Commissions

Looking for a bespoke one of a kind gift for your loved one? Or a unique artwork to decorate your home? Or perhaps you’re looking to capture the beauty of someone or somewhere near and dear to you? A commissioned piece of artwork could just be the thing you’re looking for; a pencil portrait of a family member, acrylic painting of a much loved pet, an illustration of your very first home or a landscape of a special place in your heart. I would be honoured to create a truly unique item for you.
As the artwork is unique to each person, I have created an easy guide of what to expect and what references I will need. I would love to hear your ideas, you can email me at **info@estherstephenson.com**. You are under no obligation to make a purchase when enquiring about my rates, style or sizing.

Format, Sizes and Pricing

**Pencil** drawing on paper, A4 - **£30.00**
**Coloured Pencil** drawing on paper, A4 - **£35.00**
**Pen & ink** on paper, A4 - **£40.00**, A3 - **£50.00**
**Acrylic painting** on canvas
12x12 - **£75.00**
12x16 - **£80.00**
16x16 - **£85.00**
16x20 - **£90.00**
*Custom sizes are available but will be subjected to price variation. Lead time - 7 working days for most commissions except for acrylic painting which can take up to 14 working days.*

Postage

**Standard rates apply for paper based work:**
£2.50 UK Shipping
£5.00 International Shipping
**For canvas based artwork:**
£10.00 UK Shipping
£20.00 International Shipping
*Prices my vary with large custom sizes*

Payment

A 25% deposit will need to be paid up front to cover the cost of materials, when ordering a commissioned piece. This can be paid either by bank transfer or PayPal, details of which will be listed on your invoice. Work will not begin on your commission until the deposit has been received. Once the artwork has been completed the final payment will need to be made before the piece is shipped to you. Due to current strikes, delivery may take a little longer than expected.

Examples

Reference Photos for Portraits

Applicable for pets and people.

It’s important to make sure that your reference photos are good quality in order for me to successfully capture the subject. They do no need to be professional photos, but here are a few things to consider. It is worth noting that in some cases the subject has sadly passed on and what references there are can be limited and not ideal for me to draw from. In these case I will do my best and consult with you on a suitable approach. For example I can cross reference your photos of a loved one, who is no longer with us, with a living relative that shared their features. When it comes to departed pets, I can study their breed; making sure I’m fully capturing your pet’s features to the best of my ability.

Too close and too far

Make sure the subject is positioned well in the frame. Too far away I won’t be able to see all the details, too close I will only be able to see a few certain details.

Hide and Seek

It’s important that I can fully see the subject. Make sure the subject hasn’t been cropped out of the image, obstructed by an object or has turned away from the camera.

Lights, camera action!

Although your subject maybe constantly on the move, it is important to avoid blurred photos. If your subject is refusing to sit still, try rapidly taking a series of photos one after another and select the best quality out of the dozen or so you took. Be mindful of lighting. Natural light is the most ideal, even on a cloudy day sunlight is stronger than interior lights. Avoid backlighting, when the light comes directly behind a subject it can darken the subject and make features difficult to see.

Ideal Photos

The ideal photos would clearly show the subject in full and at different angels (front and side). A close up of the subject’s face is also helpful, particularly if you only wish to commission a headshot and not a full body portrait. There are so many details within a face that convey personality, it’s helpful to have a headshot photo, even if the final commission is a fully body portrait. I would recommend sending 3 - 10 photos of your subject with a little summary of what you like about those photos. This will help me plan the composition and highlight any small detail that is important to you.