commissions/custom artwork
“What can you do?” I specialize in poultry and equine artwork, and pet portraiture, but am open to working with nearly any sort of animal or bird. In general I do not do portraits of people but might make the occasional exception. :-) I strive to not only portray an accurate likeness, but also to capture the personality and spirit unique to each animal. I am an award-winning published artist. The artwork certainly does not have to be a portrait of something in particular though, so don't feel as though you must have a "pet portrait" in mind. If you are looking for a drawing of a generic purple spotted Plymouth Rock rooster, for example, I'm your artist. Be prepared to provide reference material for whatever you have in mind though if it's not something I'm exceedingly familiar with. I'd be happy to discuss your ideas with you. I do reserve the right to turn down jobs if the subject is one I'd rather not work with, or if there is insufficient reference material.
“How much does it cost?” Please feel free to contact me for a more accurate price quote based on your individual project. The following prices are for single-subject artworks:
Please don't hesitate to contact me to talk about your ideas, I'd be happy to give you a quote based on your project ideas, and discuss what can work with your budget.
Rush orders (making your project "next in line") are generally not accepted, I need to be able to complete artwork on a schedule that works for me and all my clients. Depending on the circumstances I may consider a rush order, but expect a minimum 30% increase in price.
Prices are subject to change. Once you sign your contract though, your price is locked in. “Are there other expenses?” Yes, sometimes, but it depends on your situation. 1) If you need to have photographs taken (by me) you will pay for a photo shoot, which is $60 for up to an hour spent taking photographs. I will give you a CD with all the photographs on it, but you will pay for any pictures that you would like to have printed. 2) You will pay all travel expenses (gas, plane tickets, lodging, etc). 3) Custom framing: I enjoy framing and am happy to do this for you. Prices range anywhere from maybe $60 for a very small image to well over $300 depending on the size of the artwork, and the type of frame and matting. To give you an example of an average price, most 8x10" images will be between $100 and $150 to frame. 4) Sales tax. As a slave of the government, I am required to collect a 7.75% sales tax from residents of California. 5) Shipping the artwork. Extremely variable in price, maybe $20 for something small, possibly over $100 to package and ship a large glass-framed piece. "How do I pay?" 1) PayPal. This is particularly handy for international customers. 2) I can accept credit cards over the phone (will give phone number when we have a project underway). 3) You can send a money order through the mail. I am happy to work out payment plans if the expense would be a burden to cover all at once. You can pay a monthly fee over a period of six months with no interest, but I won't ship the original until it has been paid in full.
“How long does it take?” This depends on a couple of things: how many other projects I have scheduled ahead of yours, and the size and complexity of your project. I really can’t say how long any one project will take in this little description here, because that really depends on the individual piece, and on my schedule, the length of my waiting list etc. If you commission a drawing, I’ll give you a pretty good idea of what time frame we’re looking at. Generally it will be at most several weeks to complete a drawing, but it may be several months or more on the waiting list before I can start it.
“How does this work? What’s the process?” First off, you express interest in commissioning a piece, and we will discuss exactly what you have in mind, and what size art you are thinking about, and I will provide you with an approximate price quote. Once that is decided, we will sign a contract, and you will be asked to pay a 1/3 non-refundable down payment. This is what gets you onto the waiting list. Without a down payment, I can’t give you a place in line! I will then take photographs, take measurements, and do whatever research needs to be done. We'll pick out what should be used for the reference photo(s). I then sketch out the basic pose and size of the finished piece, which I will show you for your approval before I continue. At this point it is absolutely crucial that you let me know if you are dissatisfied with the composition or size in ANY way. Once I start a drawing, I can’t erase, and I can’t “paint over” what I’ve already done. When the piece is completed, the full payment is due, and when that is paid your art will be shipped. Hopefully you’ll absolutely love it and it will have a place of honor in your home! :-) I can certainly provide references from previous clients if you would like them. Please contact me if you have any questions! kplumer1@earthlink.net Please note that I, the artist, retain all copyrights to the images I produce.
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