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I don’t like it, What should I do?

November 17, 2013 by

What should I do if I do not like my Pet Portrait?

 I have no idea!

I have no Idea… this has never happened to me! All of my clients are thrilled.  Here is why it won’t happen to you either. There is a lot of apprehension when ordering a piece of commissioned artwork, you are paying money up front and are being guaranteed a portrayal that is both accurate and beautiful. Simply put, your research into, and the choice of your artist should guarantee this thrilling happy end for your commission experience.

If you put the time into choosing the right product, and the right artist then you should always be surprised in the good way upon receiving your Pet Portrait and not the other way around.

Make it a good surprise!

To help insure this thrilling result here are some talking points to discuss with your artist face to face BEFORE you give him or her any money:

Ask for references, just a phone number or two and give the people a call, every one of my former clients would love to discuss how happy they are with my work and how easy it was to work with me. All good commission artists should be able to say the same thing.

Ask about the refund policy if you are not completely satisfied, is that first payment you made up front refundable?

You are partially responsible as well!

 Make absolutely sure your artist is using a specific photo for reference material, which should be decided and agreed upon by both of you preferable together. You need to know the exact image which will be portrayed, and any changes in that image should be written down in the commission agreement. Both YOU and the ARTIST need to be on the same page. Also along these lines the compositional aspects of the piece must be discussed and agreed to as well. You as the client are responsible for some of these factors. The artist needs to know what you want. . The key is both you and your artist have to be very clear with each other about what is expected as a final result.

I Can’t even imagine this but…

If after doing everything above, you just do not like your Portrait then you should not have to pay for it. You should at least get the majority of your deposit back, minus the cost of the materials used, and no more monies need to be paid. I am sure if it came to this the artist will know if a good job was done or not.

I can guarantee your absolute thrill filled happiness with a Pet Portrait By Cy. Every one of the Hundreds of happy clients I have gives me the right to make this claim.

Please look through my galleries right now and then visit the pricing and ordering page and see how easy a life long smile is to acquire from me.

Thank you for reading the Pet portrait By Cy Blog! I hope you have found it interesting and helpful.

Cy

 

 

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Choosing your Pet Portrait Artist

November 3, 2013 by
DOC

DOC

 An Important Choice

A Pet Portrait is important and depending on the style and reputation of the Artist, may be quite the expenditure and investment. This blog post is not about cost however, high end fine art, especially Portraiture, is expensive. I expect my Portraits to please and illicit smiles for a family for literally generations. This blog post is for the person who is not concerned with a price, but with a result, and in the end with an important and beautiful piece of art.

Choosing an artist to immortalize your special animal is not always an easy task, however it is not unlike choosing any skilled trades-person  who provides a service for you. There is a big difference however when choosing an artist. This difference is your subjectivity.  If three very good pet portrait artists paint or draw for a piece for you, you will get three different results.

 

 The Three Main Concerns

First, do you like his or her style;  Pet Portraits are done in many styles from abstract through impressionism to what my genre is, Realism.  Also is the artist’s work pleasing for you to look at?  You may like an artist’s chosen genre style but his or her color palette may not appeal to you, maybe their use of light and dark does not make you happy.  Do you want a dramatic, important looking piece, one of my painting tendencies, or do you prefer whimsical? There is no right and wrong in art when it comes to this first question, it is all about what you like.

 

Second, this one has less wiggle room for artistic license:  Can the artist execute a Pet Portrait that actually looks like the subject?  Lots of artists can paint a beautiful horse, but a professional pet portrait artist needs to portray accurately YOUR horse.

Lastly, aside from technical art issues, how easy, fun and satisfying is your artist to work with?  I would want to work with someone who is passionate about animals, and  really cares about immortalizing them.  Are they easy to work with?  Are they professional?  Will they do what they say, when they say? Do they take their time with you and your pet?  Does your pet like and warm up to them?

Always look for Testimonials from clients, as this is a good way to gauge an artists accuracy in portrayal, and how easy he or she is to work with.  A fun and satisfying experience, ending with a beautiful piece of Art that is cherished forever is the final goal.

 In Summary

Answering these questions requires you to research and look at many different artists, and many different works of art.  Rule out styles you do not like, and focus on the genre you are interested in.  Don’t just look at one piece that the artist did, you need to see a body of work, the more the better.  And don’t forget to read testimonials, and if desired get references as well.

There are many, many very good competent artists out there, you have to find the one that fits your needs both artistically, and then on a personal level as well.

Please now view my Galleries, read my testimonials and see how easy it is to order from my pricing and ordering page.  I hope When the time comes to choose your Pet Portrait artist, you will choose me.

Thank you for visiting my Blog, I hope you found this post interesting and helpful.  Cy

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How much should I spend on a Pet Portrait?

August 24, 2013 by
"Achilles"

“Achilles”

 

How much should I spend on a Pet Portrait?

            An important, accurate and pleasing to the eye original painting is not cheap, and shouldn’t be.  You are buying a one of a kind item, a piece of art. A highly skilled artist, working in any medium does not get paid by the hour, and two similar jobs, seemingly to the untrained eye, can differ greatly in the amount of time it takes to complete them.

You get what you pay for.

As with most things on the consumer market, you pretty much will get what you pay for. You are not just paying for the beauty of the piece but also for its archival qualities and longevity, its perceived importance, the materials used and finally, in some cases you are paying for the artists name and the investment potential of his or her work.

A large oil, acrylic or pastel piece painted by a well known artist will always cost more, and be worth more than a Portrait done say in Pencil or Charcoal, or by a less accomplished artist. This is true even though the art work itself may be flawless and Beautiful, Charcoal by the way,  is one of my favorite mediums.  This is the nature of art and buying art. The good news is there are a lot of people trying to get your business so a wide price range does exist however you will find again that you need to pay more for the best.

The numbers vary.

Art pricing varies greatly, expect, on the LOW END, to pay between $300 to $600.00 on the average for a 11 x 14 inch painting executed by a fairly competent Painter. And of course as the size of the painting increases, so will the price.  Special compositional additions such as a house in the background, a specific landscape,  the addition of another animal or person etc… will raise the price.   These numbers I am using are averages;  you can pay much, much more and in some cases a lot less.

Framing, the added cost.

Now don’t forget depending on what medium you choose you may still need to frame your portrait. A Pastel, Pencil, Charcoal, Ink, photograph or Watercolor piece will absolutely need matting, backing, frame and glass.  This will add to the final cost of you Portrait but will also protect it and give it a finished and wonderful look.  An Acrylic or Oil can be hung without a frame. The frame is optional and there is no need for matting or glass.  I always paint the sides of my paintings (called a Gallery wrap finish)  so they can be hung right away and have a finished look as is upon delivery.

Spending less?

If you really need to spend less, and we all can understand this line of thought! Black and White portraits in Pencil and Charcoal usually will cost less. You can also go smaller, my Painting sizes start at 6″ x 8″.  Photography is another way to save, although as with any artist a good photographer can demand a high price for his or her work. On the whole though a Photograph usually costs less than a Painting.

Our animals deserve the best in life and I believe that their Portraits are no exception.  Choose you Painter well, and you will end up with a piece of art that will be enjoyed for generations.

Have fun everybody!

Cy

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Your Pet’s Portrait… Painting, Drawing or Photograph?

July 9, 2013 by

Should my Pet Portrait be a Painting, a Drawing, or a Photograph?

Lola

Lola

   All of these artistic choices are wonderful ways to immortalize your special animal; all of them can for sure turn out to be beautiful pieces of art, executed by talented artists.  I would want an important piece of work  to do the job of immortalization for my special animal.

A well executed Painting on canvas does this job better than anything else. Here is why:

The painting, and drawing of a portrait,  is ancient, this is where real portraiture started, long before photography the likenesses of people and animals were adorning castles, churches, government buildings and homes. This still goes on today unchanged throughout the world.  This one truth makes the notion of a real, painted with a brush, by hand, on canvas portrait more Important than any other option.

A Charcoal Drawing is also a good choice:

Drawing has of course been around longer than painting, and there is great skill involved in drawing realism, Drawing is very important to the painter, it is where it all starts, and I draw throughout the process of painting a piece. I believe a good painting cannot exist without good drawing, and the paint application is the next step that raises the bar for me as far as a product that best serves the purpose of importance in portraying your special animal. A finely portrayed Charcoal or Pencil Portrait does have attributes that make it a worthwhile Portrait option as well.

A Pet Portrait Photograph?

As is the case with drawing, I use photography to a large extent as a painter. I photograph subject matter for reference, and I photograph my paintings for reproduction and archival purposes, so I have nothing negative to say about this wonderful art form. And it IS an art form, and takes great skill and knowledge to capture a beautiful and unique photo. My personal problem with a photo as a Pet Portrait goes back again to the notion of the perceived importance of the piece. The reality is that most people have very large stashes of photos around depicting there animals, and these are very special and at times are enlarged and framed. Everyone can and does do this. Point being I believe a photograph, no matter how perfect and professionally done lacks the uniqueness, and importance, as a piece of wall art, that a Painting or Drawing has. I believe the accomplished human artist can bring much more to the piece of work than the camera can.

A Painting will cost you more.

All of these options will cost you money, Drawings and Photographs will need to be framed and protected, and they will not have the durability or the wall life, if you will that an Acrylic or Oil painting will have. A painting can survive for hundreds of years if cared for properly. A Painting will cost you more money, there is a reason for this, other than the time and skill it takes to execute… the aforementioned perceived Importance is also at stake.

 After doing the research, Any option you choose is a good one!

As with all things artistic, what looks good to one does not necessarily appeal to another. There is no right and wrong as long as your portrait portrays your animal the way you want it to. Really it comes down to what you think looks good and what you think will best do the job to immortalize your special animal.    

    Thank you for reading this Pet Portraits By Cy blog post.

“Lola” above,  16″ x 20″  Acrylic on canvas,  is really happy to have been painted!  

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Four Summer Concerns For Your Pets

July 2, 2013 by
Marley

Marley

#1  The Heat:

Like ourselves, animals can get dehydrated and overheat when it is hot out. Unlike us, lots of animals (Dogs!) do not know when to stop while  going full blast in the heat.  So keep this in mind when exercising your pet during the heat of the day.  It is best to have them play in the early morning or in the evenings.

Have plenty of water available for your pet ALL DAY LONG, as they will need more than normal in the high heat.

Groom and brush your dogs and especially cats often when it is hot out.  This will keep them more comfortable, and for cats,  this will help keep the hairball problem under control.

Asphalt, your driveway for instance, can get very hot and is painful for animals to walk across. Do not walk them on the street or on concrete and asphalt,  stick to the grass.

#2 Inside Vehicles:

NOT!! An animal should Never be kept in a vehicle unattended.

And absolutely… If  it is near 70 degrees or over you should not be keeping an animal in a car unattended for any period of time.   Period!  75 degrees outside can easily be 120 degrees in the car.  Imagine when its 90 outside!

#3 The 4th of July:

Never fire off any firework with your animal present in the yard or immediate area! This is just stupid.

Keep your animals inside during all firework times. Keeping them in a closed room, with water and a T.V. or radio playing is preferable. Also they should have a place to hide, under a bed or closet perhaps.  Check on them often.

Clean up all of your firework debris so your curious animals do not ingest them the next day.  Burned up pin wheels are not good for the digestion! Yuk!!

#4 Outside at night?

Only if necessary. And NEVER all night long!

Especially in Rural areas keep your animals inside after dark,  or go outside with them,  if they do have to go out.  Lots of dangers at night,  especially for small dogs and cats including Cars, Coyotes, Fox, and even Owls!

Animals, especially Cats are also harder to see by vehicles at night, and we all know they like to wonder off at times. Dogs should always be accompanied and leashed, or in a fenced yard at night.

 

Thank you for reading this Pet Portraits By Cy blog post.

Marley,  (Above frolicking in the Puget Sound with a Frisbee) and myself,  both hope you and your animals have a fun and SAFE Summer!

 

 

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Art Workshop By Cy; Get your Charcoal Portrait framed!!

March 20, 2013 by
"Oreo" framed

“Oreo” framed

Does my new Charcoal Pet Portrait need a frame?

YES!!! You will need to frame your Charcoal Portrait ASAP, and please do not take it out of its protective plastic covering before doing so. I actually recommend that your picture framer remove it at the TIME of framing.

 

Why Cy?

Some art pieces,  Acrylic or Oil paintings for instance do not need frames.  They do not need to rely on the extra protection that a frame provides to ensure their longevity.  Charcoals, Pastels and Ink drawings and paintings WILL need this protection because their surface and the actual medium on the surface is very fragile. The support, or paper, can easily bend or tear and the Charcoals (Medium) can smear and smudge if touched. Water would be devastating to both.

Also and most recognizably to all, a frame will give your piece a complete and finished look.

When should I frame my new Charcoal Portrait Cy?

Now!! Or as soon as possible. The longer you leave a fragile piece of art around unprotected the better the chance of it getting dropped, mishandled spilled on etc… Get it framed and on the wall where it can be enjoyed safely for years to come!

What kind of frame do I need Cy?

You will  need A frame big enough to include at the very least A piece of foam core backing, one mat, a piece of glass, and the outer decorative and supportive frame piece itself.

Here is how it works:  The paper the piece is drawn on will be mounted to the backing (Your piece was already mounted onto an 11 x 14 in. piece of backing for protection when you received it). A bigger back will probably be needed. The matting goes over this and it’s purpose is to keep the glass off of the drawings surface. and it provides  visual enhancement. The Glass is next, and it will keep anything from touching the artwork. And the Frame will hold all of this together and will again provide  a decorative finish to the piece.

"Cleo" framed

“Cleo” framed

How do I get this all done Cy?

Find yourself a reputable picture framer to do this for you.  Do not try to do it yourself, It is not worth it, one mistake and your piece can be easily compromised or ruined.  It will cost, but this money is well spent. Your framer will work with you and can give you many different options and sizes and price ranges. You actually will have an important say in how your finished and framed Portrait will look.  Use colors you like, match with your decor etc…

Getting a new original piece of art framed is actually a fun and exciting experience!

Thank you for reading my Art Workshop By Cy Blog Post.  Check back soon for more instructive and informative posts.  And of course, please Pet Your Pets for us!  Oreo, Cleo and Cy

You may see many more animals and learn about my Pet Portraits here on my website, please take a look around!  Or visit my Etsy Store HERE and shop for Pet, Wildlife, Flower and Garden products and gifts.

Contact Cy

Filed Under: Art Workshop With Cy

Art Workshop By Cy: Include the Animals name?

January 21, 2013 by
"Tanner" Pet Portraits In Charcoal

“Tanner” Pet Portraits In Charcoal

 

 Why do you write the animals name on your Charcoal pieces but not on your Paintings Cy ?

I always include the animals name, or its breed (In a Wildlife piece), on every one of my Pet Portraits in Charcoal.   I do this for the following reasons:

First, It is a simple way to honor the subject by putting a name to the face. Most of my Charcoal Portraits are head and shoulder portrayals focusing on the animals face, eyes and facial expression that best shows its true demeanor. I believe when you view all of this with a name right there it personalizes the animal and better connects her to the viewer.

Secondly the  information that the written name provides the viewer helps to tell the story of the piece. My Charcoal Portraits are Illustrative in that they focus mainly on the animals face without much else as far as composition goes. This is the purpose of this style, so a name helps “fill out”  and complete this  story.

Lastly I just love pet names and I think the name adds cuteness and fun to the artwork. This reason actually relates to both the previous ones.

Paintings do not include the animals name?

I do not paint the animals name on my Acrylic Portraits (unless asked to) for one main reason:

My Acrylic Pet Portraits contain much more information. Color for one thing, but along with the illustrative component that a Charcoal Portrait has, a painting also includes the total composition.  A background is always present  sometimes containing more subjects or perhaps a  landscape.  A lot of the time the whole animal is painted  or even maybe a person is included. All of this tells the complete story, This total visual story is the goal of my paintings.  Any writing, other than my signature (Covered in the previous Blog Post) I feel would take away from the story, looking out of place and creating clutter.

The animals name is still very important to the piece however, and is always written along with the finish date on the rear of the Paintings support. Also many folks include a small name plate on the frame (if they choose to frame their piece), which proudly states the animals name.

In finality and put very simply, In a Charcoal, the Animals name is part of the piece itself.  In a painting, the name is the pieces title and is displayed in its traditional place.

Thank you for reading my Art Workshop Blog.  Check back soon for more instructive and informative posts. And of course, please Pet Your Pets for us!  Tanner and Cy

 

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Art Workshop By Cy: Signatures

January 6, 2013 by
Art Workshop with Cy: Signatures

Art Workshop with Cy: Signatures

Why, When, How and Where does a fine artist sign his or her artwork?

“By any chance are you left handed?  An observant friend of mine made the comment that most painters sign on the right side of the portrait because they are right handed.  You, however, signed it on the left corner leaving us debating whether you were right or left handed:)” – Owner of Whimsey, above right.
This is the Question that inspired me to write the first, in this series of Blog Posts titled “Art Workshop By Cy”.

WHY:

There are 3 main reasons why we sign a piece of art (and I will say now that EVERY piece of art created by anyone should be signed).

#1 The signing by me, of one of my Pet Portraits or any work of art that anyone completes, indicates that the piece has been finished, work has stopped.  Simple as that. collectors, critics the public etc… want a finished piece. This signature tells everyone that no more work or revision is necessary in the eyes of the artist.
#2 Pride, yes pride! Being proud of what you do is a must. ANY art ANYONE creates is unique, special and important.  Art moves people, someone out there will always be moved by what you do, and they want to know that you approve of what you do as well!  Stand up and shout it out with your signature! This is very important.
#3 The signature on a piece of art shows everyone who owns it. Once anything is created and is signed it is protected under copyright law and cannot be used by others without the signers permission. Now this is simply put, and copyright issues can take up another whole Blog post, but for now just realize that your signature protects your ownership of the images you create.

WHEN: 

Sign your piece when it is finished. When you are done revising and touching up.  I know sometimes this part of a painting is never ending but when the time comes…Sign it! Then move on!!

HOW: 

I believe in finding a signature that is unique, readable and recognizable. I use my full last name (Unique), I print it very simply,(Readable)  and it is ALWAYS the same (Recognized). People know there is only one “Hundley”  That was created by me.

WHERE:

This is my response to the initial question leading to this Blog Post: 
“Interesting observation. I am right handed.  The location of my signature on a piece is dependent on where it best suits the composition of the artwork. If you look at former paintings or especially charcoals of mine you will see I have signed them in many different places. And in some cases at an angle. I believe my signature is important but should not stick out to much. To put it simply I sign every piece where it fits in the best. I do not concern myself as to where I will sign, until I am finished. The piece itself will let me know the appropriate spot.   The signature however, basically has remained unchanged since the late 1980’s
 In Whimsey’s Portrait we had that space to the left …The perfect spot to sign, which in fact works with the rest of the  composition to balance out the darkness and shadow on the right.”
Sign your piece where ever you want, just do not let it take away from what you are trying to say with your art work. Maybe where you sign can be the “Uniqueness” in your signature!
I hope this has been informative, interesting and useful to you.  Do you
have more Questions?  Is there another Art Workshop subject you would like me to Blog about? Please comment here, You do not need to fill any info out,  just start Commenting! Or check out this Post on my Facebook  fan page  and comment there. And as usual, please feel free to email me anytime! Check back soon for more Art Workshop with Cy!
Thank you , Cy

 

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