Pop Art Portraits – Frequently asked questions

Pop Art Portraits. The example here is a Graphic style
pop art portrait of a lady and
man.

The process

How does it work?
In outline, the process works as follows:
1) You decide on the style, finish and size of portrait you want and fill in the request a quote form.
2) We email you a quote.
3) You send in the photo you want the portrait based on.
4) We then agree the composition and colours with you.
5) The artist starts work and two weeks later we come back to you with draft versions of the portrait for your approval.
6) You give us your feedback.
7) When you're happy with the image we produce the canvas and pack it up ready for despatch.
8) You receive it and hang it on your wall with a large smile on your face.

How long does it take?
Once we have your photo and have confirmed that we can indeed work with it, the process should take about 4 – 5 weeks. If you have a particular deadline to meet, please do let us know and we’ll do all we can to meet it.

How much does it cost?
The price of a portrait depends on four things - the number of people in the portrait, the size you want, the style you want and the finish that you choose. We do have a price guide, but to give you a firm quote, we need to know a couple more details. If you click on this link, this will take you to the Request a Quote form, which has a series of drop down boxes for you to fill in. In this way, we can capture your requirements (size, style you want, number of people in the portrait etc.) and have got your contact details all in one place. We will then email back with a firm price and details of what to do next.

Why can’t I see my picture in a number of different styles before choosing?
Each of our pop art style portraits are created by a graphic artist and - depending on the style - take anything up to 15 hours to complete. This isn’t simply a case of putting it through some sort of filter in Photoshop! As we're sure you can appreciate, we are not therefore able to show you how the portrait might look in different styles prior to commissioning.

How can I be sure I’ll be happy with the portrait?
We take great care to involve you at every step of the way. Before we start work, we discuss with you the composition, the style and the colours you want to feature. Only once this has all been agreed with you, does the artist start work. About 2 weeks after confirmation of your order, we will then come back to you with a draft version of the picture, showing how it would look using your chosen colour combination, but also showing you a number of alternative colour combinations that you might like to consider.

At that point you can give us your thoughts on the picture and any amendments you would like can be made. Only when you are completely happy with the image will we move on to the next stage and actually produce the canvas. You are in complete control, so you only get the portrait you are happy with.

Why do you take a 50% down paymet?
We take a 50% down payment because we have to invest a serious amount of time in developing each portrait and this shows your commitment to the project.

How do the artists create the portraits?
The majority of the styles – apart from the oil paintings – are done by Illustrators and Graphic artists. Each portrait can take up to 15 hours to complete and will involve several different techniques.
We have two artists who do our oil paintings – one specialising in pets and the other in people. They work in the traditional way.

Do you have a gallery I can come and visit?
To keep costs down we don't currently have a permanent Gallery space. It is something we are considering, but in the mean time, we do however exhibit at various shows and venues. To see where we are currently exhibiting, go to our Exhibitions page. If you'd like to pop in and see us at the London studio, it would be great to see you. Just give us a bell on 0207 384 1113 and we can arrange a time.

Do you do gift vouchers?
Funny you should ask, we do indeed do vouchers! These can be for any amount you choose and be redeemed on either the photos to canvas or the portraits. They are printed out on smart card with a message of your choice and can either be mailed to you, or direct to the recipient. We keep your details on the system for when they come to redeem the voucher and they can supplement the voucher if they want to buy a bigger picture.

The photos the portraits are based on

Will the photo I have work as a portrait?
As a basic rule, the better the photo we receive, the better the end result will be. As the artist is working only from the photo and needs to be able to zoom in on it to find the detail, it is very important that the shot is clear and in focus. As a guide, if you are unable to clearly see the colour of the person's eyes, then the shot is probably not suitable.

Labradour pet portrait. This pop art
pet portrait is a Graphic style portrait of a
labradour. A shot with the person's head and shoulders taking up most of the frame is really ideal. Do remember that the portrait is about the person, rather than the situation they are in, so rather boring head on shots work far better than action shots.
As the portrait will hang on your wall for many years to come, it's worth taking time to get the right photo for the artist to work from!

To help you in choosing your photos, we have put together a guide to getting the right photo that shows examples of the sorts of photos that make great portraits.

Sometimes it’s difficult to judge whether a photo will work, so if you're unsure about the photo, then please don't hesitate to send it in for us to take a look at. At the end of the day, the best person to judge if the photo is suitable, is really the artist.

Quality of the canvases

How durable are the printed canvases?
Very durable indeed. We print using specialist UV resistant inks and due to the Dye Sublimation printing process, the inks penetrate deep into the canvas rather than sitting on top of it. To test the durability we’ve poured boiling water onto the canvases and even put them through a number of cycles in the washing machine – all with no discernable colour change to the naked eye.
The ink will neither flake, scratch off the surface nor crack where the canvas is wrapped around the corner of the frame - as it can and does - with canvases printed using inkjet printing.

Are the canvases sealed?
No. Because of the printing process, you can't rub the colour off, so there’s no need to put a plasticised coating over the top as there is with poor quality inkjet ‘canvas’ prints. With a lovely matt finish and subtle grain, the canvas is actually proper fabric material, so has a far superior look and feel to any sealed ‘canvases’.

Delivery

Can you deliver to addresses outside the UK?
Certainly. We have worked with lots of customers outside the UK and delivery is no problem. We regularly ship pictures abroad and have successfully sent framed pictures to customers as far away as Singapore, Sweden, the US, Canada, Hong Kong and Australia to name but a few.
We can either send the canvas stretched around a wooden frame or in a poster tube.
If you are a customer outside the European Union, do remember that the prices shown in our price guide include UK tax, so would be lower for you. We will give you an export price based on the size and style you want when you request a quote.

How are the pictures delivered?
Within the UK, the portraits are normally delivered via Parcelforce 48 hour service. For customers outside the UK we will quote for delivery abroad on an individual basis and use the most competitive and reliable service we can find – normally either DHL, Parcelforce or UPS.

How do you make sure my canvas arrives safely?
To ensure your canvas reaches you in perfect condition, we take great care in packing it up. First the picture is covered in bubble wrap, before two sheets of MDF are then placed either side to prevent any puncture damage. The whole thing is then poly wrapped, packed in a cardboard box and firmly secured. See the photos below to see this process in action. This picture was actually being sent to Hong Kong.

All our Pop Art Portraits and photos on
canvas are very carefully packed up to ensure they reach you in perfect
condition.

Caring for your portraits

How do I hang the canvas?
The canvases are really quite light, so you can actually hang them very easily on just one or two screws in the wall. Although we do finish them all with eyelets, you may find it easier – as we do at home – to just hang them straight onto the screw.

How can I clean the canvas?
Should it get dusty, the best way to clean the canvas is with an appropriate vacuum attachment such as a curtain nozzle or a lint roller. You can also wipe them with a damp cloth with mild soapy water if they get marked. Avoid getting the frame soaking wet as it may warp. Do not use solvents.

Can I put it in a bathroom?
Under normal bathroom conditions the canvases should not be affected. You should avoid getting water on the wooden frame and although a small splash won't hurt, it’s best to try and keep it dry. If the bathroom is particularly steamy – or a swimming pool room for example - there is a slight danger that this could lead to warping of the frame. If you do intend to hang the canvas in this sort of environment, then we can use a synthetic stretcher bar to ensure that no warping takes place - there is a slight premium for this so when you request a quote, just let us know.