FAQ
A Place to go to for All your Questions
If there happens to be a question you have that actually isn't answered here, please send me an email. I will be happy to answer your question/s for you!
1. How do your prices compare and how do you determine your prices?
All drawings are completed on High Quality Paper using Faber-Castell Polychromos Oil Color Pencils. Polychromos artists' pencils are valued internationally by professionals for their unsurpassed quality. The high quality standards of the Polychromos colored pencils has High quality pigments of unsurpassed light-fastness and brilliance (meaning they will have excellent pigmentation and last for a really long time).
I have done extensive research on my competitors and for the level of quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction, you will not find more fairly priced artwork elsewhere. (This does not mean I under-value my artwork).
Believe it or not, but the prices of quality art have always been considered 'pricey' or 'too expensive' to a person who is not familiar with the pricing of artwork.
The cost of supplies in order to create the art ranges into hundreds and hundreds of dollars.
Many artists will give you a quote based on how detailed your request is, how much time they think they will take to do the commissioned piece, include the price of their supplies, and then provide you with a value.
Some others will charge a specific amount per square inch or linear square inch plus the cost of supplies. Other artists will set a base price and go up from there.
I charge two ways depending on what it is you are ordering.
For work that is extremely detailed (fan art) I will charge a fixed price per linear square inch. Many other artists are charging $18-$20 per linear inch so their pricing is on the higher end, however, you are also purchasing the experience and the name of that artwork (and well-deserved too). I am not as well-known in the industry as other artists so my artwork is on the lower end while I begin emerging into the industry.
For my other works of art, I begin with a base price meaning, I start at the lowest price available and as your picture grows in size or detail, the price then starts to go up.
Pricing
1. Do you offer Discounts or Promotions?
YOU BET!! Who doesn't like deals after-all!!
You can get the deals sent to you first by 'subscribing' to the monthly newsletter. This really is non-spamming and gets sent 1x/month.
You can also 'like' the Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/LCArtDesign to stay-up-to-date with our promotions.
There are even quarterly giveaway contests for commissions booked!
2. Do you arrange payment plans?
Of course! I do my best to make my artwork as affordable as possible!
All of the artwork requires a 25% non-refundable deposit before the initial drawing begins.
The remainder of payments may be broken down as best fit your needs!
Payments will be set at a 'Start Date' of your Choice and then can be paid in installments of:
Full, Half and Half, Weekly, Bi-weekly, Monthly, or we can set-up a custom plan. If you're not sure which choice you would like, you can also tell me you would like to receive a breakdown of what each installment type would look like. Your invoice will show the Due Date and Installment Price on your invoice and you even have the option to pay it off in greater amounts to get it paid down faster!
2. How do I pay?
Payments are made directly through Paypal. (It is 100% totally secure and you don't even need an account).
An email will be sent to you on behalf of Paypal containing a direct link to the invoice to make a secure payment. All payment types are accepted.
When you make the payment via Paypal, the charges are usually shown as pending to your account right away!
If you are refunded money from LCArt, the refund occurs immediately on my end, you will receive a notification for it on your end, but you will not receive your funds back in your account right away-it does take time.
3. Do you charge for shipping?
Yes.
Shipping starts at $20.00 and depends on size, if you have it framed or not, and if it is insured.
The order form will ask you if you would prefer a 'standard' or 'insured' shipping type.
I will get a quote from the carrier and get back to you.
Please be aware that any items set for shipping are in pristine condition when they are sent out. I cannot be held responsible for damages in transit..
Note: I do pack all artwork as best as possible to prevent any damages to occur during shipping!
1. How long does it take for you to do a drawing?
The average drawing may differ depending on the product chosen, the level of detail, if it is black and white or color, or the size.
It takes between as little as 10 hours to a week, sometimes more, for a client's drawing.
2. Can't you do the artwork digitally? Wouldn't that be more affordable?
To me, pencils allow for the drawings to become more special and unique. Everything these days are done on computer which does allow for more print distribution and artistic layering, but also takes away the rarity and concept of traditional art.
I am not a digital artist, I am a Fine Artist.
3. Are the caricatures just faces on a pre-drawn background?
Not at all! My caricatures are based on the scene you describe and the photos you provide.
Pricing
Money
Time
Time
1. Can I change or add something to my drawing after I approve the sketch?
I may or may not be able to accommodate your request depending on the current state of composition. I usually do one to several sketches and request the deposit not to be paid until the sketch has been approved. Once the drawing process has started, I cannot alter or change any areas that have already been completed. It is very rare that a customer will request I add or change something after the sketch has been approved.
1. What happens if I do not like the drawing!
I pride myself with customer satisfaction and I care deeply about satisfying my client!
I do work very closely with my clients to do as many drafts as needed before the drawing process is initiated in order to achieve complete customer satisfaction.
In the extremely unlikely event you do not like the drawing, I will first try to rectify the problem. If no compromise can be met, I will issue a refund minus the cost of the deposit and we can part ways. (That has not happened yet)
Changes
Disputes
1. Can I use my original photos or do I have to use digital?
It is preferable to use high quality digital photos in order to capture more facial details. If you have originals and have access to a scanner, scan the originals at the highest DPI Setting. If you do not have access to a scanner, please let me know and I will tell you where to send them to, they will be returned in the exact same condition).
Please note::
If you are using a low quality or low resolution photo, it will be more difficult to determine the exact facial characteristics and I am sometimes left to imagine what should be there. Your end result may look completely different and not what you may be expecting unlike if you were to use a high-quality DSLR.
Does that mean you shouldn't submit your request?- No. Let's work on it together and evaluate the situation/issue.
2. Does everyone need to be in the same photo?
Not at all! I can use separate photos of everyone to create a group picture!
3. Do I send you one photo of each person or is multiple photos better?
Through experience I have learned that sending one photo is fine, but sending multiple photos is better! With multiple photos, I can compare facial features between photos for similarities and differences. Sometimes a photo just doesn't work for the composition of the artwork and another photo, even the one you didn't expect, to work is what really made the drawing!
Photos
1. How do we communicate?
I do all of my communication directly through email.
I find this to be the easiest way to get in touch.
Also, since everything is written through type, I can easily reference the email conversations to locate requested important specific details regarding your drawing!
Talking
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