frequently asked questions

1.What's the difference between a pastel portrait and an oil portrait?2. My dog has died and I only have poor photo's. Can you create a memorial portrait from this? And do you return the photo's? 3. How long will it take before I receive the work?4. I'd like to have a number of my pets together in the same portrait. Is a group portrait possible and if so how much would it cost? 5. Are the portraits framed?6. What happens if I'm not happy with the portrait?7.Can I ask for a custom portrait with features such as collars or scarfs?8. Do you paint anything else to commission? I.e. our house/garden etc.

1.What's the difference between pastel and oils?
Pastels

Pastel is a painting in chalk with a soft and detailed finish. The technique allows for a sense of movement and animation.

"Fred"
(pastels, 2006)

I use a combination of Rowney soft pastels, which have bright colours and can be readily smudged and blended for background work, and Stabilo pastel pencils, for the finer detail, working on Canson fine art paper. 19th Century artist Edgar Degas and impressionist Mary Cassatt produced some of the finest pastel paintings.

Pastels will last well when framed behind glass in a mount.

Oils

Oils are oil based and therefore slow drying. They have a feeling of tradition and permanence. Oil paintings are built up from a series of "layers", which need to be allowed to dry before a new layer can be applied. Hence an oil commission will take longer than a pastel to complete.

"Jazz" (oils, 2005)

I use Winsdor & Newton paints which are linseed oil based and produce a high level of pigmentation and bright colours. 17th Dutch Artist Rembrandt produced some of the greatest oil portraits.

The oils are painted on stretched canvas and can be framed behind glass or alternatively left unframed.