Athletic Moments: SLOT DEPOSIT for a Custom Player Portrait

Want something lasting to commemorate your child's fleeting time in Little League or youth soccer, on their school basketball or cross country team, performing in their dance recital, etc.? Inspired by my own joy watching my son and his teammates play soccer and baseball, I'm delighted to offer custom artwork of your child(ren) playing/doing their sport. 

I'll work from photo(s) you'll submit, to create something really special for you, by hand. My focus is on capturing the essence of your athlete's trademark stance at bat, while dribbling, pitching, rounding the bases, holding a dance/yoga pose, etc. (but not a posed view of the athlete smiling at the camera, and not a photographic likeness).

NOTE: this artwork is for personal use only. If you'd like artwork for commercial uses, please email me so we can discuss arrangements.

The $100 cost for this listing is an initial slot deposit to start the process; it will be applied toward the full cost of the artwork (please see the Pricing section, below).

Process

1. Once you pay a slot deposit, I'll send you some tips for taking and/or selecting your reference photos (you must hold copyright to the images — I cannot work from professional photos).
2. You can then send me a handful that you think could work, and let me know if you have a preference for medium (see Medium section, below). I'll email back with my reactions and recommendations for the artwork.
3. Then we will both sign off on a plan documenting the specifics for the artwork and acknowledging my standard terms, and a 50% deposit on the total cost of the artwork will be due upon signing (minus the $100 slot deposit).
4. I will get to work creating! You may see evidence of the artwork's creation on my Instagram if you follow me @ErinThompsonStudio (I won't tag you unless you specifically ask me to). If this is to be a surprise gift, let me know if you'd prefer I only share close-up photos/video of my process until after you've given the gift.
5. Once the artwork is finished, I'll invoice you for the balance due, and once that's paid, you can pick up the artwork from my home by Lincoln Park (or if you'll need shipping, let me know ahead of time so I can determine shipping cost ahead of the final invoice).

Pricing

Below are price estimates for the complete cost* of works like those featured here in this listing, of one human subject, matted in a simple white mat (framing is not included). 

• Black ink line drawing: $600 (5x7), $950 (8x10)
• Black ink line drawing with splash of watercolor: $900 (5x7), $1250 (8x10)
• Pastel: $900 (5x7), $1250 (8x10)

I will try to honor these estimates, but if your project will require more work than the samples I'd displayed, I will let you know the cost of the added scope.

If you have multiple children and would like me to create separate portraits of each of them, you'll save with each additional portrait (5% off on 2, 10% off on 3, 15% off on 4) — this can be a good option for a few athletes on the same team, if each wants their own portrait, and parents arrange to go in on the project together and all sign the same agreement with one joint deposit.

If you desire more than one human subject to be featured within one work of art, I can give you a custom quote.

*NOTE: shipping is not included. If shipping is needed, I can let you know the shipping cost once the artwork is complete and I'm preparing to send the final invoice.

Turnaround Time

Typically, you can expect completed artwork within 2-4 months from when we sign a final agreement about the project, which will describe the specs for the artwork in detail. I may be able to deliver ahead of schedule, but I prefer to give myself ample time so as not to rush the creative process. If you were hoping for something sooner, please ask whether there's any flexibility for earlier delivery. 

Medium

Right now, I'm offering these portraits in black ink, black ink with a splash of watercolor, or pastel (see my various sample photographs). Different reference photos can lend themselves to different mediums, depending on the amount of detail in the photo, lighting, etc. After you pay your slot deposit, and you send me a handful of photos of your child at play in their sport, I will let you know what medium I'd recommend for the most workable option(s) among the photos you've sent, and you can decide if you'd like to proceed with that medium or send alternate photos that could work better in your preferred medium. Either way, I will apply your deposit to the total cost of the artwork.

Materials & Finishing

I use professional-quality inks, paints, pastels, and acid-free papers. Below are more specifics:

• ink-only: black pigment-based ink on mixed media paper.
• ink with splash of watercolor: black pigment-based ink on mixed media paper
• pastel: soft pastels on pastel paper (neutrals and blue toned options available), then sprayed with fixative to help protect the art from smudging (but it will still be fragile)

I will mat the finished artwork in a white mat with acid-free or PH-neutral materials (mats for 5x7 art have outer dimensions of 8x10; mats for 8x10 art have outer dimensions of 11x114).