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 Commonly Asked Questions |
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| (1) What kind of photos should I send? (2) How many photos should I send? (3) Do I get the pictures back? (4) Can I e-mail my photos to you? (5) Do you ship out of state? (6) How long will it take? (7) How are prices determined and what forms of payment do you take? (8) Do you provide matting or framing? (9) Can you get this done faster so I can get it framed? (10) Why do caricatures cost less at amusement parks and fairs? (1) What kind of photos should I send? Details of the face of the person need to be clear. Blurry or faraway pictures provide little help for doing an accurate depiction of a person. The face should be postage stamp size or bigger for best results with the person against a light colored background if possible so the head/hair shape can be clearly seen. For color orders, please specify eye and hair color. Please send original photos or digital shots. Please do not send grainy printouts from ink jet printers printed on plain paper as these lack the necessary details. (2) How many photos should I send? More than one photo is required and the more the merrier! It's helpful to have more than one photo so for a good idea of how the subject looks three-dimensionally from the different views. If doing a group, you do not need to send pictures of the whole group in one picture. Individual shots of each person is actually preferred! (3) Do I get the pictures back? Most definitely! Original photos sent via mail are returned safe and sound. (4) Can I e-mail my photos to you? Yes, but please do not send photos until your order is confirmed! I prefer either jpg files, and please name your photos with your last name so they don't get confused with other client orders. (5) Do you ship out of state? Yes! I've had clients from Guam to New York City and points far and wide in between. You may choose Priority Mail (add $5.00) or next day delivery via Express Mail (add $15.00) or you may provide a FedEx or UPS account number if you wish. (6) How long will it take? Orders are processed in the order they are received and turnaround time is dependent upon the size of the order and current workload. A lead time of two to three weeks is recommended. Rush orders requiring less than two weeks can sometimes be squeezed into the schedule but are subject to an additional fee. (7) How are prices determined and what forms of payment do you take? Prices are determined based on complexity and usage. Caricatures for reproduction for such uses as invitations, apparel, promotional materials and commercial websites are priced slightly higher because a copyright release is given to allow for reproduction as the client sees fit. Pre-payment is required for all internet orders and can be made by money order, check or direct deposit, or with a credit card using Paypal (it's free!) (see Paypal.com for more info) (8) Do you provide matting or framing? I'm sorry, but I'm an artist, not a framer! My most usual sizes, however, are able to be framed easily with do-it-yourself framing that you can find at department or hobby stores. If you are wanting to use a caricature for people to sign, I suggest using a wide matte, and having the guests sign the matte so the original artwork is not marred by ink or markers. (9) Can you get this done faster so I can get it framed? The common misconception is that framers need the artwork well in advance. This isn't always true. If you know the size of the artwork (as you would since you choose the picture size) you can either purchase pre-made frames or purchase custom frames by just the size alone. Since the artwork is custom-made, it can be designed using a predetermined dominant color to match a mat selected in advance. Just as is done with a photo, artwork done on paper can just be slipped into a frame in minutes without professional help in most cases. If this seems to be a concern, you may ask your framer to provide directions and/or to make sure that they give you a frame that has a backing that can be easily opened. (10) Why do caricatures cost less at amusement parks and fairs? When "live" caricature is done, it's done "in one take" in about five to ten minutes, take it or leave it. Any stray lines or goof-ups are part of the picture and aren't corrected. The artist has total editorial control over the picture's content, color, and size, and the work is not done with top quality materials. Quantity, not necessarily quality, is the main concern for live work. By contrast, with custom from photos work, I seek your approval of a preliminary sketch before finalizing the work. You have the freedom to give ideas on a pose, props and any wording to be included. Unlike a street artist, I take the time to work with you to make sure you are satisfied with the final product. Also, the high-grade materials used will not fade, yellow or curl. You get more, and the quality and service is worth the price! |
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