K9 Portraits Price List

by David Kellam Brown

To the Kellam Brown Art Gallery

Standardized Pricing*

("head and shoulders" style portrait)

Please contact me in person, via e-mail to order a portrait of your pet or favorite animal. Contact me also for pricing of nonstandard size, subjects, backgrounds, or pose.

K9 Portraits now accepts Master Card, Visa, and American Express credit cards. Please do not send credit card information via e-mail. For security reasons, credit card information will be taken via direct voice telephone contact.

* See notes below regarding pricing for special backgrounds, frames, and photo sessions

Subject & Medium

Size

 
8" X 10"
11" X 14"
16" X 20"
Acrylic or pastel on paper, stretched canvas or board - one subject
$250
$350
$450
Acrylic or pastel on paper, stretched canvas or board - two subjects
$450
$550
Acrylic or pastel on paper, stretched canvas or board - three subjects
$650

 

Notes:
Special pricing considerations

Prices above are for the most common commissions that I receive, namely, a "head and shoulders" style portrait with a simple landscape background. Portraits without backgrounds are $50 less. Full body portraits are 25% more and are available in 11"X14" or larger format. Special backgrounds (such as buildings, interiors, automobiles, etc. are priced specifically. Framing can be provided for additional charge, based on the style and size of the frame. A typical simple wood frame costs between $50 and $100 for standard sizes, depending upon the size and style of frame.

Each portrait, is an individualized piece of art. To produce quality work I need to talk to you about your pet and your desires for your portrait. Please contact me via e-mail to discuss design, medium, ordering and delivery as well as pricing and requirements for special pieces such as large sizes or including people, automobiles, special environments, costumes, etc.
Deposit and schedule As the first step of creating a portrait, I create a concept image, either as a composite photo or a fairly detailed sketch. I send you a copy of the composite, preferably as a digital image via e-mail. Once you approve the concept image I require a $100 deposit to begin work on the final portrait. Typical production time is one to two months, depending on my workload. Usually I can give you an estimated delivery date at the time I receive the deposit.
Delivery and shipping I will hand deliver finished work within the North Dallas area for a mileage charge that will be less than packing and shipping costs. Packing, and shipping will be handled by UPS or equivalent. Handling, packing, insurance and shipping prices are based on size, weight, and price of finished piece. Typical packing charges are $20 to $30 and shipping varies from $20 to $45 within the continental US Expedited shipping is available for additional cost.
Pastel painting: Pastel paintings are created on Wallis paper (a heavy duty paper specifically designed for fine art pastel work) mounted on Gatorfoam board or Pastelboard (a fiberboard with a heavy tooth surface designed for pastel). The stated size of these pieces are the approximate un-matted size (i.e. the size of the picture image). To allow for matting, the mounting board size (i.e. frame inner dimensions) size will be larger, usually six inches or so in each dimension. Pastel paintings are delivered with a suitable offset mat that should be mounted in a glazed frame to protect the surface of the work. See my web comments "Caring for Pastel Artwork".
Acrylic painting Stretched canvases are at least one inch deep with painted edges. The canvas will be at least 8# duck with at least three coats of acrylic gesso (undercoating to seal the canvas). Panels will be untempered hardboard with at least three coats of acrylic gesso. The specified size is the size of the canvas or panel where the picture is painted to the edges. The stretched canvases may be displayed with or without framing. The panels should be framed because they are not cradle mounted (i.e. they do not have deep edges). Neither canvases nor panels need to be under glass. If you desire, I will apply a UV protection varnish coat which will protect colors from fading; the price for this coating is $10 to $20 for standard sized paintings and more for a large painting. Protective varnish should be applied only after the painting has had 30 days to cure so shipping of your portrait will be delayed if you elect this treatment.
Backgrounds Background images may be specified to be simple or blank or they may be "landscape" or "special". Landscape backgrounds are stylized backgrounds that provide scenic depth and atmosphere. Examples of special backgrounds can be seen in some of the sample pieces, particularly "Petey Bonaparte" and "Henry and Dawn". Pricing for special backgrounds is agreed upon at the time of ordering and typically runs $50 to $150 for standard sizes. Special backgrounds are created from photos specified or provided by the customer. Special lighting or poses sometimes require special backgrounds to explain the situation.
Subjects: Each image of an animal counts as a separate subject, whether it is multiple images of the same animal or different animals. I can do portraits of most types of pets. I've done dogs, cats, horses, and alpacas. I will be adding examples of these various furry folks to my website in the near future. I have also included children, adults, and antique cars in some portraits and have received positive responses to them..
Poses: Pricing is for "head and shoulders" style portraits, (as shown in most of the examples). Full body or special poses are 25% more. I can do other poses and larger sizes but these commissions are subject to nonstandard pricing.
Process See my separate topic "How I Create a Portrait of Your Pet"*
Photos I can work from adequate quality photos. Frequently your snapshots will do but I will typically need more than one photo of your pet to get decent "spirit" in the likeness. See my separate web topic: "Tips on Photographing Animals for Portraits" If the subject animal is available in the Dallas / Collin County area of Texas, I would prefer to shoot the reference photographs myself; there is no extra charge for such a photo session unless it involves exceptional mileage (more than 30 minutes one way drive time). Send me photo images via e-mail, Priority Mail, or Special Carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.). I will review them for usable quality and give you feedback before accepting a commission from you. All printed photos or slides will be returned if a suitable return mailer or SASE is received.
Payment: Once the work is completed to my satisfaction, I will send you a "proof" photo of the finished work via e-mail. No payment beyond the deposit will be due until you accept the "proof"; when I receive payment for the work as well as for packing, shipping, and handling or delivery, I will immediately ship the work or make arrangements for delivery or pick up.
Schedule A "head and shoulders" style portrait will typically take one to two months, possibly longer, depending on my workload.