Refined portrait
More finished style of rendering including background design, props and added elements.
Procedure These more finely rendered heirloom quality portraits can take several months to plan and complete. The compositions are much more sophisticated than a vignette sketch. What makes a quality portrait is not only the rendering of a head of hand, but the design of the overall canvas as well. My procedure begins with numerous photographs of the subject and a “to scale” charcoal value study drawing on brown paper (typically not part of the fee as I use them in my studio for samples). Client input is very important and you will have the opportunity to review plans for the painting, including photographs, charcoal and oil studies. If schedules work with the client, at least a couple live portrait sittings are encouraged. Much of the work can also be done from photographs.
Formal subjects
Head and shoulders
Head and Hands
3/4 Figure
full figure
16 x 20 or
20 x 24"
$8000
24 x 30" or
30 x 38
$9600
prices and sizes upon request
prices and sizes upon request
Refined portrait fee
The above prices include a single figure, approximately ¾ to life sized, (formal portrait) oil portrait painted on a relatively simple background. Additional figures will be charged at 30 percent of the base price. Additional charges will be made for extremely significant amounts of ornamentation in clothing, background or objects. Informal portraits, or “gene paintings”, are slices of life spontaneously caught in a photo. i.e. someone cooking or child in a bath. These can also be quoted on an individual basis, depending on the complexity of the subject matter and the quality of the source reference. The sizes and prices listed below will give you a rough estimate of costs. A retainer of $1000 will reserve a place on the artist's schedule, hold the price at the current level, and will be deducted from the initial portrait payment. The retainer is non-refundable unless the artist is unable to carry out the commission. Framing costs, any state or city sales tax, where applicable, are additional. A one third non-refundable deposit is required when you sign the contract. A second payment of one third is due when you approve the color study and charcoal preliminary drawing. The balance is due .when the completed portrait is delivered and it meets with your approval.
Informal subjects
(subject doing an activity)
Prices same as above based on canvas size no matter the amount of the figure included .
Sketch portrait
Loosely styled head vignetted to simple background
Procedure These more loosely executed heirloom quality portraits usually take a couple weeks, at most, to plan and complete. The compositions are much more less sophisticated than a refined oil portrait. The quality in these portraits is the capturing of the likeness and essences of the subject. The spontaneity in the loose fresh paint or drawing style makes the art look like “art”, not a photograph, while looking very real at the same time. My procedure begins with helping the client to pick from existing photographs or I can shoot photographs of the subject. In some cases, if there is not quality photographic material to work from, a couple live portrait sittings are useful. Much of the work can also be done from photographs.
Head and shoulders
Oil on canvas
Graphite or Conte'
3/4 Figure
16 x 12" $2100
20 x 16" $2800
24 x 20" $3600
18 x 14" $1350
24 x 18" $2100
24 x 30" or
30 x 38
$9600
prices and sizes upon request
Sketch portrait fee
The above prices include a single head and shoulders vignette. A larger portion of the figure may be included, but will make the overall image on the canvas smaller to fit in the two sizes of canvas listed below. Either will be painted in a less refined, “painterly style”, yet feel very “real”. The backgrounds will be loosely painted areas of color to serve as backdrop to the portrait and will not indicate setting or background information. A retainer of $500 will reserve a place on the artist's schedule, hold the price at the current level, and will be deducted from the initial portrait payment. The retainer is non-refundable unless the artist is unable to carry out the commission. Framing costs, any state or city sales tax, where applicable, are additional. A one third non-refundable deposit is required when you sign the contract. The balance is due .when the completed portrait is delivered and it meets with your approval.
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