Commission Information
Current commission turnover time is 2-4 weeks
I love to work with art/nature lovers on personal, business or educational projects!
To get started, tell me a little bit about your project with the Contact form. I will email you back with additional questions, information and quotes. I look forward to working with you!
What I do - See images below for samples
-I specialize in painting Florida native plants and animals: I find it easier than painting non-native species, plus I love them, and think it is important to have more art about local native species. I prefer to find or observe the plants or animals in person, because it often helps me to depict them most accurately. I actively explore my local natural areas, learn about local species, and keep a bank of photographs of various plants and animals to help me do this. If a project includes a plant or animal I haven't seen or photographed before, I will often work with others to locate it. This is not always necessary if reference photos and descriptions are provided to me or can be accurately located elsewhere. Knowing and loving the place where I live is also one of my values, so painting native species aligns with that.
-Representing scientifically accurate behaviors and relationships between species: A high level of faithfulness is important to me because many native species are identifiable through small details. I also often create narrative compositions, with species interacting with each other, but am happy to depict single species as well. I'm also happy to depict plants, animals or landscapes in a looser, more painterly style (see the painting titled Community below for an example of this style).
-Realism and beauty in watercolor: The medium lends itself to scientific accuracy and detail, while also beautifully connecting to fine art. My hypothesis is that depicting native species in a beautiful way will help others to love and protect them better. Kind of like advertising for nature.
-Collaboration: I love and prioritize working with others on projects that have educational, personal, business, or conservation goals. Collaboration has helped me to learn more about local species than I think I would have been able to do on my own, and my past collaborative projects have been some of the most meaningful to me. I also simply love working with others and crafting projects together. 50% of all the projects I've created over the past 8 years were done in collaboration with others.
-I don't do: With some exceptions, I don't do non-realistic, or other art styles/mediums. While my work has been used in logos, marketing, and to educate/raise awareness for local species, my specialty is in art and collaboration, not particularly in advertising or graphic design.
-Past collaborations and commissions: include original artwork for use on websites, trail signs, videos, guides, magazines, products, logos, murals, research presentations and personal collections. See below for examples of past projects.
-Others things I do: concept sketches, finished graphite drawings, and graphic design depending on the project.
For images of single butterflies, birds and other animals suitable for most uses except for products and branding, visit my digital downloads shop.
I also offer image licensing of my past works, shows, workshops, presentations, and wholesale prints and cards.
Visit the Shop section of my website for limited or open edition archival ink prints, and framed or unframed original paintings.
Process and cost
A single painting or illustration takes an average of 2 to 6 weeks to complete, and varies with complexity. We begin by discussing the project and then I send some initial ideas and sketches. After I receive input about the ideas/sketches, I usually edit and send an updated sketch (or sketches). On average, there are around 2-3 rounds of edits. Half of the total cost of the project is due after the sketch (or sketches) are approved, and is non-refundable. Then I begin creating the final piece. An original painting and a digital image is created out of this process. For projects that utilize the digital image, an image license is also created. The last half of the cost of the project is due after delivery.
The cost normally ranges between $75 - $2000 for most projects. I'm happy to provide a quote, or a range of quotes. I'm also happy to accept a number of reduced-rate projects per year, especially for those working in non-profits, conservation or education. Please contact me here with some initial ideas for your project, and your budget (if you have one).
Past commission examples (Click to enlarge + get info):