Custom Art FAQs
Why do I have to sign a contract?
The contract is to protect you from any monetary loss if I am injured or something before the completion of the project. It’s also to protect myself from people who disappear in the middle of a project or refuse to pay me after they have collected my work.
Why are prices so high?
My prices are based on others in the industry doing equivalent work in the United States and are non-negotiable unless you want to order multiple pieces.
Why are prices so low?
I try to make sure that anyone can afford something from me, which is why my prices start at $60 for a white background watercolor. For those who want some of my artwork but can’t get a custom piece, there are prints, cards and stickers available. There’s something for everyone. Feel free to tip me if you don’t think I’m charging enough.
Do you ever work for free?
If I ever win the lottery* and find myself set for life, I will totally work for free. Until then, I have a mortgage, so I need to get paid when I do my job. However, if you represent a charity or non-profit, we may be able to come up with a donation. *I never buy lottery tickets.
Do you do graphic design?
Yes, I work with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. $35 an hour or $100 for a logo design.
Do you work from photos?
Yes, I need photos to work from in order to get your subject looking like your subject. I don’t reproduce exactly what is in the photo, but I make sure I get the feeling and the look correct. I need visual references to do that.
How do I take good photos for art Reference?
I am working on a tips/instruction article for photography and what makes a good photo. until then, pinterest has tons of links to free photography tutorials.
What if I am not a good photographer/don't have a camera/don't want to take project photos?
If you are in the Portland, OR area, I offer DSLR photo service for $50. I can also make prints of these photos for a fee. You will receive them as digital files at no additional cost to yo.. You can check out my tips for taking a good photo here.
How long does it take?
If I have nothing on my plate, I can get a piece done in a couple of weeks. Realistically I can get small pieces finished in a couple of hours, however… I have fibromyalgia and what that means for me is that I cannot sit for long periods of time, so I will do a few sessions at my art table a day and break that up with exercise and office work. I also paint on what are called “blocks”, which means that my paper is stretched on top of the rest of the paper in the pack, so I sometimes have to finish one piece before I can start another. So on average if I’m not very busy, I will quote you at 2 weeks until completion, but it could be up to 6 weeks. I will let you know at the time of the order if your piece will be wait-listed or will take longer than 2 weeks.