Guarantee

Tag along with me, if you will, to see how a picture in someone's head
becomes a treasured heirloom.

Paula and Garry, a young couple in Yorkshire, England
asked whether I could create a haunted painting of their home. I explained how I go about doing just that, and outlined costs and options.

Saying that they would reserve decision on the painting's size, they gave me the go-ahead, and sent a small deposit via PayPal* with the clear understanding that, were I to prove unable to excite them with my sketches, they would receive a full refund.

*Checks are welcome too, for commissions in the US.

Three of the photos I had to work with

They had already sent several photos via eMail. The sepia-tone photo you see at left center was taken a very long time ago. The man they presume to have been the then-owner stands in the doorway. The picture at far left shows the rear of the house, and the one at right shows a front view. Did you notice that their house is joined to its neighbor? They asked whether I could "detach" them and show their house standing alone. Not a problem, I replied.

Paula & Garry's house - first pencil sketch

Most often, my color sketch is the first visual a client will see. In this case, there were enough uncertainties to warrant my first E-mailing them the unpainted pencil sketch (though it includes the ghosts in the windows, and the chap from the sepia photo emerging from behind the house).

Their answer came back immediately. They were tremendously excited, they said. I had captured exactly what they were hoping to see. And they decided to proceed with the largest of the three sizes I had quoted.

Paula & Garry's House - color sketch

Now I prepared the color sketch, working into it all of the input I had received. Here, for the first time, they would see a close approximation of the finished painting. My sketch is quite a bit smaller than the finish, and so is lacking in the finer details, yet is quite faithful as to colors, atmosphere, and the "look" of the finished painting-to-be.

With approval of my color sketch (and half the balance received via PayPal), I was ready to begin the full-sized painting, which would measure 20" by 26". Matting would bring the frame-ready size to 28" x 34".

Paula & Garry's house -- first scan submitted

When the full size painting was completed, I scanned and sent it via E-mail to Paula and Garry for review.

They were excited with what they saw, though Paula thought there was too much violet in the greenery at right, and Garry, who liked the spooky top-hatted figure in the bushes at right, feared that "Jack The Ripper" was getting lost.

Paula & Garry's house - Finished painting

There are never any additional charges for these sorts of changes or corrections.

I gladly made the adjustments they asked for, sent them a final scan, and when they approved the painting. I matted it, calculated shipping cost to the UK, sent them final billing, and securely crated the painting preparatory to shipping it.

Isn't it all amazing? I never cease to wonder! Halfway around the world is like around the corner. People I may never meet (and rarely even speak verbally to), houses I may never see, and yet I can successfully express in paint the fantasy vision in my clients' minds.

I knew you'd be eager to hear how Paula and Garry liked the painting. I received the following replies moments after they opened the crate:

From Paula:

(Our) picture arrived today and we are speechless. I wasn't prepared for the texture of the paper, which is stunning. But the picture itself - it's beautiful, thank you, so much.

The hand coming around the railing sent a shiver down my spine, I hate anything like that, faces in the chimney pots, none of those came across in the scans, what a lovely surprise. I'm sure Garry will want to reply also. I just wanted to let you know the minute we received it.

From Garry:

I know Paula has already written but have to say that the painting is great. Much more than I expected, Taking it to the framers tomorrow and it will then take pride of place in our new room, yes we have paid £6000 for a room just to hang the painting.

I know I must be biased but it the best painting of someone's home you have ever done, it is just how we wanted it to be, the chimney pots are magic and the man coming around the front corner of the house sent shivers down Paula's spine. It is a work of pure magic.

Think you will hear from me again after the new year as I really want to buy more of your work to hang with my house.

Has this brief excursion answered your questions? If you'd like to learn more, or to discuss a project, contact me via E-mail by clicking here. Or call my toll-free number: 1-877-471-8718.