Beth Zaiken | Commissions

Fine Art | Illustrations

Commission: a sum or percentage allowed to agents, sales representatives, etc., for services rendered. In other words, private parties pay me to draw or paint things.

My work, your ideas:

I do a good deal of commissioned work, with a huge variety of subjects. I am experienced with wildlife art, pet portraits, human portraits, imaginary scenes, creatures, narrative illustrations based on written passages, and personal fantasy characters. Please provide me with as detailed a description as possible of what you are looking for when requesting work. Any image references you can provide are very helpful and the more, the better. Images should be sent via email.

Media:

Ink: I don’t usually offer ink-work, but I will at special request. Lineart, or more detailed work are available.
Paint and Digital: My personal specialty is fully rendered acrylic works on board, varnished. Digital work is priced similarly because it usually takes me just as much time to render my style digitally as in traditional media (except at the larger sizes, after 11x14, the digital work price tends to level out); with digital you don’t pay S+H)

All hard copy works will be completed on illustration or museum board, often mounted to an archival foam-core back at larger sizes, unless otherwise specified by commissioner. (This makes for a finished piece that is more durable, and averages about a quarter inch thick). I will also work on canvas per special request, though my preparation process is longer and more involved, so that will also increase the price. I prefer to work with acrylic paint, but will include any combination of oil, colored pencil, watercolor, or markers as well. Pieces on board will be centered to include a 1-inch white border all around to allow for ease of framing and to protect the actual work from wear.

Pricing:

Base Prices: These prices reflect the range of what you can expect to invest for my services at various sizes of work. These prices are definitely subject to change based on character/complexity and at my discretion. Since characters and portraits vary so much in specificity and particular details, please understand that these prices are laid down assuming very simple and basic requests.

Sizes:
Small............8x10.........$80-130
Medium..........9x12+........$150-250
Large...........11x14........$250-350
Larger..........12x18+......$350-550
X-Large.........18x24........$550+

For multiple characters in a piece, expect that each additional character will automatically add around $70. Detailed background environments are totally possible and encouraged, but will increase the price as well, and I price them by estimating the amount of time I’ll spend. So if your background will take me as much time as your character, don’t be surprised when the price reflects that.

Agreements:

Payments can be made via Paypal (it’s fast, international, and very secure), or check or money order by registered mail (by request). A 50% nonrefundable deposit or payment in full is required when I am ready to begin your commission, and prior to the start of the painting. I will begin working on your piece and will produce a preliminary sketch for your approval. I will email a digital scan of this sketch and will make one revision based on your critique (if necessary). Additional revisions are of course possible, but each additional sketch revision will add 15$ each. The rest of your payment for work is due when you approve the preliminary sketch and I am ready to begin the actual painting. Once finished, your portrait will be mailed to you. (Your payment will not be deposited/ accessed until you have received the art.)

I will not draw sexually explicit images (I follow the same rules that Sports Illustrated might in their swim catalogue), or trademarked characters.
I will not draw styles other than my own.
Final price will vary at my discretion depending on complexity of image.
I will charge for packaging and registered shipping. Usually between $10 and $25.
I will do my very best to protect a piece for transport, but I am not responsible for any damage incurred through shipping, and I cannot give refunds.
Work will usually be completed on a first-ask, first-served basis, but if you have a job with a specific due date I can certainly make arrangements for that, but it will incur an additional charge.

Questions? Contact me at Damalia200@cs.com, I'd be happy to discuss your project needs!

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