Commissioning a Painting: The Process
I hope that if you are considering commissioning me to do a painting, you
appreciate my individual style. Even though I'm capable of doing photorealistic
work, I don't enjoy it much. I prefer to do work that is more stylized,
as seen in my various online galleries. That said, I want the buyer to
be 100% satisfied and I'm willing to work with you until that goal is reached
and you will note that some of my pieces are more
realistic than others.
The first step in the process is to decide what you want
as the subject of your painting. I can work from a photograph of a
person (it must be a photograph that you've taken or that you have
permission to use). I have
also
done
work
with
creative
writers, creating paintings for them based
on their poetry.
Other subjects to consider: The view
from your livingroom window, your summer garden, your favorite local
spot, etc.
Another option is to choose a painting of mine that you
already like but would prefer it in a different color or a different
size.
There are many options available with some exceptions.
I will not work from images that are sexually explicit or derogatory
towards either men or women. I will not paint you into a reproduction
of someone else's paintings, into a movie, etc. I primarily paint female
figures in mountainous landscapes. I retain the right to refuse any
commission based on my sense of how well the
image
lends
itself
to
my stlye and
themes.
Once a theme is agreed upon, I start out by doing a couple
thumb nail sketches (small painting that gives you a general idea of
how it will look) or photo collages depending on the subject matter.
At that point you can make suggestions about colors, the amount of
detail, or the overall design. I will continue to create new thumb
nails until an image is created that you are happy with. I will then
paint a larger version of the thumb nail. I will photograph it a couple
times during the process, emailing you the photo so you can give input
along the way. This will include extreme close ups of the canvas or
panel so you can see the level of texture ext.
Pricing:
This is always my least favorite aspect of the creative process, deciding
how much something is "worth". However, you need to be able to tell people
up front what things will cost so here goes.
I determine my base fee as follows: Take the height of
the piece in inches plus the width of the piece in inches and then times
that number by 8. For example, an oil painting 8"x11" would come out
to (8+11=19) (19x8=$152.00). A painting 24"x36" would cost $480.00 etc.
I need 20% of the total fee before work begins. Buyer pays actual shipping
and handling. If you send me the dimensions you're interested in and
your area code for US. purchases, I will tell you exactly what the shipping
fees will be. For international orders, send me your city and country
name for shipping estimates.
The finished painting will be on a gallery wrapped canvas
with the sides painted in a continuation of the image on the front so
it can be displayed without a frame. If you wish to have your piece framed,
I charge actual costs of the framing, though you may want to have the
piece framed in your area to save on shipping fees.
Payment:
When the painting is done to your satisfaction, you may pay me by credit
card or money order and I will mail you your painting. I currently accept
transactions in the following currencies:
Canadian Dollar
Euro
Pound Sterling
U.S. Dollar
Yen
Australian Dollar
If you are not satisfied with the finished product, you can send it
back to me for a refund, less the deposit and shipping and handling fees.
In that case, since you did pay a deposit, I will send you all of the
thumb nail sketches etc. that were done for your painting.
I'm a very flexible person, so if you have any particular
idea you'd like to explore, feel free to phone (907-364-3694) or email
me elise "dot" tomlinson "at" gmail.com. Communication is the key
to having a good experience with commissioning a painting. Also, I can
give you references of people who have commissioned
work from me in the past. I look forward to hearing from you!
Artist Resume:
If you would like to know more about my exhibition history
you can read my full artist resume.
Scale:
This is a photo of a frame 24"x30" to get an
idea of scale.
Examples:
Example of commission inspired by a previously sold piece "Under
the Devil's Club".
Example of commission based on photograph of pet, Cameron.
Example of thumb-nail painting of "Falling" image
used for commission
based on a poem the collector wrote.
Email elise.tomlinson "at" gmail.com to
request testimonials from happy collectors.
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