dogs in particular can look flat if they do not have enough light on the coat.
Flash can cause odd effects on eyes! I do need to see these clearly, so you need to be aware of this.
Usually the best photo is taken when the animal is in its favourite place where it feels most relaxed. A squeaky toy is often a great help in getting an alert look.
Mobile phone photos are not suitable., due to the reduced quality.
It is important to take the photo from the animals level, not from above! This will result in a much more natural looking picture.
If you would like a portrait of the whole animal I need the photo to show this.
Care taken with the photograph will help to ensure the best likeness of your pet. I can only paint what I can see. It is the little details like the individual markings, the exact colour, and especially the eyes that will make it look like your own pet.
Taking the right photo is often the most difficult part of pet portraiture, and sometimes requires a lot of patience!
If you are not able to take more photos because your pet has passed away, I will do my best with the photos you have. I know that these are the most precious memories of all.
Please ensure the photo you send is not taken by a professional photographer, as this may be copywrited .
I only use the best quality pastels and papers to create my portraits, taking many hours to capture fine detail.
Pastels are quite delicate and need to be handled with care or they can easily smudge. To help secure the pastel I fix them lightly, but too much dulls the colours.
I pack them carefully between a sandwich of foamboard, to ensure nothing touches the pastel surface. They need to be framed under glass.
They are very durable if handled and framed in the right way, and the results are well worth it.
Photos can be posted or emailed to me and i will take great care of them and will return them with your finished portrait.
I can email pictures of the progress of the portrait as it progresses for your approval. I want you to be happy with your portrait and will work with you to ensure a satisfactory result.
I retain the copyright of the finished portrait.
I may place finished images of your portrait in my website gallery, and possibly use it in my advertising, unless you ask me not to at the time of purchase.
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings, Mothers Day, Chrismas........ Or for yourself!
Commissions
If you would like to commission a painting, the first step is to send me your details and requirements by phone or email. I aim to check my emails daily, and will contact you promptly.You will need at least one clear photograph, which can be emailed or posted to me.
Please check the photograpy section below for more information about choosing a suitable photo.
Also see notes below on sizes.
Large; Mounted size; 16 x 12, image size, 12 x 8.
This is similar to A4.
£120.00
Generally more suited to a cat or small dog.Extra Large; Mounted size; 20 x 16,
Painting size 11.5 x 15.5
£150.00
Better for a large dogs head or full body, multiple dogs or a horse.I can however be flexible about this, and do smaller or larger sizes on request. Please contact me to discuss.
Note.
(The larger sizes stated, are the actual size of the picture to go in the frame. The mount goes on top, so the actual image will be smaller)
Pastels have to be mounted, and framed behind glass. These sizes will fit standard frames. I can arrange framing, at extra cost.
Each extra head in a portrait, £40.00
I can include a complimentary background for no extra cost, unless it is very complex and more detailed, in which case i will make an extra charge. Please contact me to discuss this and agree a price.
Prices include a cream mount to fit standard frames.
Packing and postage will be extra.
A £20.00 deposit is required in advance, and full payment when portrait is finished, before delivery.
Please make cheques payable to Patricia Hickson.
I will email pictures of the portraits progress to you for approval, and any alterations can be made before completion. You know your pet best, and I want you to be satisfied.
I will email an image of the finished portrait, and if everything is to your satisfaction, you pay the full amount due and I will post it to you immediately, after clearance of cheque.
You are also welcome to collect from my studio.
Payment is by cheque please, made payable to Patricia Hickson.
Photos
In order to produce the best likeness I need at least one clear photo, showing the eyes and coat markings clearly, with the animal in the pose in which you would like it painted. The eyes hold the personality of the animal and are most important, They need to be seen clearly in the photo. The extra photos can help me to get an idea of the character and personality of the animal, and are also useful for extra detail, and I may be able to use several to compose one picture. I also need to be able to ascertain the exact colour and markings of the animal. The more photos supplied, the better, if possible.If you are taking a photo especially for a portrait, the following tips may help.
Try to take the photo on a bright, preferably cloudy day. Too much light bleaches the colours. Mid morning or mid afternoon are ideal. Late afternoon light tends to be more golden, which may not be what you want, and midday light can be harsh. Keep the light behind you if possible, and try to fill the frame with the animal. If it is not possible to take the photo outside, indoors by a window is the best alternative. Black dogs in particular can look flat if they do not have enough light on the coat.
Flash can cause odd effects on eyes! I do need to see these clearly, so you need to be aware of this.
Usually the best photo is taken when the animal is in its favourite place where it feels most relaxed. A squeaky toy is often a great help in getting an alert look.
Mobile phone photos are not suitable., due to the reduced quality.
It is important to take the photo from the animals level, not from above! This will result in a much more natural looking picture.
If you would like a portrait of the whole animal I need the photo to show this.
Care taken with the photograph will help to ensure the best likeness of your pet. I can only paint what I can see. It is the little details like the individual markings, the exact colour, and especially the eyes that will make it look like your own pet.
Taking the right photo is often the most difficult part of pet portraiture, and sometimes requires a lot of patience!
If you are not able to take more photos because your pet has passed away, I will do my best with the photos you have. I know that these are the most precious memories of all.
Please ensure the photo you send is not taken by a professional photographer, as this may be copywrited .
I only use the best quality pastels and papers to create my portraits, taking many hours to capture fine detail.
Pastels are quite delicate and need to be handled with care or they can easily smudge. To help secure the pastel I fix them lightly, but too much dulls the colours.
I pack them carefully between a sandwich of foamboard, to ensure nothing touches the pastel surface. They need to be framed under glass.
They are very durable if handled and framed in the right way, and the results are well worth it.
Photos can be posted or emailed to me and i will take great care of them and will return them with your finished portrait.
I can email pictures of the progress of the portrait as it progresses for your approval. I want you to be happy with your portrait and will work with you to ensure a satisfactory result.
Please read
The photos you send me must either be your own, or if taken by someone else you must have permission to use them.I retain the copyright of the finished portrait.
I may place finished images of your portrait in my website gallery, and possibly use it in my advertising, unless you ask me not to at the time of purchase.