commissions
Commissioning a scratchboard for yourself or as a gift is a great way to display a loved animal or to remember one who has passed. Learn how to order below.
How to submit a commission:
1. Initial contact
2. Send photo
3. Choose size portrait
4. 1st Payment due
5. Work will begin on scratchboard
6. Optional photo updates on progression sent to buyer
7. Photo of completed work sent to buyer
8. 2nd Payment due
9. Work sent out/ Receipt sent out
Initial Contact
If you are interested in commissioning a scratchboard please contact me at info@tristacampbell.com. If you already have a photo in mind you can attach it to your email.
Photo Information
I use photo references for all of my scratchboards. So it is very important to send photos that provide enough detail to work with. I will use your favorite photograph as my primary reference. Your commissioned scratchboard will resemble the photograph’s depth, form and composition. See right for an example. Additional photos will be used to help with features such as: hair length, texture, direction and details in the eyes and nose. Remember your commissioned portrait will represent the quality of photo you send.
Sending your photos via email is best. Digital photos can simply be attached to your email. Hard copies should be scanned and sent via email. If you choose to do this please scan them at high resolution. If you want to send your hard copies through the mail please contact me for mailing address. I recommend putting the photos into a plastic bag between two pieces of cardboard. Please label the plastic bag with your name and address. The hard copies will be returned with your board upon completion.
In the case that the animal has passed away and there are limited photos to work from please contact me and we can work together to find the best solution for your situation. Or if you have any questions regarding the quality of your photos please contact me.
Example Reference photos
Unusable reference photo:
The first image is too blurry, thus making it hard to find the detail in hair length and direction. The second image is too dark, which makes it hard to find the form in the dog’s facial structure and expression in the eyes.
Poor reference photo:
Photos that are slightly blurry (such as the first image), too light or dark could be used; however additional time may be needed. Also if a larger board is preferred I may use more interpretation and less photorealism.
In the case of a photo with red or green eyes additional photos would be needed to depict the eyes accurately. Again, I could use interpretation if I had to work solely from this image.
Ok reference photo:
Both of these images show enough basic detail to work from, though they are not high resolution. The light makes them a little fuzzy but are still very workable.
Good reference photo:
Photos like these are best for creating the most photorealistic scratchboards. Both images are shot from a close distance with good lighting and show good detail and contrast in the hair. In addition, they were also shot from the dogs level. The second image has some reflection in the eyes from a flash, but I can still see the detail I would need to scratch the image.
Tips for taking the best animal reference photos:
- Get down and take the photo from the animals level.
- When taking the photos get close enough to the animal so that little zoom is used as possible. This will allow more detail and a higher resolution photo.
- If your pet is easily distracted it may be handy to have someone distract them with toys or treats. To get the animal to look at the camera put the toy or treat close to the camera if possible.
- Take the photo outdoors if possible or in an area with a lot of natural light. Scratchboards rely heavily on shadowing and direction of light. Some of these photos end up working the best, as in the example below.
Sizes available and number of animals for each:
- 5in x 5in – 1 animal
- 5in x 7in – 1-2 animals
- 6in x 6in – 1-2 animals
- 8in x 10in – 1-3 animals
- 9in x 11in – 1-3 animals
- 12in x 12in – 1-4 animals
- 11in x 14in – 1-4 animals
Contact me for pricing. Note that multiple pets per board will be an additional charge. In addition, there are board size limitations for increased number of pets.
Payment information
I require a 50% nonrefundable deposit when I accept your commission and before starting the scratchboard. It is non-refundable for the sole purpose as it is nearly impossible to sell custom pet portraits. Once received I will begin working on the board in the order in which I receive commissions. When I have completed the project, you will receive a digital image via email for approval. Upon approval the remaining balance is due prior to shipment.
Forms of Payment: Payment can be made by either personal check or Paypal.
Shipping Costs
Priority shipping is already included in the price quote given for the board. Priority shipping takes about 2-3 days. If you need rush shipping please let me know as the price quote will be increased.
Work in progress
Please let me know if you would like to see your board’s progression and I will email you digital images through various stages.
Turnaround time
The turnaround time varies on the number of commissions I am currently working on and the size of the portrait you are looking at. Please inform me if you need the scratchboard for a special occasion to determine if I can meet the deadline. Please allow more time during the holidays due to an increase in commissions. Typical turnaround time is 3 to 8 weeks. Please contact me for a more exact turnaround time.
Copyright law
Please note that all original artwork is protected by copyright law. Therefore it may not be reproduced in any form (copied, photocopied, used for merchandise, etc) without permission from myself. If you would like prints, cards or other items.