Thank you for contacting me and for taking an interest in my work! I receive a lot of inquiries and messages about my artwork that it’s difficult to respond to each one. I’ve decided to put common Q & A here that I feel will be helpful. If I haven’t answered your question then please continue to scroll down to the contact form. Thank you. :)
Q: Can I use your work?
A: It depends on the purpose for that usage. If you’re simply sharing my work on a blog or social medial post, then feel free to. Please don’t remove my name or watermark that I place on there that directs people back to my site, this is how I make a living and it doesn’t help me at all when people remove any info about me and share it on their own site as their own. I’ve seen on numerous occasions where my artwork as gone completely viral and no one even knew I painted it. Always sharing who painted the piece really helps any artist out there. If you want to use my work for any kind of promotional, print or anything that has monetary gain then a license will need to be purchased. Not all my work is licensable as some of my originals I’m not willing to be used just for any product or promotion out there.
Q: Can I use your artwork as a tattoo?
A: That’s a flattering gesture that you’d want to put anything I created on your own skin, if there’s a piece I’ve done that speaks to you and you want it as a tattoo then go right ahead as long as it’s for that limited purpose only. Hiring me to do a custom piece is one thing but paying me to use something I already created as a tattoo for you just doesn’t feel right. If you like what I do and would like to support it any way, you could always leave a tip! :)
Q: Can I get a high resolution file of your artwork?
A: If you have hired me to do a custom piece then you will get the original high resolution file of the work, if it’s something I’ve already painted unless otherwise stated, the answer will always be no. The amount of work people take from my galleries is staggering, and these are low res copies. I’m not willing to release original high resolution copies of my work unless if it’s one of my distributors.
Q: Will you alter an existing painting to suit my idea?
A: If a painting is already completed and it is being displayed in my gallery then the answer is no. I like to keep original ideas just that, original. I’ve done this in the past where I’ve done a painting to honor someone or an idea and people hired me to use the same idea to make it into their own and have regretted it. New ideas can always be created, original works and ideas are to remain in that state unless I feel the need to change it or enhance it.
Q: Will you donate your work?
A: The short answer, no. The long answer, if there’s one thing I’ve learned is people will keep taking from you until you have nothing left to give. I have donated plenty of work throughout the years and have been taken advantage of numerous times from my generosity. I choose to give on my own terms now. If I give my work, it’s going to be to someone or something that really speaks to me. The thing is, I would never ask people to give their hard work to me for free so it’s really surprising the amount of free work requests I get on a regular basis.
Q: Will you paint something in another artist’s style?
A: The short answer, no. :) My style is what is unique to me, asking an artist to paint like another is like asking someone to be something they are not. It’s taken me years to get where I am today, it’s what makes my style me.
Q: Will you work on a contingency?
A: No. I have done this way too often, worked on a project for years under the promise of ‘What if’ and what if doesn’t pay the bills. If you believe in your project, you should factor the artwork into your budget.
Q: Why aren’t you responding?
A: I receive countless messages and emails on a daily basis. I don’t have a PR team, would be great if I did but it’s just me. To give you an idea if I respond to just 6 emails it takes hours of my time because it’s never just a yes or no response. I usually like to give a thoughtful and detailed response but this also elicits a lot of follow up questions. So if it’s questions like the ones listed in this post, I tend to not respond. Anymore I look for specific inquiries that are mutually beneficial. Please don’t take this as me being harsh or not wanting to help others because that is far from who I am. I just have to budget my time wisely.
Q: Do you do commissions?
A: I am always interested in working on new ideas and projects however, there are times when my schedule doesn’t allow it. Please feel free to contact me and we can discuss things further. I get this a lot and people ask how much I charge. The answer is never the same as each project is different. Some are color, some black and white, some very simple and some overly detailed. As a blanket statement without even knowing your project, expect to pay at a minimum of $40/hour.