A:
You may pay for your order with
credit card or bank transfer through PayPal, or mail
cash, a money order, or cashiers check. I
prefer PayPal payments since they expedite the ordering
process. Half of the payment is due before work begins
on your project, and the final half is paid once work
on your project is completed to your satisfaction.
Learn more about the payment
policy.
Q:
Where are you located?
A:
I am located in the USA. Unfortunately,
because of the increase in identity theft and scams,
I had to remove my address and phone number information
from my web site. As a result, I withhold that information
until after your order is placed, then you will be
able to contact me via phone and postal mail.
Q:
How do you calculate your prices?
A:
Prices are calculated based
on the materials used and the time involved. The
subject of a portrait greatly effects the amount of
time involved. Therefore, portraits that are large,
have more than one subject, are full body, or have
a detailed background will cost more.
Q:
How much is shipping?
A:
Shipping and insurance are included
in the price of the portraits.
Q:
How soon can I expect to receive my order?
A:
Order time depends on my work
load and the amount of time your individual project
will take. I'll be happy to give you
an estimated completion time when you place your order.
If you need your order by a specific date, I will
do everything I can to work with you and get your
order finished in a timely manner. I strive to have
a prompt order turn around, normally 2 to 3 weeks
to complete the portrait, with a few additional days
for shipping. However, I do not want to sacrifice
quality for speed. Please order early if possible.
Q:
Do you ship internationally?
A:
Yes, I am happy to work with anyone living outside the United States, and have shipped portraits internationally.
Please contact me about shipping costs, international orders require additional shipping fees.
Q:
How long have you been in business?
A:
I launched my original web site
PencilsandPixelsArt.com in 2005. Prior
to that I offered portrait commissions on eBay.
Q:
If I mail a photo, will it be returned?
A:
Yes, all photos will be returned
to you with your finished portrait. I
prefer digital photos if possible. If we must use
a print, I suggest mailing a copy of the photo so
there is no risk of the losing the original through
the mail.
Q:
I want a portrait with people in different photos,
can you draw them together?
A:
Yes, I can draw people from
multiple photographs in to one portrait. It works best if the
lighting of the subjects are similar so they
will go well together in your portrait. The poses of the subjects must also be considered. Please
send the photos and your request to NicoleIHamiltonArt@yahoo.com
so I can determine how the subjects in the pictures will work
together and give you a free quote.
Q:
My picture is small, can you still draw a portrait
from it?
A:
It depends on the quality of
the photo. If the photo is a hard copy
and very clear, I may be able to scan it at a high
resolution and create a portrait from it. However,
if the photo is digital, and low resolution, it may
not be possible to see enough detail for a pencil
portrait. Please send the photo to NicoleIHamiltonArt@yahoo.com.
I will look at it and determine if it will work. Also,
please read the Choosing
Your Photo page for some tips.
Q:
I want something in the photo changed in the portrait,
can you do that?
A:
Yes I can incorporate changes
that will improve the quality of the portrait. For
example, I have adjusted a subjects eyes so they were
looking straight ahead instead of to the side.
If you want
something drawn differently like the hair, teeth,
or clothing, I will be happy to try and accommodate
your request. Please email me at NicoleIHamiltonArt@yahoo.com
and include a copy of your photo for a free quote.
Minor changes are free, but major adjustments will
take more time and increase the cost of your portrait.
Q:
Can you draw text or lettering on my portrait?
A:
Yes I can draw text on any portrait
for an additional fee. The cost of
text on a hand drawn color or black and white portrait
is $1 per letter or character. For watercolor portraits
the cost is $2 per letter or character. Each letter
is completely hand drawn or painted and can be designed
to mimic the font of your choice. Words on a portrait
are a nice way to commemorate dates such as a wedding,
anniversary, or new baby. Pricing
Information
Q:
In your art galleries some portraits are better
than others. Why is that?
A:
The galleries contain works
from my entire drawing career, with the most recent
portraits shown first. Some of the
older drawings are not as good as the more recent
ones. Many of my first drawings I drew using just
a mechanical pencil. I leave them in the galleries
to show the progression of my skill.
