Ordering your pet portrait

This page gives you an insight into what is involved in the portrait process, I don't expect you to trawl through it all if you want is to order a portrait! It just answers some questions that you may have for now. I will explain to you what is involved when you get in contact and we can discuss all of the options then.

Get in contact! When you are ready to order your portrait, you can contact me by email to amanda@theportraitworkshop.com or by telephone on 07926 919631 (if I don't answer straight away, please leave a message).

Deposit

I request a minimum deposit of £40 (or 25% of the portrait price) to begin with which you can either pay on my order web page by credit card, debit card, paypal or cheque. When your portrait is complete, I will scan it and send a copy by email so that you can see what it looks like. Only when you are completely happy with the portrait will I ask for the final payment which can be paid using the same method.

Delivery

Once your payment has cleared I will contact you to confirm a convenient delivery date for you. I will post your portrait by Next day delivery see portrait delivery information for further information about delivery.

Collection

If you are local to me, you are welcome to come and see me both before I start your portrait and after to collect your portrait. Some pet owners even like to pop in one day whilst the portrait is under way to see how it is progressing up close.

Deciding on the details of your portrait

Here are some tips to help you decide on some details of your portrait before ordering. If you have any questions, or would like some help in deciding what sort of portrait would suit your pet, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Oil paints, pencils or colour pencils?

I often get asked what I would recommend for a particular pet and if you have already had a look through my gallery, you will see that I work in three mediums: Oil Paint, Pencils and Colour pencils. Each one creates a different mood to the portrait and has its own advantages. Oil paints are a very traditional medium for portraits, they have been around for hundreds of years. Once it is dry, the paint is very durable. Pencils can create a very romantic mood to a portrait. Because of the absence of colour, the pencil concentrates on the tones and form of the animal. A colour pencil portrait is more unusual. Colour pencils are becoming more and more popular as a medium. If you are after a colour portrait of your pet and are on a budget, this is a great option. Size You will probably choose the size of your portrait according to your budget. If you can afford a larger painting then go for it . This is because the larger the painting... the more detail can be added. Large paintings e.g. 20"x30" can have real 'wow' factor. However if you are on a budget, a small painting can be just as charming and give an excellent depiction of your pet. If you are feeling adventurous you could even go for a mixture of pencil and coloured pencil e.g. having the pet in black and white pencil and maybe an accessory or a toy in coloured pencil to make it extra special. This could be a cheaper option if you want a splash of colour without having to order a full coloured pencil portrait. Just contact me for a no obligation quote so you can compare.

The Background

The background should compliment the colours of your pet. For pencil and colour pencil drawings, the background is plain and the portrait is blended slightly into the white of the paper. This brings the pencil portrait out of the page. For Oil paintings I have outlined a couple of different backgrounds below. If you have an idea for your background, please let me know. Please note, for 8"x10" and 12"x10"paintings the backgrounds need to be kept simple.