I have been a professional portrait artist for twenty years. I started exhibiting at local art shows in northwest Indiana and ended up an international artist with work as far away as England and Norway.

I always tell my students that if you have a question, ask because three other people will have the same question and perhaps be afraid to ask. This page is to answer some of the questions I get about commissions, as well as let you know how the financial end works.

ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED COMMISSION QUESTIONS.

1. Will you paint a picture of my car, dog or home?
   

   I am a portrait artist. While I do include animals, homes, pianos and even automobiles in human portraits, I do not paint automobiles, animals, or houses alone. There are many excellent artists who specialize in these subjects and will be happy to create a wonderful painting of your dog, car or home. I have recently begun creating still life paintings.
   

2. Do you paint from photographs? Isn't that cheating? Shouldn't you paint while I pose for you?



I would love to paint while you pose for me, if you have a free fifty hours or so to sit in one place. I love to paint from a live model. However, most people do not have the spare hours to spend seated in my studio, not answering your cell phone, not on the internet, not working. The other benefit to this is that I prefer to paint people in the setting they are most comfortable in. I am beginning a portrait of a man at work in his laboratory. I have painted children in the park. I think that people are happy surrounded by the items/environment they love.


3. Will you paint my child from his/her school photo?



The first issue is that professionally taken photographs require a signed release by the photographer before I can paint from them. This includes your wedding photos.
The second issue is the quality of the photo. Often, photos that look perfect to you will look flat to me, and a photographer's lighting will not often result in the best portrait, which is our goal.
So, the answer is very rarely.


4. Do you charge to photograph me for my commission?



I do prefer to do my own photography but I also work from your photos, if they fulfill certain criteria.


I have a $50.00 charge, that will come off the commission price, to spend up to a half day with you doing photography. I do not watch the clock real closely. Living in Brown County, we can go out in a park or downtown Nashville, Indiana, or indoors, depending on what you are looking for. Unfortunately, I do not have a studio set up to use for commissions, at this time. Should you live more than an hour's drive from me, I would need to charge travel time.


I love to paint from natural settings, where the subject is relaxed and comfortable. I am willing to travel to your home and photograph you, at your piano, computer, or wherever you are comfortable, but I will need to have travel expenses paid.


For this $50.00, you will have my services with a Nikon SLR Digital Camera, dependent on a signed contract to do a painting. You will receive a CD of your photo session and will be able to return home and get on with your life while I paint for the fifty or so hours a painting can take.


5. Why is there such a range in price for commissions?



I love to paint and I love to paint for everyone. I have always tried to work with people who are interested in owning a portrait by me. I have worked out payment plans so someone can purchase the painting they love. I feel by having a wide range of prices, I am helping more people to own a piece of fine art.


Price is dependent on several factors:


I consider my work to be Impressionistic Realism. Let me stress that you will have an equally fine art painting whether it is in oils, soft pastels or prismacolor pencils.


Pricing: Oil paintings are more refined and take longer to do, so cost more. Pastel work is my middle range and prismacolor pencil is the lowest price.


6. Will it cost more to have my dog, my aunt and three cousins in the picture?



This is the second consideration. Each person has their own personality and their own twinkle in the eye and will add to the cost of the painting.


7. Do you paint "romantic-non clothed" paintings?



Yes! I love painting human flesh. It is that simple. I feel that all people are beautiful, complete with wrinkles, flesh, roundness, thinness, missing body parts and all.


8. Do you supply framing?

No! Over the years, I have found that people prefer to have framing in their taste, not necessarily what I choose, but what will look comfortable in their home.
Oils take frames for oil canvases. Pastels and Prismacolors need to be matted with glass and a frame.

9. Okay, but how much does it cost?



Prices for all paintings are dependent on number of people, medium and size.


A Prismacolor, 18" x 24" one person portrait, with an impressionistic background starts at $625.00.


A soft pastel, 18" x 24" one person portrait, with an impressionistic background starts at $1,250.00.


An 18" x 24" oil painting portrait of one person starts at $2,500.00.


A 24" x 36" oil painting portrait for two people starts at $3,200.00.

10. How do I contact you?



If you will email me, at Sheryl @ SAVanVleck.com with an idea of what you want, I will have a price worked out and we can talk on the phone about details. At this time payment can be made via U.S. Postal Service Money Order or PayPal. I will soon have a PayPal link on my site. If a payment plan is requested, we can work that out also.