COMMISSION A PORTRAIT DRAWING FROM YOUR PHOTOGRAPH

Portraits from your photographs

Immortalise yourself or somebody you know, with a very personal piece of artwork. The drawings are carried by myself (the author of ArtGraphica), and created in vine charcoal and chalk (available in two sizes) on toned Canson pastel paper (one of the finest in the art industry).

The process is a simple one, although it can depend on the quality of the source provided (more on this below). There is a standard set of prices, although this may vary if there are additional elements (e.g. background, multiple faces, portraits beyond a single standard head/shoulders shot), but should this be the case, you will be told before work begins.

I ask for a 50% down payment before drawing commences, and will keep in communication with my customers via email, including a preview of the artwork to ensure you are happy with the results before shipping. Although previous customers have always been very satisfied with the end results, charcoal is a medium that can be manipulated, so changes or additions may well be possible. When you are content with the finished artwork, the other half of the payment can be made before goods are securely packaged and shipped. I am based in France, and am happy to ship your drawing anywhere around the globe.

Your Photo

Often the end result is dependent on a good quality photograph. If there is blurring, distortion or a lot of 'noise', I am forced to interpret certain details, which potentially could deviate from an exact likeness. Usually these problems occur with small mobile photo images, or particularly old photographs, so this is not often an issue. If there are any uncertainities regarding your photograph, I will let you know before you decide whether you would like to continue. In extreme cases I may have to insist on working from another photograph when this is possible.

I ask for a head/shoulders photograph to work from. If you require a fuller figure drawing, you can contact me and I will give you a better idea as to cost, but I would ask that full figures are done in the larger of the two sizes in the interests of accuracy.
Whilst lighting isn't always a huge issue, portraits can look more exciting when there is an element of light and shadow, so you may wish to bear this in mind if you are taking a photograph specifically with a commission in mind. A slight turn of the head can also be more visually pleasing, as I hope the drawing above illustrates.

The photograph can either me emailed to me (as is usually the case), or if you have something in a hard-copy format, you may post it to me, and it will be carefully returned with your artwork. Your photographs and privacy will be fully respected, and any emails containing any of your photographs, will be completely removed once your artwork is received and you are satisfied.

SHIPPING

PAYMENT

Invoices are sent via Paypal. If paying by credit or debit card, you do not need a paypal account to make a one off payment. If in Europe or the UK payment can be accepted via cheque in euros or pound sterling, or via bank transfer.