Commissions

How do I commission a pet portrait? I don’t know where to start!

You may have seen examples of Joanne’s work at a show or exhibition and have an idea of what you’d like as a starting point. If not, take time to browse the galleries to see some examples of Joanne’s previous work and see if there are any styles / layouts that you particularly like. If you really aren’t sure what the best option would be, Joanne is happy to advise based on your budget and the type of animal you have. Simply contact Joanne with any ideas and questions you have, to start to process and she’ll be happy to guide you through.

What subjects does Joanne draw?

As well as the most common horses, dogs and cats; Joanne is happy to take commissions for any animal, furry or feathered! Rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds and farm animals are all welcomed. Joanne is happy to draw / paint landscapes, objects and other scenery backgrounds as part of the commission.

How long will my order take?

The length of completion depends on the time of year, and size / complexity of the portrait. As a guide, during quieter times of year small pencil sketches can be completed in 2-3 weeks, and larger detailed pieces in 6-8 weeks. The busiest time of year is the lead up to Christmas, with Joanne usually being fully booked by the beginning of October. Joanne can give a timescale estimate upon enquiry.

I’d like a portrait of my three dogs on the same portrait, do I need a photograph of them all together?

No! It can be challenging enough to take good photographs of single animals, so no, animals don’t need to be perfectly posed together in one reference photos. Joanne is able to combine individual photographs and will sketch different options for the portrait composition, to come up with a suitable layout. It is helpful to have one or two photos of the animals together if possible (or at least information about their size/breed) so Joanne can make sure the scale is correct.

I’d like to commission a pet portrait for a gift, but I need it very quickly. Can it be completed it on time?

Please contact Joanne to check what the current timescale is for portraits. She will always endeavour to do a quicker turnaround if possible to complete your portrait in time for a special occasion. However if this is not possible, gift vouchers are the perfect alternative. Gift vouchers are fully personalised and gift wrapped, and mean that the recipient can be fully involved in the portrait process. Please contact Joanne for more information and see examples of the voucher design here.

How can I be confident I’ll be happy with the portrait, what if I don’t like the result?

Joanne has been working to commission since 1998 has delighted clients worldwide. In all that time, Joanne has not had a single portrait returned. A small handful of portraits have required small adjustments (usually due to poor quality reference photos) resulting in very happy customers. Customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance and Joanne will work closely with the client to ensure they are completely happy with the result. For reassurance, please see Joanne’s commission Terms and Conditions for full details on portrait satisfaction / refunds.

Does Joanne do portraits of people?

Joanne is happy to include riders on horses but otherwise does not take commissions for portraits of people. She is happy to recommend fellow artists who undertake human portrait commissions.

My photos aren’t the best quality and sadly my pet has passed away. Can Joanne still do a portrait?

Possibly! The best thing to do is send Joanne copies of all the photographs you have. Customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance and Joanne will always be honest about what she can achieve working from your photographs. It may be the case that a looser sketch may be possible instead of a detailed piece.

I really like a photo of my horse, but I don’t want the headcollar on the portrait, can you remove it? Can you make other changes to the photograph?

Yes, absolutely! Tack can be removed, mud patches erased and manes tidied! Extra photographs of the animal will help to ensure that any individual markings on the coat are shown accurately on the portrait.

Will my portrait be framed?

Portraits are provided mounted and ready to frame, as included in the price. Portraits are not framed routinely due to their fragility when posting them. However if you live locally (South Yorkshire area), Joanne can arrange framing at an extra cost with her excellent local framer, Impact Framing Ltd.. Portraits will need to be delivered / collected in person with this option.

Do you post internationally?

All prices shown include UK delivery. Joanne is not currently able to make sales to the EU due to recent changes in trading laws. She is however happy to take commissions from other international customers. Please contact Joanne for an international postage quote.

General

What materials are used in the portraits?

All materials used are professional artist / conservation grade, meaning they are of the highest quality in terms of light fastness and permanence. This includes pencils, paints, paper and mounting / framing materials. Joanne uses the following brands –

Paper - Fabriano Classico 5 Hot Pressed watercolour paper, Winsor & Newton Langton Prestige watercolour paper

Pencils - Faber Castell Polychromos, Derwent Drawing Pencils, Caran D’ache Luminance

Watercolours – Winsor & Newton Artists Watercolours, Michael Harding watercolours

Mounting / framing – Larson Juhl Conservation mount board, conservation grade tape. Local framing by Impact Framing Ltd, who are members of the Fine Art Trade Guild

What qualifications / experience does Joanne have as an animal portrait artist?

There are no official qualifications for being an animal portrait artist, but Joanne holds relevant qualifications and years of experience. She studied Art up to Art Foundation level (BTEC Higher Diploma) after studying A Levels in Art, English and Psychology. She gained a BSc (Hons) in Psychology where much of her studies and research were focused on the human visual system and aesthetics in art. Her final year dissertation researched how the two combined to influence how paintings are composed.

Aside from her formal art studies, Joanne has been a keen horse rider since the age of 9. Her continued years of hands-on experience with horses has allowed her to build knowledge on their anatomy and behaviour, resulting in a deep understanding of her subjects. This along with sketching different animals from life has developed a keen eye for detail and accuracy in her work. She has owned a variety of pets over the years and supports her local charity Barnsley Animal rescue Charity through sales of her greetings cards.

Does Joanne teach?

Joanne does not currently teach or run workshops. She does however offer painting demonstrations for art groups / societies. She can demonstrate her (somewhat sped up!) watercolour layering technique over a 2 – 2.5 hour period. The fee depends on the length of the demonstration and distance travelled. If you are interested in booking Joanne, please contact her for more information.

Where can I see Joanne’s work in the flesh?

Joanne does not have a public studio or gallery space, but there are opportunities to view her work throughout the year. Joanne regularly exhibits and sells her work at equestrian and agricultural shows, and art exhibitions. A full list of such events can be found here. Keep up to date with Joanne’s latest event news by signing up to her mailing list and following her on Facebook and Instagram.

As well as selling work online, a range of greetings cards can be purchased at the Cooper Gallery in Barnsley.