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How to Order a Pet Portrait
 by David Kellam Brown

   
   

You can see several examples of my work in the gallery area of this website. Examples of my fine art work are available at my primary art website "kellambrown.com" Currently, I offer completed and commissioned paintings in pastel and acrylic. I have gestural drawings available in pastel, charcoal, and graphite. I plan to offer prints and note cards of several examples of my work for sale in the near future. I make a sample note card of each commissioned piece as part of the commissioned work.

I have not automated the ordering process for commissioned work because there are usually many details to be considered. In general, the process goes something like this:

  1. Contact me by e-mail and we can discuss what you want. I can start from a general objective or very specific ideas.
  2. We will decide upon a description of what you want and then, based on that description we will set a price, and schedule, and I will create a reference image for your approval. See my standard prices for pet portraits for typical sizes, materials and subjects. Special aspects such a large sizes, unique details or people in the portrait are subjects to be discussed.
  3. After you approve the reference I will create the painting and send you a proof photo of the final product.
  4. Once you accept the final product based on the proof photo, you pay me and I deliver the painting.
  5. The following sections provide more details regarding this process.

The products listed in my standard price list are for convenient reference, I can produce specialized pieces based on your unique desires. At the time of first contact we can make arrangements as to whether I will photograph your pet for reference and decide upon medium (typically pastel or acrylic), size and delivery options. As soon as we settle on a product definition I will inform you of the price including any framing costs, sales tax, shipping and handling, and the planned delivery date. I will provide you with a simple contract containing this information. For products listed in my standard price list I require a deposit of $100 or 30% of the final price, whichever is less. For special productions (large size, or special content), I require a 50% deposit or $300 which ever is less.

I prefer to work from photos that I take myself, sometimes, however, this is not practical or possible. I have frequently done portraits from snapshot collections or a single very good photo of a pet. Occasionally, I've used a preexisting photo as a primary reference even when I've been able to shoot a set of supplementary images myself. I've done many memorial paintings of special pets that have passed away; for these, of course, all of the reference photos were preexistent. Many of my clients have requested paintings that combine two or three generations of pets, each in their prime in a single painting. In general, the more photos that I have for reference, the better I can capture the personality of your pet(s). It also is very helpful if you can tell me something about your pet such as their breed (if purebred), their age, personality, what is important to you about your pet. If the portrait includes a person with your pet, I would also like to know a bit about that relationship.

What ever the source of the reference photos, I convert them to digital format (I shoot all my photos with a digital camera - this allows me to economically acquire the 25 to 100 images that I typically take). You can provide images in digital form as e-mail attachments or mail prints or slides to me so that I can scan them into my computers. I frequently composite multiple images together in my computer to produce a final reference image for the portrait. I will send you a copy of this image for your approval before I begin work. Typically, discussions regarding the reference image are handled via e-mail and rarely require more than a couple of exchanges.

When you accept the reference image and select a medium (pastel or acrylic) and size, I will commit to a delivery date and method (shipping, personal delivery or you pick up) and final total price including shipping & handling and sales tax (if any).

Once I complete the painting, I will send you a color accurate photo of the finished piece (note that the color rendition of your monitor may effect your view of the proof image). After you review the image, you can request changes or corrections or accept the piece as is. I will discuss any changes and attempt to implement your desires accurately. I'll then send you another proof image. When you accept the piece you may pay for it via check or credit card (Master Card, Visa, or American Express) or, of course cash only if you receive the piece in person. When I receive payment validation, I will either deliver the piece or ship it based on our arrangements.

Pastel paintings are delivered matted, with or without a frame based on our agreement. See my article on caring for pastel paintings regarding framing and matting. Acrylic paintings are shipped with or without a frame, based on our purchase agreement. Acrylic paintings do not require protective glazing and regular cleaning involves little more than dusting.