We strive to make our ordering process as easy as possible. The steps below describe our ordering process. Our goal is to provide a 100% satisfaction to our clients. Do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries. We are alwys happy to hear from you.

1. To place an order, fill out a Contact Form and attach your photographs

The Contact Form can be found in the Contacts page. You can attach your photographs there. Please enclose your initial requirements regarding size, medium, background, number of subjects, etc. Do not worry if you are not sure on any of these, just drop us an email with any questions you might have and we will advise you. We make sure you are satisfied with you order before work starts on your portrait. When the composition is finalised, you will receive a mock-up of your painting via email. This will include the main subject / subjects and background. If you asked us to remove or add elements to your photograph, it will be shown on your mock-up. We can move on to the next stage when you are satisfied with your proof.

2. Order Confirmation

You will receive an email detailing the final price including delivery price and time. The process takes about 6 weeks depending on the amount of commissions we have at the moment. You can then pay your deposit. The deposit amount depends on the size and type of portrait you ordered. Please click here to see what they are. You can use our PayPal checkout by going to our Online Shop. If you prefer to send a postal order, please contact us for our postal address.

3. Painting process

Work on your painting / drawing can commence. You can watch your artwork develop on our Art in Progress Blog.To find out more about our painting process, you can go to Journey where we describe the steps every painting goes through.

4. Final portrait

When your portrait is finished, it will be emailed to you as a watermarked scan / photograph for your final approval. When you are satisfied with the final artwork, you can use the options outlined in step 2 to pay the remainder of your order. The painting will then be posted to you in a few layers of protective packaging to make sure of its safe arrival to you. Artwork is delivered unframed. If you do require framing, please contact us and we can arrange your portrait to be framed in our local framers. Prices on this website do not include a framing service. Paintings are posted on stretched canvas or rolled, pencil drawings are posted in a mount for protection.
CHOOSING MEDIUM      
We offer two mediums for our artwork. They are both very expressive and can look great in any home. You can go to our Gallery to see examples of artwork created with both. Please read about each of these and if you need any advise deciding on what medium you would prefer, please do not hesitate to contact us at any time.
Acrylic paint medium - pet portraits, family portraits, landscapes and fine art from photographs
Graphite pencil drawing - pet portraits, family portraits, landscapes and fine art from photographs
Acrylic is a relatively young medium. It is very versatile. It can be made to look like an oil painting, or even like watercolour. It is water based, but becomes completely water-resistant when dry. Acrylic doesn't fade and it keeps extremely well. If you would like a modern striking portrait with classic qualities then this is the medium for you. Portraits are painted on high quality canvas stretched in-house. Graphite pencil achieves a great amount of detail. It has great light and shade qualities. Drawings are created on high quality Fabriano cartridge paper and a fixative is applied to finished drawings for durability. They are more affordable and if you are looking for a modern minimalist look, this is the medium for you. Drawings are delivered in a mount ready for framing.
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS    
Labrador photograph - tips on taking photographs for pet portraits
 Here are a few tips on taking photographs of your pets. It is best to always use natural light - go outside if you can. This allows you to capture the exact colour of you pets fur and the best detail. However, try to avoid really sunny conditions as this will create almost unnatural highlights and thus distort the real colour of your pet.

Try to fill the frame with the subject and make sure your pet isn't moving when taking pictures - this is to ensure the image is in focus. When the frame is completely filled with subject, we can see a lot of detail and can produce a much more realistic image of your photograph. The photograph to the right shows an ideal situation.

Please try to use a digital camera when taking pictures. Due to lack of detail and low quality of images, we do not work from photos taken with phones.
Chocolate labrador photo - pet portraits from your photographs, Ireland