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Top Ten Tips For Commissioning an Oil Portrait
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Ask what type of canvas the artists are painting on. Some lower grade portrait and reproduction artists use synthetic canvas. Oil paints loosen off this type of canvas over time, degrading the quality of your painting. A high quality natural canvas is key to preserving the luster of your oil painting.
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Make sure your oil painting is hand painted. Read the small print on sites and look for impostors. Many reproduction companies and portrait companies will airbrush their paintings or computer generates them. In a true hand painted work, the artist's brush strokes will be visible.
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Look for artists that will allow you to make changes to the oil painting before it is finalized. Typically portrait artists will allow you to see a draft of the oil painting before it is shipped to you. Make sure that you can make multiple changes if needed and at no additional charge.
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Look for companies that offer a satisfaction guarantee. Although this may seem assumed, some art dealers will sometimes take an administration fee, or only offer a partial refund, or in the worse case, no refund at all. A reputable art dealer will ensure that you are completely comfortable in the purchase of your oil painting.
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Oil portraits should be painted in high quality oils. Make sure you identify that your painting is created using quality oil paints.
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Don't be afraid to ask! A respectable art dealer will be available and will accommodate your needs. Your questions are probably those of many others commissioning portraits.
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Portfolios are a great way to choose the artist to create your portrait. Look for online portfolios that display a variety of subjects. Sometimes you can also request an artist that is specialized in the subject matter of your oil painting.
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Can you make contact with a representative from the company? Having someone available to guide you through the drafting process of commissioning a portrait is a huge help.
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Shop around and compare prices. Although you may find an artist with lower prices, the price can often reflect the quality. An art dealer producing hundreds of lower priced paintings may not consider the quality of their work.
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A good indication of a company's professional nature is the online site they maintain. Someone willing to invest in a user friendly site for their customers often maintains high customer service. They will also be more reliable in providing quality work and shipping your painting to you quickly.
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