Commissioning a portrait can be an exciting experience. If you are thinking about placing
an order for a commissioned portrait bust, here are some things to consider
beforehand. It is my goal to produce a lasting work of art that is customized to
your satisfaction.
To begin with, select an artist who's work
you admire and who you feel could render a pleasing interpretation of the
intended subject. Consider the commission as an investment
in the artist and select an artist based on a projected increase in the
value of the piece as the artist's career develops.
Consider the medium of the finished piece:
One
of a kind originals are more valuable than replicas and pieces of
a small edition are more valuable
than a large one. The original is made in clay (either stoneware, terra
cotta, polymer clay, or plasteline) and if requested, taken to my foundry where
they
will cast it in bronze and apply a patina as instructed. With portraiture,
it is nice to have several casts made as gifts for family members. Bronze
is recommended for anything which is to be placed outdoors (such as on
a headstone) as clay will eventually crack with temperature extremes.
Consider the size and color of the finished
piece:
Where do you intend on displaying
the portrait? On a table, bookshelf, or cubby? Make sure that you measure
the space if there are any restrictions. Though you may order any size,
I would recommend 75% to life-size. Over life-size tends to make people
look Herculean, which is fine, if that's the effect you're after.
You
may have the portrait made as a head only, head and chest, or entire body.
Full figure portraits may
not be available in clay as the pose will depict whether a complex armature
is needed. If needed, the piece must be cast in bronze, bonded bronze or
marble. Consider if you would like to have a favorite piece of jewelry,
clothing item, doll, etc., included in the piece as a characteristic of
the individual.
I
also make custom doll head portraits (see
sample), and you can order your own mini-me portrait doll head of your child
or grandchild.
Color
choices for fired clay are almost limitless. You can have just the natural
color of the clay with
a clear coating of wax or glaze, fired with any commercial glaze, or coated
with a variety of metal coatings to which a patina of any color can
be applied. Cold cast pieces can be created with the nearly identical look
and feel of a variety of different materials such as bronze, brass, silver,
pewter, copper, mauve, stone, porcelain, wood, marble, granite, gold, or
glass and are extremely durable. Metal coatings for clay include bronze,
brass, copper, iron, pewter, silver, and mauve.
My
husband is the woodworker and
makes all of my bases out of solid hardwood. I have a variety of exotic
woods to choose from as well as a beautiful selection of marble tile that can be inlaid in the
wood if desired. Rotating bases are available as well.
Available wood choices: All images are unstained. Please allow for color and pattern
variations.
Jatoba
Red Oak
Padauk
Mahogany
Purple Heart
Zebrawood
Walabinga
Black Limba
Butternut
Alder
Black Walnut
Cherry
Makore
Curly Maple
Time considerations:
If you
are in the Phoenix area, it is preferable that I meet with you for
an initial consultation
and photo
session. This should take approximately one or two hours. I would then
request one or two live sittings to render a pleasing likeness. If you
(or the subject) are not available, you may submit quality photos (see
below). You can either mail them or send digital photos through email.
The more detailed and the more different angles, the better. Also, if you
happen to run across me at any of my shows, I can take some digital photos
at that time. Total time involved in creating a portrait is approximately
8 to 10 weeks for ceramic clay, and figure on at least 3 additional months
for bronze. Turn around time for a miniature portrait in polymer
clay is 2 weeks.
Photographs
If you are submitting photos (rather
than have me take them), the best results can be achieved if the following
guidelines are kept in mind:
Take the photos against a
solid background
(I like to hang a white or black piece of material over a door).
High
resolution digital photos are preferred over 35
mm (I can blow them up bigger and print them off). I have a high speed
connection, so don't worry if the file size seems too large. You can break
them up and attach them to several emails if you prefer.
If possible, take a series of 6 in
quarter turns (front, 3/4, side, 3/4, other side, back), one angled down
on, and one angled up at the subject - 8 photos total.
Please - NO TEETH. There is something
genuinely creepy about a sculpture that has the mouth open or teeth showing.
Just a pleasant, relaxed expression is best.
Payment Info:
I request a 50% initial deposit
and the final 50% upon completion of the piece. Orders are added to my
list of active orders once I have both the photos and the initial deposit.
If for any reason, you are not satisfied with the completed piece (before
it is cast if ordering bronze - or before it is shipped if ordering clay),
I will return your initial deposit in full and will keep the piece for
sample exhibitions. I will not send a piece to be cast until I obtain approval
from you to do so. I will send digital photos during the creation process
for your review and approval. No refunds are given if the piece has been
pre approved to be cast or shipped.
Pricing:
Ceramic or bronze
sculpture
Sculpture
can be ordered in plated or glazed ceramic, or in lost wax cast bronze. The
main differences between these two mediums is that ceramic produces a one of
a kind sculpture that is breakable. Cast bronze is considerably more
expensive to produce and results in a virtually indestructible sculpture of
molten metal. Additional bronze copies can be made at a substantially
reduced cost since the modeling and moldmaking for these will have already
been done for the first copy. Quotes using cast resin (bonded bronze) as the final medium
can be requested.
The
table below shows a sampling of typical pricing structure for one of a kind
pieces. Prices include a solid hardwood base and brass name
plate and increase
with
size,
complexity,
and
inclusions. Inclusions can consist of head and neck, upper chest, full body
(any size), two individuals in one piece, or the inclusion
of a pet. Marble, granite, or rotating bases are extra. Additional
packing and shipping prices (available at cost) are not included.
Dog
portraits are available as well and price will depend on size, complexity,
and inclusions.
Of course you
are not restricted to just these inclusions and sizes - although in clay only,
I am limited to dimensions of 18x18 due to the interior dimensions of my
kiln. Feel
free to contact me to discuss and receive a detailed quote for your most ambitious
project.
Handcrafted
bases include yourchoice of fine hardwood, shape, size, routed
edge, and stain - with a satin or gloss finish. Custom,
ornamental brass name plates are optional and can be shipped attached
to the base at the location you desire. (See wood samples
above.)
Firing
Service
Available
for local artists, I can fire your ceramic sculpture anywhere from
cone 018 to cone 6 and am limited to 18 inch maximum height or width.
Although I have over 20 years firing experience, I can make no
guarantees that your piece will come out perfectly without breakage.
Repair service also available if needed.
Finishing
Service
Finish
your fired piece by applying a simple or complex patina. Patinas for
ceramic pieces can be simple wax finishes, or complex metallic patinas
with many layers of metal coatings, dyes, acids, and waxes.
Finishing service includes mounting and mounting hardware if a custom
base has been ordered.
If
you are an artist and you are interested in having a CD Presentation
made of your work, I offer this service. You can choose from a simple
jury presentation, gallery presentation, or full catalog presentation
- depending on your needs.
Please
contact me to discuss your needs or to request an estimate.
