Common Questions
Below are a few of the the common questions. If you
have other questions about commissioning a portrait, please contact
the artist.
- Can I email you the photo?
- Can photos be combined?
- What kind of animals do you do?
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- What kind of guarantee do you give?
- How long will this portrait commission take?
- Why is a second subject extra?
- What's the difference between soft
and oil pastel?
- While I really like your work,
I can't afford it. Can you give me a discount? Please!
Maybe. Ms. Hornberger prefers to work from actual photos because of the
amount of detail in an actual photo which is normally lacking in digital
scans. For pencil drawings, she can do good work from digital photos
and scans if they are sufficiently large. (200kb is an absolute
minimum!) For pastel portraits, she has had some problem with colors
from emailed photos, so she does need an actual photo with the colors as you
like them. (Either a reprint of the picture or a high resolution
print out of the photo can be substituted.)
Yes and no. While it is possible to take the head from one photo and
combine it with the body from another photo, it is very tricky to do.
Often the two photos have different lighting, so the head may have bright light
from the right and body has diffused light. The artist has been talked into doing
this over the years and very rarely is it a great success. The one
exception is when a professional photographer has taken a series of photos in
one session, so the lighting is the same. If you feel you must have two
photos combined, email the artist and send her scans of the photos to see if it is
something that can be attempted. (Brad is an example of a
portrait which combined 2 photos.)
While the artist is reluctant to combine photos into one drawing, having several photos
of the subject is very useful. For example, if you want a drawing of your
St. Bernard standing by a fence post, even with a clear 8x10 photo, the face
will be quite small. In this case, it is recommended that you send a photo of the
general stance and then a close-up of the face, hopefully taken at the same
time.
L.M. Hornberger will do any animal that you can provide a clear photo of.
Some animals, such as cats and parrots, she knows better since she has several of
each and can consult them for reference. For other animals, such as
alpacas, horses, and dogs, the artist has a large file of reference drawings and photos,
plus she has done a number of them over the years so they are more
familiar. Now something like a ferret, Ms. Hornberger will admit that she
has never
drawn one, but is willing to try.
Payment can be made by check, money order, or credit card via PayPal.
All Ms. Hornberger's work comes with a 100% guarantee. "My job isn't done until you are 100%
pleased with the portrait!" (For further details of
her guarantee policy, please visit the Guarantee
Page.)
Normally, it takes 2-3 weeks for a pencil portrait from the time the
photo arrives until the time you receive the drawing. For a
pastel, it can take up to 6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the
background and the overall size. (A simple vignette in soft pastel
on a plain background takes about 3 weeks, start to finish.)
Around Christmas, the artist is usually fully booked and the length of
time can nearly double. Also, in the spring, when Ms. Hornberger
can be found at numerous outdoor shows, the time frame can be a bit longer than normal.
The artist will do her best to get your commission done in a timely
manner.
A second subject is extra because it is harder to get two perfect
portraits on one piece of paper than two separate portraits. For
example, if she gets one face nearly perfect and then messes up on the
other face, she will have to start all over again.
Soft pastel is similar to chalk. A finished portrait has a soft
glow to it.
Oil pastels use the same pigments, but a non-drying oil and waxes are
added. The colors are much
richer and a number of effects similar to oil paints (such as
transparent washes) can be achieved.
For a discussion of both media, please visit the artist's Art Talk on
Artistic Media.
Well, since you said please,......
Seriously, there are several options. The first is time
payments. The artist will accept 1/3 down, 1/3 when it's nearing
completion, and the final 1/3 when the portrait is shipped. Please note, if you
send a photo and 1/3 payment, and the artist begins working on it, she will
gladly return your photo but will keep the payment as compensation for
her time and effort.
Another option is to let the artist use your portrait for shows.
Ms. Hornberger shows her work at a number of outdoor shows and street festivals and
likes to take
new work to show to the public. If the portrait you want is
interesting, if she needs new inventory, and if
you don't mind waiting 9-12 months for it, you and the artist probably can work
something out.
And the final option is to trade the artist for some things she needs.
Some examples of things the artist will barter for
include a digital camera, a meat grinder, a food mill, and interesting
photos which could be used for paintings. ("I'd also like a Mission-style, wood-framed futon frame, but
unless we can meet somewhere in southern California, that might be
tricky to arrange!")
