I love working on bespoke illustrations and creating pieces for all sorts of occasions , covering lots of different subjects. I always make sure I explain to people enquiring how it all works, so I thought writing a blog post would be a good idea to talk you through the process in a bit more depth.
STEP 1 - THE IDEA
Have you got an anniversary (the first wedding anniversary is paper so a bespoke illustration could be a perfect gift for that!) or special birthday coming up and need to find a beautiful and original gift? Have you recently moved house and want to remember your old house, or capture memories of a childhood home or favourite holiday cottage? Do you want to give a bespoke pet portrait of a beloved family pet or a favourite animal? Are you looking for a really unique and personal present for someone who has everything?
STEP 2 - GET IN TOUCH
So you’ve got an idea, either a vision of what you want or a vague seed of an idea that needs developing, the next step is to get in touch with me! Head over to my contact page or drop me an email and let me know any details you have so far. If you’d like to send photos at this stage thats often helpful so I can have a look at what you’re thinking about, but once we start a conversation I can help iron out any details with you.
If you have any particular dates in mind, now is the time to let me know. I generally advise allowing about 6 weeks for completion, but the earlier you get in touch with me the better as I can add you into my schedule and even get the piece done well in advance for you. This is especially important around Christmas when I get booked up quite quickly, so if you’re thinking about getting in touch, do so sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.
STEP 3 - DETAILS
The next stage is to decide on the size of the piece and if you would like any hand lettering underneath. A lot of the commissions I work on are on A4 paper with an illustration size of about 10cm x 12cm, but I have worked on everything from A6 (postcard size) to A1 (poster size). This will allow me to put together a cost for you and once you’re happy I can send over an invoice for payment.
STEP 4 - YOUR PHOTOS
Next I need your images (if you haven’t already sent them). This can be one photograph of exactly what you want me to illustrate, or it can be a collection of photos to show me what you’d like to see. For example you might have a photo of a house in winter, but you’d like it to be a summery bright illustration and the only photo you have from summer is poor quality or obscured, so you can send both and we can agree the details. That’s one of the great things about this process being completely bespoke, you have lots of scope to tweak details or add elements in to make the piece really special and personal.
Your photo(s) need to be high quality so I can really see the detail. Luckily most cameras and phones these days are pretty good, but I will struggle to work from blurred photos or if something is blocking the view. I don’t usually have any problems with what I receive, but I will always let you know if I have any concerns.
This is also the time to confirm any hand lettering you would like written underneath. This can either be in a modern calligraphy or a contemporary handwriting style and I will copy exactly from what you send me, so always double check the spelling and any dates you send over!
STEP 5 - SKETCHING
Once the invoice is paid and I have received the image(s) and wording from you I will get started! As I said I usually suggest allowing 6 weeks from receipt of images to dispatch, to allow me to fit in around other projects (and life!!), but the actual pieces tend to take about 7-9 hours.
First I measure out the page, where the illustration and text will sit. Then I sketch out the illustration in pencil, picking up any details we have discussed. Next I will email you a photo of the sketch for you to confirm you’re happy with it, before I begin the next step. Now is the time to tell me if there is anything you’d like to change, if you’re not happy with the composition or there are any other details you’d like to add in. Usually people tend to be happy with the sketch but I think it’s a really important stage, to give you an idea of what your illustration will look like.
STEP 6 - PEN
Once you’re happy with t he sketch I go over all the lines and details with a thin black fine line pen. This is done freehand to create a lovely loose feel, so any of the ruled lines from the sketch will end up slightly wobbly and free. This is where I have to really look again at your images to make sure I add the tiny details which may have been quite sketchy at the pencil stage.
This is usually where I add the text, whether calligraphy hand lettering or a contemporary handwriting style, doing it at this stage means I haven’t got too far if I make any mistakes! I used to add the writing at the very end but was always so terrified I would mess up the painting I had spent hours creating, so switching it around has been a much better idea!
Once I’m happy I rub all the pencil out and it’s onto the next stage.
STEP 7 - WATERCOLOUR
This is where the colour starts! Fist I add basic washes to start building up the different tones in the picture, before working into the detail. Watercolour is such a lovely medium to work with and I really like that its something you can keep layering up until you’re happy with the overall appearance.
Painting in lovely bright daylight is always my preference, but part of it tends to end up being in the evening using artificial light (especially on short wintery days!). I paint these in different sittings over a few days or weeks so I can keep coming back to them. I find trying to do it in one go not only is a really long session, but you get too caught up in it and it’s much better to come back another day with fresh eyes. I always make sure the final session is in daylight so I can really check the details, colour and depth.
Sometimes it’s hard to know when to stop, especially when I’m a bit of a perfectionist about my own work, so occasionally I’ll have to ask my husband or a friend their thoughts before I decide it’s really finished!
STEP 8 - READY TO GO
Finally I take a few photos of the piece before packaging it up ready to be sent out. I use compostable clear display bags made from biodegradable vegetable starch and recycled grey board backing to keep your picture safe. This is then put into a hard backed envelope, sandwiched between some cardboard (which I save from things we receive at home) and wrapped in brown paper ready to post. The packaging does vary slightly as I always reuse what we have at home, but the main thing is to make sure it reaches you in perfect condition!
I post all illustrations via Royal Mail special delivery which usually reaches you the next day before 1pm. This is by no means the cheapest postage option, but it’s important the package can be tracked and has cover for any damage caused in transit (I haven’t had that happen to any of my paintings yet, but just in case!).
If the picture is a gift, I can also send directly to the recipient and would include a little note from you. Usually people like to see it themselves first, but sometimes this is a great way to surprise someone. I would be happy to gift wrap the piece for you for a small additional cost and if you let me know prior to ordering we can add this on for you.
STEP 9 - ITS HERE!
This is the best part! Your beautiful bespoke illustration will arrive with you to keep for years to come or to give as that perfect special gift. I always love to hear that they’ve arrived safely and if they’ve been given as a present what the person has thought, so do get in touch to let me know!
STEP 10 - WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I am always SO grateful when people take the time to tell me that they or a friend or relative loved the illustration. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy creating these so much, it’s always such a personal experience and often capturing really special memories, so it means a lot to know I have done those justice! It is also invaluable for me as a small business to be able to share your feedback, either on my website or social media, so if you do have a moment to write a sentence or two in an email or a google review I would really appreciate it.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
I have included a few notes below on other things I get asked, but if you have any more questions about how the process works or any comments for me, you can get in touch here or add a comment below, I would love to hear from you.
How much does it cost? This varies depending on your requirements, but bespoke illustrations start from about £300 for an A4 piece.
Will you share it online? Most likely! If you follow me on instagram then you will know I often share work in progress on my stories and sometimes on the grid too. I also always photograph pieces and use some on my website or social media once they’re finished. If you are worried about someone seeing an illustration which is for a gift (perhaps they follow me too, well done them) please let me know and I will hold off sharing anything until after you have given that gift.
Do you frame pieces? I’m afraid not. I have done a few in the past, however framing is an art in itself and is not my speciality so I do have reservations about doing this for people. I might look into offering one or two very simple options of frames at some point, but for now unless its very specific circumstances I have to say no. That said I am always very happy to help with suggestions for frames or take a look at ones you’ve found that you want to check will work with the illustration, do just ask me.
THIS SOUNDS AMAZING!
If reading this has made the decision for you or if you’d like to make an enquiry you can get in touch here or head over to my contact page. Alternatively to have a look at some of my other work, click here head over to my illustrations page or click here to read my blog about how house portraits come together.
