faq/EN

 

 

Before commissioning:

What information do you need to begin?

Please send me your full name, the country where the work will be shipped, the size you have in mind, your reference photographs and, where possible, a short video clip. This is enough for me to assess the project and prepare a quotation.

Do I need professional photographs?

No. Photographs taken with a phone are often perfectly sufficient.

Your prices?

Here.  

 

 

Portraits:

Do you work exclusively from photographs?

I work from both photographs and video references. I prefer to select the motive that I believe will result in the strongest portrait.

Can you paint children?

Yes.

Can you create portraits of pets and companion animals?

Yes!

Can more than one subject appear in a portrait?

Yes.

How closely will the final work resemble the reference photographs?

My work is not photorealistic, this is an interpretative work. That said, most clients recognize themselves or their subjects in the finished work.

Do I approve sketches before work begins?

No.

Are revisions possible?

No. For this reason, I would aks you to get familiar with my portfolio before commissioning a portrait. If, once completed, you decide not to accept the work, you may decline it. The initial 50% deposit is non-refundable though.

Can I request a custom size or format?

Yes.

 

 

Materials:

What materials do you use?

I work in several media, primarily tempera, water-soluble pencil, and oil.

The prices for the three standard formats apply to drawings and water-based media. Oil painting is significantly more material-intensive, therefore each oil commission is quoted individually. It is a costly medium, but also one of the most rewarding and enduring.

Are the materials archival?

Wherever possible, yes. For drawings, I select papers and fixatives intended for long-term preservation. For oil paintings, I work on premium linen, using mediums chosen with conservation in mind. Standard stretcher bars are used unless otherwise agreed. I am happy to work on aluminium stretcher bars, which offer excellent long-term stability, although they increase both cost and production time.

Are the works intended for long-term preservation?

Yes. Drawings will require appropriate framing with UV-protective glazing and proper ventilation behind the glass. When correctly framed, they can remain stable for generations. My oil paintings are built using durable traditional techniques and high-quality materials selected with conservation in mind.

Will the work require special care?

No special care beyond standard conservation practice. I will provide recommendations appropriate to the medium once the work is completed.

Are your materials vegan?

Not for most part. Manufacturers add ox gall to improve watercolours – the paints I use do not contain it but I do occasionally use ox gall as a separate medium.

Traditional oil painting – is not at all. Classical gesso is commonly made with rabbit-skin glue, and many adhesives, solvents and pigments are also derived from animals. Art industry does not have supply chains documented to the same extent as, for example, the cosmetics industry. As a result, “vegan” and “cruelty-free” certifications are far less common. Materials such as ox gall, rabbit skin glue and ivory black are by-products of the food industry. They are not sourced from animals raised specifically for the production of artists’ materials.

Vegan alternatives do exist, but they require a different technical approach and should be discussed before the commission begins.

 

 

Timing:

How long does a commission take?

Please allow approximately one month.

Can a commission be completed by a specific date?

Yes. I also prefer working towards an agreed deadline, as it helps me organize my schedule. If you need a commission completed in less than one month, please contact me first so I can confirm my availability.

 

 

Payment:

How does payment work?

A 50% deposit is required before work begins. The remaining 50% is due before shipping.

What payment methods do you accept?

After receiving your enquiry, I will send you a payment link together with the quotation. Only then do you make the final decision whether to proceed with the commission.

 

 

Shipping:

Do you ship internationally?

Yes.

How are works packaged?

Packaging depends on the medium. Most drawings are shipped in a reinforced tube. Oil paintings and larger works are transported by a courier or other shipping services, depending on your location.

Are commissions insured during transit?

Yes. Every shipment is insured.

 

 

Copyright:

Who owns the copyright?

Unless otherwise agreed, copyright remains with me. If you wish to reproduce or use the artwork commercially, this requires a separate licence and written agreement. You are, of course, free to give the artwork as a gift or resell the physical original.

May I reproduce the artwork?

Not without a separate licence.

Will the artwork appear in your portfolio?

Usually, yes. By commissioning a work, you acknowledge that I may photograph and present it as part of my portfolio unless we have agreed otherwise in advance.

 

 

Other projects:

I will be open for projects beyond the categories presented on this website. «««