Dan's portraits combine high tech and traditional methods of painting.

The high tech component of his work uses a computer to start out the creative layout of the portrait. During this phase, he tries out many different ideas and posts them on a Web site for his clients to review. There's a lot of opportunity for input and feedback when the design of the painting is online.

Once a design is settled on, Dan transfers the digital base image to canvas, which is then stretched and treated. He then adds details, washes and patinas by hand with acrylic paints.

The end result is an amazing painting that has texture and natural hand-made details. But because the painting was designed digitally, it's possible leverage the digital work to make more than one portrait. Dan calls these additional paintings "in-law portraits" -- hand-painted duplicates that are unique from each other but can be made available at an affordable price.

Dan can work from an existing photograph* to create a portrait that is quite different from the original, if it is not copyrighted. He can also work with your photographer** if he or she is amenable to such an arrangement. And of course Dan can also arrange to create a photo shoot with you***, if that works best.

Here's a basic accounting of how Dan's process works for the average commission:

EVALUATION PHASE

• Client to complete Commission Form that provides information about the portrait -- the people in it, the event, where, when, etc.
• Initial phone consultation with Dan
• Letter of agreement signed and sent to HearthWorks with one-half of the commission fee
• Photo(s) sent to HearthWorks by client, if needed, or
• Consultation with photographer, if arranged
• Photoshoot
• Second phone consultation: photographic materials evaluated; plan of action determined

DESIGN PHASE

• Portrait layout is produced digitally as a base from which to paint
• Digital portrait presented online
• Client review and consultation
• Agreed upon changes and suggestions are implemented digitally
• Second online presentation
• Client review and sign-off. Additional changes from this point are at an hourly rate.

PAINTING PHASE

• Portrait base is transferred to canvas; painting commences
• Painting is photographed and shown online, or client arranges to see it in person
• Second half of the commission fee is received
• Completed painting is shipped to client

 

*When basing a portrait on amateur photographs, it is important that the photo have no copyright limitations, and that it is essentially an amateur image. Amateur photos vary in image quality, so depending on the image, the quality of the portrait will be affected.

**Working with professional photographers assumes that the photographer is amendable to working with Dan using his or her photographs. The photographer is offered a usage fee for basing the portrait on his or her images. This arrangement is more expensive and varies according to the photographer.

***In the case of photo shoots, Dan's travel arrangements will be determined and their costs added to the commission fee.