FAQs

How long did it take you to paint that?

The time it takes me to complete a painting depends on the size and level of detail. However, on average I take about 6-9 hours for a 24”x30” acrylic painting. (Plus the years of experience it took me to get to that speed).

I do usually track the hours for each painting which I often share on my Instagram.

Are your paintings created from memory?

No. I paint portraits based on photos. For extremely large paintings or for references that have an odd perspective I might use the “grid method” to lay out the outline first and get the proportions correct. However, I prefer to position the photo next to the canvas and just start painting.

I do not “paint from memory” as the best art advice I ever received was to “Paint what you see, not what you THINK you see”.

How much do you charge?

Please read this full page for an explanation on my prices linked HERE. In short though, my minimum is $375 for commissioned traditional portraits and $120 for digital portraits.

Do you do LOGOS?

Absolutely not. If you want to know why, please read THIS BLOG ARTICLE.

How long have you been painting?

I completed my first official portrait at just 3 years old and have always been a creative person. I also attended a performing arts school for 5 years. But I would say I did not start taking the craft seriously until about 2019. As of this writing that has been 5 years of serious practice.

Is art your only income/job?

Only in my dreams. As much as I would love to paint full time, I have not quite achieved that level of consistent art income to do so. However, since 2019 I have kept a promise to myself that if I needed to continue to work a “regular job” it would fit within a humanitarian capacity and therefore serve as an extension of my artistic vision to elevate the human experience. I currently work as a Project Coordinator at a non profit organization dedicated to alleviating poverty and promoting self-sufficiency in Summit County.

Noteworthy: I try to incorporate ALL of my experiences into my art, so in that sense, art is the only job.

Can you paint my dog?

Maybe. I specialize in human portraits but I do occasionally accept commissions for animals. However, I do not accept commissions for building, landscapes, cityscapes or still life paintings.

Do you offer classes?

For adults - not currently. For children, yes - FOLLOW THIS LINK. At any given time, I may not actively have a class posted but if you reach out about lessons, I can make arrangements.

Do you offer Sip and Paint activities?

I do not currently have any plans but more news on this coming shortly. Please stay tuned.

Do you offer shipping for artwork?

Technically yes but I do not recommend it. The risk for damage in transport is very high and the cost for postage is always rediculous. In the case of shipping, I require that the customer pay for shipping& handling and HIGHLY recommend purchasing insurance on the art for transport. If the customer opts out of insurance they must understand that I will not cover any damage that may occur during shipping. This can be hundreds of dollars in addition to the price of the art.

I am located in Akron, OH and can deliver free of charge to anywhere within 50 miles of central Akron.

Did you go to school for Art/Painting?

I have received some art education but not in an advanced capacity. I attended a performing arts school from 4th-8th grade (Miller South in Akron) and spent a lot of high school lunch periods in the art class but I did not receive a higher education in art. I received a bachelors degree from The University of Akron in psychology, with a minor in sociology, which has influenced the human themes within my art. I only took one art class in college (which barely counts as it was an art history class) and I have taken a few classes at the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center.

IF YOU DO NOT SEE YOUR QUESTION ABOVE, PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW. I WILL RESPOND DIRECTLY TO YOUR QUESTION AND ADD IT TO THE LIST TO HELP OTHERS.