PET PORTRAIT COMMISSIONS I require a high resolution photograph (or selection of photographs) and a £25 deposit to secure your slot in my schedule. I would need to see and approve your photographs first to ensure I can work from them. Please see my PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE for tips on taking great pictures for your portrait which many people find really helpful. Pricing is for unframed artwork. Pricing listed is for a standard head/neck type portrait of a cat, dog or horse. Please contact me for accurate pricing if you require detailed accessories such as harness, bridles/collar work etc.

PET PORTRAIT GALLERY

I accept commissions as slots become available, for either wildlife or pet portraits. All my pictures are hand drawn and many hours goes into each portrait, providing you with a unique and treasured original piece of art for many years to come. WILDLIFE COMMISSIONS Please email me at efrettingham@yahoo.com to discuss your subject, requirements or ideas and I will be happy to get back to you along with an individual quotation. As the nature of my work is highly detailed, I work from photographic reference to capture the finest details. These can either be sourced from your own photographs, my catalogue of wildlife photos or once the licence fee is paid, from wildlife photographers from around the world.

PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE My aim, when producing your portrait, is to create a drawing that you can treasure. To do this, one of the most important things in commissioning your portrait is to ensure I can work from a good photograph. I cannot emphasise enough that 'the better the photograph, the better the finished portrait'. Quality The very first thing I look for in a photograph is the quality. As an artist that works to achieve a high level of realism I am drawn to details like a magnet, so the more detail in the picture the better your portrait will be. This is especially important for your pet's key features such as their eyes and nose. It is highly important that the image is sharp and in focus. Sadly, I am unable to work from blurry pictures. Lighting Take your pet's photograph in natural light, preferably outdoors. The best time is on a bright overcast day but not in direct sunlight as this can cast some unflattering images. Turn Flash 'off' Please AVOID using flash if possible. Flash causes a number of problems and looks very unflattering. It often masks out a lot of detail, causes unnatural shadows and colours, and can result in the dreaded red-eye or eye glowing effect. Levels Take the picture at eye level with your pet. Photographs looking down on your pet look unflattering and unnatural to the eye. The best angles are with your pet looking straight at you or with their head slightly tilted to one side looking past the camera. Pets That Have Passed Away If you are considering commissioning a portrait of a pet that has sadly passed away, I understand you may have limited images available, but please don't worry - send me as many photographs as you can and we can work through them together. I will need to see the pictures before I can accept your commission, just to make sure that I can work from them. Multiple Pets A common misconception for multiple pet portraits is that you have to have your pets in the same photo. This is NOT TRUE - in fact it is always best if you can send separate photographs of each pet and I will set them out nicely in your portrait. Here For Advice I am always happy to help and give you the very best advice that I can. I will always review and discuss your photographs with you when ordering a commission. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need any more help, or if you wish to ask any questions. Feel free to send me as many images as you like, with no obligation at all - my advice is always free. Emma