Commissioning a portrait?
If you are wondering how to get a hand drawn pencil portrait or coloured pencil portrait drawn then here is how it works…
Photo.
First step is to send me a photo or photos of the subject/s. I shall give you my expert advice on which photos I think will produce the best portrait drawing. Once we have agreed on a suitable image I may produce a very rough sketch to give you an idea of how the drawing will look…
Size.
…in deciding on a photo we also decide on what size of drawing you would like. If you want a family portrait drawing to sit on a living room unit then perhaps A4 would be a good choice. If you would like a portrait drawing to hang on the wall then I would recommend A3 as this has enough scale to work on a wall. If you want a larger portrait drawing than A3 then this is something I can advice you on.
Drawing.
When you are happy with what we have discussed and you wish to proceed I start to draw the portrait. Sometimes a portrait drawing is easy to complete but sometimes it takes a little longer. I am a perfectionist and I will not present you with a drawing until I feel it is working as well as it can. It is not uncommon for me to discard two or three drawings before I get a portrait that really gets a good likeness and has an energy that brings it alive.
When I am about two thirds finished I send you a preview so we can discuss the progress and make any changes. Once we have done this I will continue to draw…
Approval.
When I feel I have done my best and the portrait is finished I send you a preview via email for you to approve. If you feel it is not quite right then I shall endeavour to make changes.
When you are happy with any changes to the portrait drawing we arrange payment.
Delivery.
On approval of the portrait drawing and on payment, I post the finished drawing to you. I send it via recorded delivery for safety. The finished hand drawn portrait comes packed in a presentation box which can be white or black depending on your choice.
How much is a hand drawn pencil portrait?
If you are wondering about prices for a hand drawn pencil portrait or coloured pencil portrait then here are my prices. I find every portrait commission is different so I have a basic price for each size and variations to this price, for say additional subjects or a request for a background , I work out a fixed price when we discuss your individual requirements.
A4 Size.
This size of portrait drawing is ideal for a head and shoulders portrait of one person or animal.
A framed pencil portrait of these dimensions looks great on a wall or sitting on top of a living room unit. For this style and size of portrait I charge £175.00
If you would like a coloured pencil portrait in this size I charge £345.00
These prices are for a single subject.
My natural style of drawing a portrait is to leave the background as a suggestion rather than draw it in detail, as I feel this distracts from the sitter’s face, which is the focus of the portrait drawing. If you would like the background drawn there will be a small additional fee for this.
Similarly if you have two or more people or animals you want featured then there will be an additional charge for this.
However I would recommend that if you have two or more subjects you consider getting a larger size of portrait, as A4 is not that large and two people in a portrait drawing of this size will feel very cramped.
A3 Size.
This is my most popular size.
A portrait drawing of a single person or pet, in this size of drawing really makes an impact hanging on the wall in your home. For this style and size of hand drawn portrait I charge £245.00
If you would like a coloured pencil drawing in this size I charge £495.00
A pencil portrait in A3 works well for two or three subjects.
As for the A4 drawings any additional subjects or the inclusion of a background does incur an additional charge.
Larger than A3.
I love drawing portraits in sizes larger than A3 and if you have a large wall at home and want something really dynamic please do get in touch and we can discuss your requirements and price.
Delivery.
My finished portrait drawings are safely wrapped in glassine paper ( anti-smudging ) and sent in a lovely presentation box, in either white or black.
I send the finished drawing to you via Royal Mail Recorded Delivery.
The cost for postage and packing is £15 for A4 and £20 for A3 and bigger.
Framing.
I do not currently offer a framing service. The reason for this is that I think drawings are best framed behind glass and sending a glass framed portrait drawing in the post is risky so I currently do not provide frames for my portrait drawings.
However I do offer a FREE FRAME PREVIEW SERVICE.
This will allow you to see your finished hand drawn portrait in a variety of different frames. I can even arrange to let you see how it might look in your own home if you send me a good quality photo of the room where it is going to hang.
This ability to see the drawing framed in a variety of ways will make it easier for you to go to a reputable framer near where you live, with a clearer idea of what you would like.
Contact me.
If you like my work but would like further information about how to commission a family portrait, hand drawn from a photo, then please get in touch via the contact form below.
I am happy to chat about and supply information with no obligation to proceed.