Do we need forensic pricing?

Debra Jones · 10-23-2006, 02:05 PM

I just got a message from a potential client that wants me to sketch their Great-grandmother.... FROM MEMORIES. There are no existing photos.

Now my iniitial gut instinct is the big zero. But I started thinking about taking a photo of, say, her mother and adjusting.

Many of my clients will say about other family members "just look at my eyes, they are the same" etc.

If I had a shot of mom and worked it up with the adjustments in photoshop etc, I may come up with a passing likeness....

So what would you think the pricing on such a thing might be?
Of course I would charge a non-refundable down equal to the combat pay it would require, but what might you figure the final cost percentage increase would justify such a thing? I doubt they want more than a charcoal as she said sketch.

Michele Rushworth · 10-23-2006, 02:45 PM

Run, don't walk, away from this one. It's just not going to be possible.

Marta Prime · 10-23-2006, 07:57 PM

Debra,
In most cases I would say that Michelle is probably right. However, I did start thinking about artist Susan Kliewer, who did the beautiful Bronze Statue of Sedona Schnebly that is displayed in front of the Sedona library. She had a selection of old photos to work from, but she used a descendant of Sedona's, I think it was a granddaughter to capture the lifelike features on the statue.

You are one artist that thinks outside the box, and you have a lot to show for it.

If you decide to go for it, charge accordingly. Getting a likeness from someone else's mind would be a real challenge! You would deserve to charge a lot more for that alone if you could pull it off! In this case even if it is not an exact likeness, who would really know? If it makes the client happy, then who's to say it's not a success?

Mischa Milosevic · 10-24-2006, 03:40 AM

Debra, I would tend to agree with Marta here. Sure it is tough but its a challenge. Certainly a artist must be real good in order to work these kind of sketches.

This is what I would do. I would do a sketch of a family member that closely resembles the subject, lets say from a photo. Then if some adjusting needs to be done so be it.
While with the family and looking at the reference photo I would ask the client what is it that this particular family member has that so resembles the person they want drawn. If it is the eyes then I would draw the eyes perfectly. If it is the nose do the sames. If the mouth needs to be different ask in what way, thiner or thicker lips etc. Have some samples of lips from a book, eyes noses etc. I would draw the sketch lightly and with lighter value shadows so that I can erase if need be. I would prep everything as for the final version this time with approval. When you get the final ok then darken some shadows and lines add in the half ton and see what they think.

Before you do anything, explain to the client how difficult this is and that they are asking an almost impossible thing, but if they wish the price will be 50% more than your usual and you require a 30% nonrefundable deposit.

I hope this helps some.

All the best to you.

Debra Jones · 10-24-2006, 03:48 PM

We (except the SANE among us) are on the same page...
I have a photo of my grandma that I could easily build from my own looks. The groundwork for this is going to be the kicker. I would bet the job dissolves when money is discussed BUT the discussion would be interesting.
This is not a big reputation maker. This is a gentle job to make a loved one happy.... that is all I am thinking about.
Charcoal is such a great and flexible medium. From the clouds of memory all I need is a good likeness!
Swallowing hard and picking up a phone this afternoon.
dj*

Mischa Milosevic · 10-24-2006, 04:37 PM

My mistake, I admit, for trying to help in suggesting a price for a posthumous portrait. I'm sure other artists do not charge for such a thing. I take my suggestion back.

Lets look at another possibility. Say you were in the grave stone business. A family came to you asking for a new grave stone. Now, the first grave stone they purchased was fine at the time and was one of your best, again at the time. Some, twenty years later they come to you again asking for another new grave stone for the same grave. Will you charge them?

Hope it all turns out for the best for you.

Marcus Lim · 10-24-2006, 10:49 PM

Is there gonna be a contract? If there is, include a disclaimer stating your work is to your best ability to dissect / interpret based on your client's claims of the intended subject.

I think this will protect you from any issues that may arise later; your work is to be "an artist's impression" and not based on any solid information base.