FAO pet-lovers

[missyburd]

Ok, bit of a shameless plug but some of you may remember a thread I put up a long while back about some sketches I do for friends. Well I've now set some tiny wheels in motion and have an advert which is up in just a couple of shops at the minute.

Although this is basically a plug for anyone interested in pictures (obviously at reduced rates for you lovely orgers ;) ) I'm also happy to hear any advice you may have regarding getting my foot in the door, so to speak. I'm already in the middle of a pussycat piccie which I'm going to pop into a gallery just to see how that goes.

Here's a few examples of what I do...

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/530/bill3.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5007/shandy.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/2373/ponyqrd.jpg

A question also, some of you may be aware I recently graduated, would it be too bigheaded of me to put the letters after my name now that I own them and all? Seeing as the degree is animal related too.

Cheers, MYC xx

EDIT: I have a separate email account set up for people interested. If you would like a drawing then give me a PM and I will give you the email address for you to send a photograph. x

[Dave20046]

How much for steve? :p
4972

[Shellywoozle]

You certainly have a tallent, great pics.

How much do you charge, I am interested :)

[Spiderman]

i used to get reults like that with my old etch-a-sketch.

Well thats what the add promised anyway, you can imagine my dissapointment :(

[dirtydog]

How much for steve? :p
4972


I'll give you £3, he'll make a lovely stew!!!!












Oh right I see what you meant now ;)

[dirtydog]

Cracking pics ther missyc


As for putting the letters after your name, I would! You've worked hard for them so why shouldn't you use them

[Dave20046]

I'll give you £3, he'll make a lovely stew!!!!


Oh right I see what you meant now ;)
You almost just had a deal! Forgot he was behind me and almost trod on him.

Oh and I agree r.e the letters.

[missyburd]

Regarding prices I generally go by A5, A4 and A3 sizes, head portraits being on A5, full body on A4 etc. A full body portrait takes a lot more work so obviously more is charged for those.

Prices vary from £50 for an A5 drawing (which are generally head portraits) up to £110 for an A3 detailed one.

[DarrenSV650S]

Should of been an artist

[appollo1]

you are obviously very talented MYC and good luck - definately put the letters after your name. It can be used to get a conversation going as a lot of people wont know what they stand for. :)

[TEC]

Great pics :)

And Dave, you really shouldn't be feeding Steve chocolate ;)

[dawn07]

Clever girl. Very talented. Well done you!:p

[GeneticBubble]

This would make a cracking birthday present for mum if i framed it :D how long does an average A4 portrait take?

[missyburd]

This would make a cracking birthday present for mum if i framed it :D how long does an average A4 portrait take?

About 8 hours. Varies a bit but that's a rough estimate.

[GeneticBubble]

About 8 hours. Varies a bit but that's a rough estimate.

Expect in the near(ish) future to have a pm from me :D

once i can remember when my mums birthday is...bad i know O:)

[kitkat]

ooh lovely pics MYC. Well done on getting your letters too. This would be an ideal xmas pressie for my mum. We are going to visit her next week. Will try and take a decent pic of the dogs. Ill pm you the pic and if you could give me a price that would be great.

[missyburd]

ooh lovely pics MYC. Well done on getting your letters too. This would be an ideal xmas pressie for my mum. We are going to visit her next week. Will try and take a decent pic of the dogs. Ill pm you the pic and if you could give me a price that would be great.
No probs. If you want me to do more than one pet in a drawing that's fine too.

This is an actual gift I did for two very good friends of mine, the full body portrait is their current dog and the four heads hovering above are the dogs they've had in previous years.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1937/62/4/879760552/n879760552_5483042_6796.jpg

[davepreston]

ok myc your getting some cash off me my only question is do you want to take the photo's of marigold when your down or me take them and give them to you

[shonadoll]

Wow, they are fab!

[phil24_7]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Your pics are amazing. May have to get you to do one of Milo at some point.

As for the letters. It's a personal choice really, I chose not to, but it may be appropriate for you.

[missyburd]

Thanks for the nice comments guys :oops: And it's a good sign that some of you are thining about requesting drawings, means my pricing isn't too extortionate :-P

[phil24_7]

Didn't even look for the pricing to be honest!

[Dave20046]

Thanks for the nice comments guys :oops: And it's a good sign that some of you are thining about requesting drawings, means my pricing isn't too extortionate :-P
Think the pricings probably just about right my mate charges about the same for just bigger than A4 size canvas paintings. But it all comes down to the time put in.

[missyburd]

Think the pricings probably just about right my mate charges about the same for just bigger than A4 size canvas paintings. But it all comes down to the time put in.
Well that's the thing. It amazes me how much time I can and will spend on these things, part of me being a perfectionist and the other not wanting to do a halfarsed job. Animal fur is an immensely detailed thing, in pencil particualrly, and it has to be just right!

[missyburd]

Here's one I've just finished, then you will have seen dog, horse and cat :-)

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1929/dscf1273t.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5691/dscf5505.jpg

[hovis]

can you do people?

[missyburd]

can you do people?
Funny you should ask, I have had a request to draw someone's late father as a gift for the mother at Christmas, need to have a crack at it but I don't see why not. I have drawn the spannermonkey once before (from a live drawing while he was on the laptop which was interesting!) but that's about really as my main focus is animals.

[Von Teese]

Very talented!!

I think we will be considering horsey portraits for christmas presents too :)

[ArtyLady]

Wow you have been working hard! :cool: I particularly like the cat :D I can't draw in pencil at all so well done you!

[missyburd]

Thanks AL and VT :-)

This is only a suggestion mind but if people want anything as a birthday or xmas present, the best thing to do is to tell me early, I tend to put aside a day for a full portrait and if there's a backlog...! :-) (Of course there even being a backlog is being optimistic but heyho!)

[kitkat]

definitely want a pic for my mums xmas. she has 3 dogs, 2 king charles and 1 working cocker. Its unlikely that I will be able to take pic of the three of them together so it will be individual pics. Im going to visit next week and will email you some pics the week after to see if they are good enough for you.

[missyburd]

definitely want a pic for my mums xmas. she has 3 dogs, 2 king charles and 1 working cocker. Its unlikely that I will be able to take pic of the three of them together so it will be individual pics. Im going to visit next week and will email you some pics the week after to see if they are good enough for you.

I can draw the three dogs and merge them into one picture if that's what you meant? No problem if so. Or if you'd rather they were separate drawings then that's fine too.

[missyburd]

I have now edited the OP, PM me for an email address if interested :-)

[missyburd]

Ok this is my latest one. My own dog on A3, to be put in a gallery this week, yippee!

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3697/dscf5618r.jpg

[DarrenSV650S]

That really is brilliant

[sv-robo]

Ok, bit of a shameless plug but some of you may remember a thread I put up a long while back about some sketches I do for friends. Well I've now set some tiny wheels in motion and have an advert which is up in just a couple of shops at the minute.

Although this is basically a plug for anyone interested in pictures (obviously at reduced rates for you lovely orgers ;) ) I'm also happy to hear any advice you may have regarding getting my foot in the door, so to speak. I'm already in the middle of a pussycat piccie which I'm going to pop into a gallery just to see how that goes.

Here's a few examples of what I do...

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/530/bill3.jpg

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5007/shandy.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/2373/ponyqrd.jpg

A question also, some of you may be aware I recently graduated, would it be too bigheaded of me to put the letters after my name now that I own them and all? Seeing as the degree is animal related too.

Cheers, MYC xx

EDIT: I have a separate email account set up for people interested. If you would like a drawing then give me a PM and I will give you the email address for you to send a photograph. x
Kinell!! i thought i was a half decent artist,got nothing on you though....brilliant!! & good luck with your venture :thumbsup:

[Von Teese]

Ok this is my latest one. My own dog on A3, to be put in a gallery this week, yippee!

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3697/dscf5618r.jpg
I want it, its amazing!!
MYC...you have true talent, Im totally jealous!

[Dave20046]

Ok this is my latest one. My own dog on A3, to be put in a gallery this week, yippee!

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/3697/dscf5618r.jpg
'kin wicked.

[phil24_7]

That pic of your dogs is f u c k i n g amazing (sorry mods for bypassing the swear filter, but that pic deserves it), so life like, almost looks like an arty-farty black and white photograph!

Top work.

[missyburd]

Kinell!! i thought i was a half decent artist,got nothing on you though....brilliant!! & good luck with your venture :thumbsup:
Aww fankoo :oops:
I want it, its amazing!!
MYC...you have true talent, Im totally jealous!

If you mean the dog, definitely not :-P If you mean the picture then a print would be negotiable :-D

[Von Teese]

Both ;)

Ask Gruntygiggles, Stretchie had to do a head count of her dogs when we left the AR just to make sure we hadnt stolen them.

[Jayneflakes]

Miss YC, your drawings are fantastic and you are so very talented. :winner:

Just make sure you do actually charge what you are worth, I know two local freelance artists and both of them frequently get asked for works to be completed and then people complain about the cost. Your prices are very fair given the amount of work actually you put in, just make sure you stick to your hourly rate. I can feel a new business starting here, so good luck. :D

As for your letters, go on use them. I made sure my last bank used mine after they were quite unhelpful during my degree. When I swapped to my current bank they said I should still use my letters because of the achievement it represented. So go on use yours and be proud of your achievement. My Mum still puts mine on letters to me though, which is very sweet. :rolleyes:

Best wishes,
Jayneflakes B.Sc. Hons. PGCE/PCET and :smt097 to Barclays Bank!

[Von Teese]

My Mum still puts mine on letters to me though, which is very sweet. :rolleyes:

Awww my Mummy used to do that :smt056

[Speedy Claire]

Fantastic pics Maria... you are very talented and best of luck with the venture

[instigator]

One word.....incredible. :cool:

[hovis]

Funny you should ask, I have had a request to draw someone's late father as a gift for the mother at Christmas, need to have a crack at it but I don't see why not. I have drawn the spannermonkey once before (from a live drawing while he was on the laptop which was interesting!) but that's about really as my main focus is animals.would be good to see your atempt at humans, as the animals look spot on,

oh, and are you sure you drew all of them? as the signiture is differant on some;)

[yorkie_chris]

oh, and are you sure you drew all of them? as the signiture is differant on some;)

I will attest to seeing all of these in progress :smt098

[missyburd]

would be good to see your atempt at humans, as the animals look spot on,
Aye, I am indeed curious about that one myself, we shall see!
oh, and are you sure you drew all of them? as the signiture is differant on some;)

Quite sure cheeky! :rolleyes::p

Oh and thanks for the comments guys, you're all giving me a lot of confidence in my work, tis indeed helping me in this big wide world!! :-)

[missyburd]

Latest commissions:

A3

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs218.snc1/8528_310320380552_879760552_9095568_6281264_n.jpg

Three heads on A4

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs218.snc1/8528_316460860552_879760552_9175722_6511377_n.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs238.snc1/8528_316460870552_879760552_9175724_2678069_n.jpg

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs238.snc1/8528_316460880552_879760552_9175726_420361_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs218.snc1/8528_316460895552_879760552_9175728_5152848_n.jpg

[Bluewolf]

.

[kitkat]

Im the three head (well not personally, but the pics are of my mums three spaniels), should get the original in the post soon and Im sure it will look even better in real life. My mum will love it. 1 more xmas present sorted. Thanx Maria you have done a brilliant job, good communication during the sketching process, hope your artist lifestyle takes off. thanx again

[missyburd]

Thanks kitkat, pleasure doing business with you! :-D

[zobers]

You couldn't do one for me could you? Those are fab and I am sure my mum would love one.

[missyburd]

PM sent :-)

[missyburd]

Latest commission, a white and black collie. Let me know what you think about the "white" fur, I'm a little unsure about it!

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs008.snc3/11541_357954075552_879760552_9815044_4882710_n.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs028.snc3/11541_357954065552_879760552_9815043_114060_n.jpg

[ArtyLady]

White fur is never easy - especially in pencil! I think you need less lines and more solid areas with shading to add form, to stop the fur looking like a series of lines. If you look at the white fur on this (I know its pastel but gives you an idea) you will see its more in tonal blocks.
- Actually looking again - you've definately got it around the back of the neck and ears, just need to work more on the rest.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3200/bordercolliewebfor.jpg

[missyburd]

Thing is the dog in the reference photo had lots of shadows showing up in the fur so the rest of the body is a shade darker on purpose. I think if I went much lighter with the shades then a lot of the detail would be lost and I wouldn't feel the buyers would be getting their money's worth if you know what I mean.

Your collie is lovely Lorna, beautiful expression :-)

[ArtyLady]

I think having one black patch and the rest being white certainly doesn't help - white fur with pencil will always be difficult because of getting the right contrast.

I think the only thing you can really do here to bring out the white would be to put some very dark shading behind him (just against the white fur make sure it fades back to white around his black bit) to bring out the white.

hth :D

ps - he was one of my sister's dogs (RIP) - the most doleful eyes you've ever seen!

[missyburd]

Hmmm I can see how that would help but shading the background is not my style. All the work the people who have commissioned me have seen is simply the animal in black and white, nothing much else in the background. I tend to include a taste of the back ground such as the tiles in this one just to give a better idea of perspective but anything more is a bit too much, in my drawings anyway!

[ArtyLady]

Hmmm I can see how that would help but shading the background is not my style. All the work the people who have commissioned me have seen is simply the animal in black and white, nothing much else in the background. I tend to include a taste of the back ground such as the tiles in this one just to give a better idea of perspective but anything more is a bit too much, in my drawings anyway!

I would draw another one and give it a try - its probably gonna be the only way you can successfully draw an all white dog on white paper so it's worth experimenting with - then in future you can explain to the customer before you start that that's what you'll have to do. I always tell my customers they will get a dark animal on a lighter background and vice versa. Then if you're not happy then stick with the one you've done? :)

[missyburd]

I would draw another one and give it a try - its probably gonna be the only way you can successfully draw an all white dog on white paper so it's worth experimenting with - then in future you can explain to the customer before you start that that's what you'll have to do. I always tell my customers they will get a dark animal on a lighter background and vice versa. Then if you're not happy then stick with the one you've done? :)
Aye the customers know they'll be getting a more grey and white dog :lol: I'm just adding darker tones to the shadows and I think they're making a difference. I'll add a bit more ground shading too...

[zobers]

Completely forgot about this, will send photos tonight if that's still alright. Sorry!

[missyburd]

Right this is the new improved version which I am a lot happier with and I now feel it's finished.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs028.snc3/11541_358534525552_879760552_9824030_8362522_n.jpg

Look forward to your email Zobers :D

[DarrenSV650S]

It's a lot easier to see the detail in the updated one. The original shading looked a little too similar so it was hard to pick out details. But that's maybe just because it's on the pc.

Good work. It looks great. The face particularly, looks like it could be a photo

[missyburd]

Cheers Darren. The face I love, although could always be better! I know what you mean about it all being similar shading, I used harder pencils to keep the whole drawing lighter but the darker tones I realise are needed to help the lighter areas stand out all the more. Tis always a learning curve and this dog was a great challenge being so white!

[rowdy]

I think you've done another cracking job.
How do you deal with smudging, do you use a spray as you go or just cover your drawing with a piece of paper (you can tell what I've been doing).
What are your prefered pencil degrees?

[missyburd]

Rowdy: I too use a folded bit of paper kept in place with a bulldog clip. Some people use a sheet of acetate but I'm a skinflint :-) I don't use pencils harder than your normal HB, they don't flow as easy but HB is good for fine detail. I use the Bs, love the softer pencils and the darker tones. The fur of the body in the first version of this collie was all HB, not something I would usually do but I was experimenting a bit and HB is a lighter tone so in my head better for lighter fur. But I think the darker tones were definitely necessary in retrospect!

[lee67]

cracking pics missy'...u have talent for sure, however..my daughters new printer/scanner thingymebob can replicate the exact thing(lifelike pencil sketches from a photo)..(not saying yours are)..anyways goodluck with em;)

[Spanner Man]

Good afternoon all.


Very nice work Miss YC.

I'm sure that you'll get some business, despite there being several other artists offering the same service.

I paid £125 for a 14x12 portrait of my old dog, after he went. Which I considered to be good value, as the artist had captured the old Beggars expression to a tee.


Cheers.

[missyburd]

Cheers Spannerman, that's about my going rate too. Business is steady so I'm happy :)

[tigersaw]

Everyone,
This old thread deserves a new bump. Maria has recently finished a dog portrait for me, I'm biased but I think its her best work yet.
If you want to get a pet owner a gift that will melt their heart, look no further.

[missyburd]

Wow, that's a thread resurrection and a half :lol:

I've done a fair few now since Billy and that horse :D

[Samnooshka]

Very talented girlie! Love looking at your work.

[Nobbylad]

That's amazing work!

Mind you, riding 750 miles in 2 days on a D-reg Honda Vision also takes some doing. So why don't you sponsor me when I do it in a few weeks for charity?

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=170804