Commissions
Rev. 01/2023
So you’ve decided to…
OWN SOME ART
First of all, thank you for looking at my work and saying to yourself:
“Shoot, I really like what this human can do, and would love to have some of it!”
It is beyond flattering to me that as an art collector, you think I belong in your collection (in any capacity).
Second, please read the information in this section, as it relates to what you’re looking for :)
Pet Portraits!
The most common type of commission (and typically the most fun for everyone).
How selective am I with picking your pet(s) for a commission?
Currently: I am NOT taking commissions!
Please continue reading, before you email me to discuss your ideas and reserve your spot!
(Also, make sure to subscribe to my mailing list for updates. My subscribers get first notice + special pricing)
I welcome any and all [dogs, cats, fish, lizards, axolotls, etc] that you’d like me to capture.
What sizes do I work on?
how much will it cost?
This is up to you!
The three main factors to keep in mind when thinking about it, are:
The materials you’d like me to use
The size
The amount you’re willing to spend on an original piece of art
(The 2023 base cost for a pet portrait commission is $4 per square inch)
Current materials to choose from:
Paints: acrylics or oils.
Grounds: Deep cotton canvases,
linen canvases,
wood floater panels,
cradled wood panels,
special pet panels,
or heavyweight paper
Varnish: yes/no
(There is no standard pricing yet outside of this list, but I am open to discussion)
Quick Math Examples:
You would love an acrylic painting of your puppy on a cradled wooden panel that is 8”x10”:
At $4 / square inch (8 x 10 = 80 s.i. (or $320)), and adding $18 for materials, it would total $338.
Varnishing would bring it to $342 (+$4).
If you’d prefer the same commission in oils, the cost of materials increases to $20 = $340.
Varnishing would make it $342 (+$2)
If you want a larger painting (say 11”x14”):
At $4 / square inch (11 x 14 = 154 s.i. (or $616)), and adding $26 for materials, it would total $642.
Varnishing would bring it to $650 (+$8).
If you’d prefer the same commission in oils, the cost of materials increases to $30 = $646.
Varnishing would make it $654 (+$4)
If you say, “well, I don’t want it on wood, I want it on paper (or thin panel).”
I would say, “Sure! The heavyweight papers (and thin panels) I choose are awesome, but remember that you will need to find a frame for it later. The wooden panels and deep canvases can be hung without frames (but if you pick a standard size paper painting, those frames are easy to find, for cheap)! Let’s see what that comes out to:”
At $4 / square inch (11 x 14 = 154 s.i. (or $616)), and adding $9 for materials, it would total $627.
Varnishing would make it $635 (+$8).
For even more reference (and you can also ask me combination you’d like): The least expensive pet commission would be a 4”x4” acrylic painting on paper for $65, and the most expensive a 30”x 40” acrylic, varnished painting on canvas for $4,962.
These prices also do not reflect shipping.
As you can see, the “labor rate” stays the same, but the cost of materials varies. The materials I use are of great quality, so the larger the paintings, the more the ground, paint and varnish will cost. Also note that not all materials are available for all sizes.
Please email me with questions.
As of January 2023, for my own and my clients’ peace of mind, and for standardization across the board, I have decided to update and standardize both my commission and original artwork pricing (but they are not the same). Also, I have added that a 25% non-refundable deposit will be needed before I begin work on a commission.
(Standardization applies to acrylic and oil paintings on traditional grounds). Pricing for work outside of this realm still needs more research (i.e. watercolors, printmaking, digital, photography, etc.).
How long does it take to get a pet commission?
For acrylic paintings it typically takes about one month of turn-around time to complete (for a small-medium size painting, from the time I begin to the time it’s shipped)). This typically includes quick communication and design (~1 week), painting (~2 weeks), and varnish (<1 week). After varnishing (or applying a couple of protective layers to the painting), the paintings will need a few days to cure enough before shipping. You can opt out of varnishing, but know your painting will not be protected against UV rays, so keep it away from sunny rooms to keep the pigments from fading.
For oil paintings, the process is similar, but due to the nature of the medium, it may take an extra 4-5 months before you get your hands on your painting. The size of the work, and the thickness of the layers typically dictates how long it takes for a painting to become “dry to the touch”. I use higher quality paints, which reduce the drying time, but I do not use admixtures. I do prefer to paint in think layers, however.
Photography
During COVID, I invested in photography equipment to be able to capture my own artwork in fine detail to be able to create fine art print reproductions, as well as to dip my feet in the field. My extensive art and digital art background has given me a good foundation, and I would love to take on small projects such as portraitures, small gatherings, artwork documentation, pets, homes, cars, etc.
If you have an idea and you need someone with an artistic eye, contact me to discuss.
Tattoo Commissions
Off the bat: I don’t design tattoos, mainly because I’m not a tattooer. Tattooers go through a lot of work perfecting their craft. Part of their craft involves sizing, placement, and composition. I may be able to work with you on making the sickest arm piece we can think of, but if your local shop can’t handle the lifework, they’ll have to adapt it anyway to work with it. MOST of the time, this doesn’t come out like you initially thought it would. My advice is to go to your preferred shop, look at the artists’ work and see if they style matches what you want. After, you can ask them to work with you on making your idea come to life! They’ll know what to do.
If you would like to tattoo one of my designs, or a variation, from an existing artwork of mine please consider donating $25 to my Venmo account: @LFAlfonzo with a brief description of the artwork.
You’ll have my blessing and permission to select one design and have it permanently adorned on your skin one time. I ask that you please pay contribution each time you get a tattoo of my work.
Tattoo artists typically redraw the work to custom fit your body, and because of this the image size on the internet typically has been large enough. If for whatever reason, your tattoo artist needs a larger image for reference, please have your tattoo artist email me at alfonzozofficial@gmail.com and I will gladly provide them with one.
This is an honor system, and I would love to see photos of the finished piece!
To directly quote the amazing Christina Mrozik on this topic:
“Why?” you say. Think about it like this: It took time and careful thought to create that image you love, and when you get it as a tattoo, you’re paying a tattoo artist money for putting the image on your skin (beautifully I might add) but not paying the artist who created the image. “But I bought a print,” you say, “isn’t that the same thing?” No, and here’s why. Prints cost money to create, and time to sign, package and ship. Purchasing a print covers the cost of a print. But when you get a tattoo, you’re affecting the entire culture of art makers everywhere. Supporting the creation of that work which is forever licensed on your body should be worth something. To keep ideas coming we need to take care of our creatives and not assume that the honor of having art on your body is enough. When artists are struggling to simply get by, I prefer to respect their work and give them both credit and compensation. When I make my first million, free tattoos for everyone!
Other Commissions
Other commissions range from designing logos/signs for your company to painting wall murals.
Since each one is a tailored approach, contacting me via email is the best way.