Commissioning a Pet Portrait

Commissioned portraits are original paintings in oil. Briana will consult with patrons in person or via e-mail, in order to create a composition for each piece. Some patrons have an exact idea of how the finished painting should look, while others will ask for the artist's suggestions until a final composition is designed.

Since Briana typically works from photographs, she recommends that patrons provide favorite photos of their animals as a starting point for the portrait. Once she receives your photos, she will create conceptual sketches for how the final portrait could look. This ensures that you are getting exactly what you want.

Choosing Your Photos

The first thing to do is find or take photos that capture your pet's personality. Briana’s expertise lies in interpreting and reproducing your photo in order to establish the characteristics and mannerisms of individual animals. Therefore, it is critical to provide clear, detailed, and accurate reference photos. The portraits she produces are unique paintings of “your pet” - not just any pet, but your pet. A portrait can be completed directly form existing photos, or pieced together from several different photos. If the portrait is to be of more than one pet, she can compose the painting from single photos of each pet.

Portrait Pricing

The price of a commissioned painting is based on the size and complexity of the piece. Briana charges per square inch and calculates price based on the paintings length and width, multiplied by the rate for complexity. A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required when she accepts your commission and before starting the painting. The remaining 50% is due upon completion. The entire process will generally run 10-12 weeks. Briana works on a first come first served basis, so if you are looking to have a painting completed by a specific date, please let her know as soon as possible.

Background Style Price Structure

Plain Background: $3.50 per square inch Detailed Background: $4.00 per square inch Multiple Pets in Portrait: $4.50 per square inch

*Price calculation: Length x Width x Complexity Rate (i.e. $5.00 or $6.00 per square inch)

Commissioning a Beaded Skull

Beaded skull commissions are not as straightforward as painting commissions. A number of factors must be considered in order to determine the price for a finished piece. Therefore, each potential beaded skull commission must be evaluated on an individual basis. Briana highly recommends consultations with prospective patrons before committing to a project. Feel free to contact her for a custom quote!

Prices for beaded skull commissions vary depending on the following factors:

• Size of the skull

• Cost of purchasing a skull (if one is not provided)

• Materials used for decoration

• Custom display stands or plaques

• Any repairs to the skull, teeth, horns or antlers

• Cleaning, bleaching or other surface treatments

Obtaining a Custom Price Quote

Please submit clear, detailed, and accurate reference photos and measurements of the skull you wish to provide for beadwork. Skulls must be in usable condition. Briana is able to make minor repairs and reconstructions, but weathered, crumbling bone is not salvageable.

Beadwork commissions are significantly cheaper if a patron provides the skull. However, owning or obtaining a skull beforehand is not necessary to begin the commission process. Briana has a network of hunters, taxidermists, and skull suppliers, so if you are interested in a particular type of skull, she may be able to find one for you.

She works almost exclusively with Czech glass seed beads in order to create her beaded designs. Decorative stones, stone beads, metal beads, etc. can be incorporated, but tend to be more expensive. Prices for these materials may vary due to fluctuating market prices.

About the Process

Crafting a beaded skull is a multi-stage process. Briana often begins by reinforcing a skull's cranium and sinus cavities with plaster to prevent cracking and to fill in natural gaps and holes in the bone. Once this is accomplished, she typically adds a layer of black acrylic paint to the bone's surface. A black background greatly accentuates the vibrant bead colors. To create the beaded designs, she uses a hooked needle to individually hand-glue each bead to the bone surface. It is difficult to force a predetermined design onto a three-dimensional surface, so she decides on a color scheme and a general design concept, but allows each pattern to develop spontaneously.

Beaded Skull Pricing

The price chart listed below is a basic estimate for the cost of the skull and Czech glass seed bead designs. Skull(s) provided by the patron will reduce the overall cost of the commission. Custom display stands or plaques and alternative decorative materials, such as stone beads, will cost extra.

A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required when Briana accepts your commission and before starting the beadwork. The remaining 50% is due upon completion. The entire process will generally run 10-12 weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the piece. Briana works on a first come first served basis, so if you are looking to have a beaded skull completed by a specific date, please let her know as soon as possible.

Beaded Skull Price Range by Animal Type:

*Each animal species listed in the chart is based on prior projects, but commissions are not limited to these skulls.