FAQ's

Below are a number of questions I am asked on a fairly frequent basis.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for further infomation or assistance.

Q. Can you come to my house and just draw my dog there and then?

A. Drawings typically take several days to complete and it is therefore not practical to offer a "fast draw" service.

Ideally I like to take my own reference photographs and meet your pet/human family member by coming to you for a photo-shoot. I offer this option to anyone living in the South West London area, and from further afield at additional cost (contact me with your postcode for a quote). 

If I am unable to visit you then I will require good quality images that I can work from.

Q. How should I take photographs of my pet to allow you to produce the artwork?

If you have a favourite photograph of your pet/family member, I am happy to work from this, however additional photos will help me to achieve the most detailed possible portrait.

Click HERE to see how a typical photo translates into a drawing

Top tips for photographing your pet/family member:

1. Make sure you have good natural light – outside or by a window but not in strong direct sunlight (to avoid squinting).

2. Take as many photographs as possible (I usually take at least 100 photos of each subject I draw).

3. High resolution images are best and allow me to capture as much detail as possible – if you do not have this capacity on your camera then close-up shots are essential, especially of the eyes as this is the most important area of the portrait (make sure that the close-up shots are taken at the same angle as the wider angle shot that you want the portrait to be drawn from).

4. Take the photos at nose-level with the subject (for head-shots) and mid-height for full body shots to avoid foreshortening.

5. Aim for a half side profile/ head at a slight angle or looking up, as this makes for a more interesting portrait. Also pay attention to the silhouette, so that the portrait looks pleasing from a distance.

6. Use your pet/child/s favourite toy or treat to ensure an alert expression!

MORE FAQ's to follow...