How a commission works

You can write to me even if your idea is still vague. I usually reply within two days, we prepare a questionnaire together and I show you the sketch before moving on to colour.

What if I am not sure what to ask for?

Write to me what you have in mind, even if it is only the subject or the occasion.

Then we prepare a questionnaire together, to understand what the work is for and how you would like to see it finished. You tell me what you would like and what you would rather avoid, with yeses, noes and maybes. There is room for your wishes on style too.

We also talk about materials: I suggest several and answer every question you have.

I work so that the piece becomes a memory and gives form to the emotion you have in mind, with respect for your convictions.

What you need to provide, how long it takes and the starting price change with the type of work.

Choose the type of work

Portrait Icons Still lifes Digital Illustration

What you need to provide

A photograph of the person, even one taken with a phone, with the face uncovered. More than one is better.

I take the likeness from the photograph but do not copy it: I build the composition myself and show it to you in the sketch.

All about the portrait commission

How long it takes

From two days to two weeks, depending on the size and the technique. A small pencil portrait can be ready in two or three days.

I write the exact date in the confirmation letter, and the time runs from the deposit.

Price

From 100 €

An icon is an image of prayer, a secret between the one who prays and God, a window open onto the higher world. I write it with respect for the convictions of the person who commissions it.

What you need to provide

The subject (Christ, the Virgin, a saint, a feast), the size you have in mind and where the icon will hang.

Build your icon in the configurator

How long it takes

A 20×25 cm icon takes about two weeks in vinyl tempera and up to a month in egg tempera. Size and gilding weigh on it too.

I write the exact date in the confirmation letter, and the time runs from the deposit.

Good to know

Plywood with vinyl tempera costs less and takes less time.

A wooden board with a gesso ground and egg tempera is the traditional technique and takes longer. Only the board can have the cula, the recessed central panel, and gilding.

Price

Plywood: from 100 €

Wooden board: from 200 €

What you need to provide

The objects to paint and the mood you want. You tell me about them at the start, and I prepare the sketch from there.

How long it takes

I write the exact date in the confirmation letter, and the time runs from the deposit.

Good to know

Sizes from A4 upwards.

There is also the 20×20 cm miniature, my signature format.

Price

From 40 €

What you need to provide

The subject you want.

How long it takes

I write the exact date in the confirmation letter, and the time runs from the deposit.

Good to know

Prints have a small edition, with a single variant per subject.

A digital version is also available.

Price

From 30 €

The process

From the conversation to the work

Talking about the idea

Tell me what you would like, I reply with a proposal and a quote. Up to here you commit to nothing.
Deposit and timeline

The deposit confirms the order, and the agreed timeline starts that day.
Sketch for approval

I start painting only after you approve the sketch.
Finished piece and shipping

You see the piece in photos, and after the balance I ship it insured.

Frequently asked questions

Ordering and payment

How do I pay?

In two parts, by bank transfer. The deposit (caparra confirmatoria) confirms the order, and I order the materials and start the sketch. You pay the balance when the piece is finished and you have seen the photographs, before shipping.

How long does it take?

A 20×25 cm icon takes about two weeks in vinyl tempera and up to a month in egg tempera, a large piece or a set longer. I count the time from the day the deposit arrives and write the exact date in the confirmation letter. It also depends on the materials, which I order specifically for your piece.

What if I change my mind after ordering?

You can cancel, but I keep the deposit, because it covers the materials bought for you and the work already done. If I am the one who can't finish the piece, for a reason beyond my control such as illness, you choose whether to wait or get the deposit back.

Do I get an invoice?

Yes, one, for the full price of the piece. The deposit you already paid is part of that price. You find it printed in the parcel and, if you like, I also send it by email. To issue it I need your name, surname, tax code and address.

The sketch and the piece

Can you paint from a photograph?

Yes. I take the likeness from the photograph, but I don't copy it: I build the composition myself and show it to you in the sketch.

What if the sketch doesn't convince me?

Tell me what to change and I redo it. Two rounds of changes are in the price, each further round costs €25. I start painting once the composition convinces you.

What if I don't like the finished piece?

If it doesn't match what we agreed on size, materials or sketch, I correct it: the two-year legal guarantee applies. A piece painted according to the sketch you approved I can't take back just because you don't like it. For work made to order the law excludes the 14-day right of withdrawal for distance purchases.

Can the icon be blessed?

Yes. I suggest taking it to your parish, so the priest can bless it according to the rite of your Church.

Shipping

How much is shipping?

What the courier charges, insurance included, with no mark-up. I tell you the amount together with the balance. Packing is included in the price of the piece, and when I ship I send you the tracking number. I ship across the European Union; outside the Union any customs duties are paid by the recipient.

What comes with the piece?

The certificate of authenticity, which comes with every piece, and care instructions. For delicate materials such as pastel I add a dedicated sheet.

What if the piece arrives damaged?

Until delivery the risk is mine. Photograph the packaging and the piece and write to me, ideally within 48 hours. Then I restore it, paint it again or refund what you paid, and I handle the claim with the courier.

Tell me what you have in mind.