PORTRAIT COMMISSIONS
by Kate Green
by Kate Green
INFORMATION
Ottawa portrait artist Kate Green accepts commissions for her oil and graphite portraits of people and animals. If you live outside of the Ottawa area, portraits can be shipped worldwide.
Please scroll down for portrait commission process and pricing.
Please scroll down for portrait commission process and pricing.
© all images copyright Kate Green 2023
For Animal Portrait information - please click here
For People Portraits, read below.
For People Portraits, read below.
People Portrait Process:
Please contact me via email at kate@kategreendesign.com if you are interested in having a portrait painted.
Though I am located in Canada, portraits can be of anyone, anywhere, and are shipped internationally.
Excellent photo references are required for a portrait. If you already have some good photos, I will ask you to send them to me via email.
If you don't, I can discuss photographing the subject myself if the subject lives in the Ottawa area (and what the additional charge for that photography session would be), or what kind of photos I need to be sent which you or a professional photographer can take.
I can not take a portrait commission unless I have excellent reference material. Sometimes I may have to say no to a portrait commission if there are not good enough photos of the subject to work from.
Portraits are often commissioned for personal and company milestones such as Christmas, birthdays, weddings, b'nai mitzvah, house warmings, promotions, political nominations and graduations.
If you are hoping for a portrait for a specific date or event please get in touch with plenty of time before the hoped for date.
I can let you know my estimated time frame for a portrait, and I will discuss reference photos with you at that time.
IF the portrait can not be finished in time for your hoped for date, I provide a letter that you can give to the recipient so they know that their gift is in process and will be with them soon!
Once we have agreed on the photo reference that you have provided or I have taken, I will send you an invoice for a 50% deposit on the commission.
I only take a deposit when the photos are finalized.
Deposits are usually sent by etransfer but you can also pay by credit card.
When the deposit is received I will order the canvas and you are then in the queue for your portrait. I will email you the day I start the portrait.
Though I am located in Canada, portraits can be of anyone, anywhere, and are shipped internationally.
Excellent photo references are required for a portrait. If you already have some good photos, I will ask you to send them to me via email.
If you don't, I can discuss photographing the subject myself if the subject lives in the Ottawa area (and what the additional charge for that photography session would be), or what kind of photos I need to be sent which you or a professional photographer can take.
I can not take a portrait commission unless I have excellent reference material. Sometimes I may have to say no to a portrait commission if there are not good enough photos of the subject to work from.
Portraits are often commissioned for personal and company milestones such as Christmas, birthdays, weddings, b'nai mitzvah, house warmings, promotions, political nominations and graduations.
If you are hoping for a portrait for a specific date or event please get in touch with plenty of time before the hoped for date.
I can let you know my estimated time frame for a portrait, and I will discuss reference photos with you at that time.
IF the portrait can not be finished in time for your hoped for date, I provide a letter that you can give to the recipient so they know that their gift is in process and will be with them soon!
Once we have agreed on the photo reference that you have provided or I have taken, I will send you an invoice for a 50% deposit on the commission.
I only take a deposit when the photos are finalized.
Deposits are usually sent by etransfer but you can also pay by credit card.
When the deposit is received I will order the canvas and you are then in the queue for your portrait. I will email you the day I start the portrait.
Pricing:
9" x 12" or 12" x 9" - $550 (CAD)
12" x 12" - $625 (CAD)
12" x 16" or 16" x 12" - $700 (CAD)
16" x 16" - $750 (CAD)
16" x 20" or 20" x 16" - $825 (CAD)
20" x 24" or 24" x 20" - $950 (CAD)
12" x 12" - $625 (CAD)
12" x 16" or 16" x 12" - $700 (CAD)
16" x 16" - $750 (CAD)
16" x 20" or 20" x 16" - $825 (CAD)
20" x 24" or 24" x 20" - $950 (CAD)
Portraits are shipped internationally.
HST and Shipping are additional when required.
Shipping quotes are provided on inquiry, based on your location and requested size of canvas.
HST and Shipping are additional when required.
Shipping quotes are provided on inquiry, based on your location and requested size of canvas.
The above are common portrait commission sizes. I am happy to send you a price for a different size.
Canvas size options may vary depending on the reference photos that are provided, and resulting best compositions. These prices are for one subject. If more than one subject is in the painting, there will be an additional charge. Pencil/graphite portraits are the same price as the oil portraits.
Canvas size options may vary depending on the reference photos that are provided, and resulting best compositions. These prices are for one subject. If more than one subject is in the painting, there will be an additional charge. Pencil/graphite portraits are the same price as the oil portraits.
Photo Requirements:
Quite simply, the better the photo, the better the painting. You may need to send me quite a few to get a photo that will work for the portrait. I love to photograph my own subjects so please keep this open as an option if you live in the Ottawa area.
- Lighting is extremely important - there must be shadow and light to give form to the face. But not so much shadow that I can not see what is going on. Flat, bright, overexposed photos do not work.
- Photos must be in focus. Out of focus photos do not work. I can not see what is happening in a blur, and if I can not see something, I can not paint it.
- The expression and setting of the subject should reflect their personality. Big grins with lots of teeth don't usually work too well. It is nice if the mood of the photo reflects the subject also.
- You can hire a professional photographer to take the photos for you but I must have permission from the photographer that I can use their work as reference (copyright issues). Please make sure that if you are hiring a professional photographer you tell them what you are using the photos for. I am happy to discuss with the photographer what I need before the shoot.
- If a suitable photo can not be found for the portrait I will have to decline the commission.
I have to be sure that I can paint the portrait well and this is completely dependent on what references I am working from.
Time Frame:
A commission falls into the queue once we have approved the photo reference(s) and the deposit has been paid. Time frame of when your portrait will be completed depends on how many portraits are booked ahead of your commission.
I will have given you a rough time frame when you first contacted me, and I will let you know a more specific one when the reference material is selected and before you send the deposit.
Portraits are done in oil. This is a slow process as each layer has to dry before proceeding to work on the next layer. Portraits are generally ready 2-4 months from their start date.
I will have given you a rough time frame when you first contacted me, and I will let you know a more specific one when the reference material is selected and before you send the deposit.
Portraits are done in oil. This is a slow process as each layer has to dry before proceeding to work on the next layer. Portraits are generally ready 2-4 months from their start date.
Payment:
Etransfer or credit card. I will provide you with details on how to pay when you contact me.
Delivery, Pick Up or Shipping:
Delivery or pick up arrangements will be discussed pre-order. Shipping quotes will be provided if you are outside of the Ottawa area. Portraits can be shipped internationally.
Email Kate at kate@kategreendesign.com with any other questions.
Please get in touch if there is anything else you would like to know about commissioning a portrait.
Thank you so much, I am really looking forward to working with you!
Kate
Thank you so much, I am really looking forward to working with you!
Kate