Private commissions for animal portraits
Commission Work
Occasionally I will take on commissions for animal portraits where studio time allows. I LOVE painting your furry friends - cats, dogs, birds, barn animals. Whatever animal you are interested in commissioning, I would be happy to discuss your vision! Original paintings start at $275 for a simple 4x4x1.5 canvas portrait (from the neck up). I ask for payment up-front, or a 50% deposit before beginning, with the rest due upon completion.
In order to start working on your animal portrait, I will need 3-5 high quality images of your animal to serve as reference. If you would like to commission a bird painting, or other animal for which you do not have reference material, I will select from my own photographic reference, and determine colors and compositional elements before work begins.
Progress photos of a commission for a Carolina Wren watching over her nest
Tell me more about your animal…
Photo Reference
Proper lighting is very important for good reference photos. The image on the left has diffuse lighting, which flattens the subject, making for poor reference material.
The image on the right has equal parts light and shadow, which helps define the animal’s form. Please look for photos with good lighting!
