Are you considering an Individual Portrait or a Group Portrait?

Individual portraits or groups are both possible, but the considerations for groups are more complicated depending on the number of people involved. Individual portraits enable you to examine the character of the single person whereas group portraits can show the relationship between the subjects.

What is the Purpose of the Painting?

Do you desire a formal or informal portrait?  Is the painting for private enjoyment or will it be viewed by a large number of individuals? This will affect the style of the painting, its composition and the framing.

Which Medium do you Prefer?

I work with acrylic paints on canvas as well as ink on water-colour paper. Both mediums produce unique finishes. Look at the work in the gallery on this website and decide which medium appeals to you most. Ink drawings will need to be put into a frame with a glass front whereas acrylic paintings may not need framing.

What is your Budget?

The size of the canvas, number of participants as well as the background detail will determine the overall cost of the commission.

Timing

Adequate time will be needed to complete the commission. If you require the portrait for a specific date, the earlier you can contact me the better. The very minimum time it will take to complete a portrait would be 2 - 3 weeks. Such a limited time frame is not recommended, but is possible.

Framing

I have a good relationship with a number of local framers. If you desire I can give you some suggestions regarding framing and also arrange for your portrait to be framed. The price of frames will range from a couple of hundred dollars up to thousands of dollars for gilt or antique frames.