Some of you may be new to commissions and are wondering what a commission is.  A commission is an agreement between a client and an artist to create a designated sculpture.  You hire me to make a sculpture.  It is a collaborative (team) effort between the artist and the client.  

You may contact me by phone or e-mail.  When you contact me we will talk about what you are interested in:  a portrait or a figure.  If you are interested in a figure do you want the figure to be life-size or are you interested in a one-half to one-third life-size figure? What level of smoothness interests you?  Will the sculpture be inside or outside? What color would you like the clay to be if you want a clay piece?  We will discuss possible finishes & bases.   What is your desired completion date?  My commissions are not strictly limited to people though sculptures of people comprise the majority of my commissions.

A clay piece has the most detail.  Hydrocal & bronze both lose a little detail in the mold-making and casting processes. The finished piece with all mediums are a little smaller than their original size.   Life-size figures will need to be in a medium besides clay.  

I do work from photographs when necessary.  I prefer to work from life rather than photographs when possible.  It's easier to capture a likeness, personality, essence of one's being while interacting and getting to know them.  Cultivating positive interactions between myself and the subject is important. They need to be comfortable with me.  I want the whole experience to be pleasant and rewarding.

Commission Fees

*A portrait consists of the full head, neck and part of the upper torso.

**The price for the life-size figure does not include mold-making, foundry, shipping or delivery costs.  It is the price for sculpting only.  Prices for life-size figures may vary.  Factors that will affect the price include but are not limited to: the size of the figure to be sculpted - newborn, baby, toddler, child or adult.  Will the figure be nude or clothed? Complex clothing is extra.  The position of the figure and level of difficulty may affect the price of mold-making and casting as well as the sculpting price.  How much of the sculpture will be done from photographs?  We are frequently able to make changes at the request of the client.  But, changes affect the price.

The prices listed above is when the model comes to my studio.  Prices do not include travel time, transportation / travel expenses, lodging, shipping or handling.   The client is responsible for all travel & travel related expenses, whether the model comes to my studio or I travel to the model's location.  

The sessions will be anywhere from 3 - 6 hours each.  I like take photographs to aid me in working on the sculpture when the model is not present.  If I have to rely heavily on pictures to do a sculpture the fee will be higher.  Example: a toddler who - naturally! - moves a lot or when the subject is deceased.  If I come to you we need to be sure there is plenty of natural lighting (preferably) and enough floor space that I can move back to get a better perspective of the proportion and gesture of the model to the sculpture.

Average length from start to completion for a clay portrait: 6 weeks
Average length for hydrocal portrait: 8 weeks
Average length for a portrait bronze: 10 - 16 weeks, varies according to foundry availability

Payment Schedule:
1/3 is due upon signing the contract
1/3 is due upon approval of the sculpture
1/3 (balance) is due when notified that the sculpture is completed & ready for delivery

Each 1/3 is nonrefundable

The process:

A contract will be drawn that will include the type of sculpture you would like (example: portrait or figure), the size, price, color, base, modeling location, the start date and approximate date of delivery, travel expenses, estimates for mold-making, casting, shipping and delivery.  

You will be billed separately for mold-making, casting, shipping and delivery if these are to be done at a foundry. A second / new contract will be drawn to reflect any requested changes after sculpting has begun.

We will schedule our first appointment.   It will consist of  agreeing upon a pose, interacting with the model, getting to know him/her, taking photographs, taking measurements and roughing in the sculpture.

The contract will be signed at our first meeting.  The first 1/3 is due at the beginning of the first modeling session. If I need to travel to you, the travel time and mileage fee is due that same day as well as any other travel related expenses such as lodging, airfare, car rental, etc.

You may monitor the progress throughout the process by viewing it first hand or by photographs that will be posted online.