FAQ
HOW LONG DO PET PORTRAITS TAKE?
At the moment, the lead time is approximately 3Â weeks. This can become longer during the Christmas holidays.
WHAT FORMAT DO MY PHOTOGRAPHS NEED TO BE IN?
Digital is preferred as it makes it easier for me to adapt the image if need be for composition ideas. Please send them to me as high as resolution as possible as the detail is essential for me to create your portrait. Please ensure the subject is in focus, fills the frame and natural lighting is used, not flash. You can read my tips and more about the quality of the photos I need to create your pet drawings here.
WHAT ARE PASTELS?
A pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are similar to those used in other coloured visual arts media, such as oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation. The colour effect of pastels is closer to the natural dry pigments than that of any other process.
WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE?
I use the highest quality Carbothello pastel pencils and Faber Castell Polychromo Pencils on Pastelmat paper.
HOW DO I LOOK AFTER MY PORTRAITS?
Pastel portraits can be very delicate and should be handled with care. Here are the best ways to look after it.
Keep your portrait covered until you have the opportunity to frame it.
When framing, keep your portrait on the mount. This protects the art from the glass.
As pastels never 'dry' like paint, please don't touch your portrait as this will smudge it.
Don't use fixative without contacting me first. Fixative may have already been used, or may not be suitable for your portrait.
It is advised not to place a pastel painting in direct sunlight. When under glass, the heat of the sun can create humidity.
Do not store or display in wet rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens. Moisture can seriously damage any pastel drawings.