FAQ

You have entered the world of a creative mind. I always tell anyone who asks what I do that I am a portrait artist during the day and a designer and miniature artist in the evenings and weekends. I hope that the FAQ section will answer some of the questions you might have. If not feel free to email me via the Contact tab and I promise I get back to you asap. So let's dive in ....

Q: WHO IS PORTRAITS BY NC?

artist

Welcome to Portraits-by-NC!

My name is Enzie (pronounced just like the initial "NC" ).  Since 1999, I've been professionally creating custom pet and people portraits from photos for individuals around the world. If you want to learn more about me, you can check out my About the Artist page) 

My primary goal is to imbue a lifelike and artistic quality into every artwork I create, regardless of the artistic techniques I employ. In response to the increasing demand for my custom painted portraits and to enhance the experience for my global clients, I've introduced digitally painted portraits as an option, which not only maintains quality but also reduces the hassles of customs and shipping fees.

In 2019, I embarked on a creative journey by venturing into the world of miniature dioramas. I was immediately captivated by this unique art form, finding it to be a delightful and exceptionally distinctive gifting idea. The pricing for commissioned miniatures can vary significantly, depending on their size and intricacy. Feel free to get in touch and specify your preferences so that I can provide you with a personalized quote tailored to your needs.

Now let's answer some frequently asked questions:

Q: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OIL PORTRAIT AND A DIGITAL PORTRAIT?

OIL PORTRAITS

Every painting starts with a hand painted digital sketch to show you the placement of the figure(s) on the canvas. Once you approve the mock up the image is transferred onto a canvas and the oil painting process begins.

Oil portraits are hand painted by me using professional grade oil paints for rich long lasting color. I build up paint gradually to create a tactile paint texture on the canvas. This texture allows the light to bounce off the paint, creating interesting highlights and more details in color variation in the dark and light areas of the painting. This effect, in turn, allows for an extremely lifelike look of your custom painted portrait. In general, it takes anywhere from 3-6 weeks to paint an oil portrait, depending on the size of the canvas size ordered. 

Canvas Print Vs Oil Painting

GICLEE - CANVAS PRINT OF CUSTOM PAINTED DIGITAL PORTRAITS

Painting portraits digitally has been a way to get paintings done much faster  than it would take to complete a painting with traditional methods. By using a stylus and computer I still hand paint each work and can combine many more techniques and painting styles than it would be possible with traditional oil mediums to create interesting effects in a painting. Once the painting is approved by you it is printed on stretched canvas and further enhanced with Acrylic mediums to enhance the brush strokes. Since it takes less time to create a hand painted digital artwork it is also less expensive and that makes it a great gifting option.

Q: I WOULD LIKE TO COMMISSION A PORTRAIT. WHAT SHOULD I DO FIRST?

A: Click ORDER PORTRAITS  and upload your reference photos. Check out and let me know what you like to have done in the Note to Seller section.  I will get back to you within 24 hrs to review your order and to discuss the project.

diorama

Q: I WOULD LIKE TO COMMISSION A MINIATURE . WHAT SHOULD I DO FIRST?

A: Please email me via the Contact form. Feel free to include photos and share your preferences for the project. Providing information about your budget is highly beneficial for me. Unlike traditional paintings that primarily use canvas and paint, creating a miniature diorama involves the use of various materials such as clay, cardstock, and wood, each impacting the cost. Miniature dioramas can range from simple, featuring a single custom-made object, to intricate, recreating entire indoor or outdoor scenes. For intricate scenes, there is a $25 fee associated with the assembly of a comprehensive price sheet. This fee is credited back to you when you place an order for the artwork.

Q: CAN I COMMISSION A MINIATURE OF MY PET?

A: Should I locate a model of the same breed as your pet for the scene, I can accurately match the coloration to resemble your pet. Tiny portraits can also be created.

Q: DO YOU CHARGE EXTRA FOR EXTRA FIGURES IN A PAINTING?

A:  Yes I charge $16 per extra figure in a painting, which will be billed separately. You can combine different people or pets from different photos in one painting. However, keep in mind that on a small canvas that is full of figures the details of their faces will get lost. You might not want to cram too many loved ones into one small canvas :)

Q: WHAT TYPE OF IMAGES SHOULD I SEND FOR  PORTRAITS? 

A: In a perfect world I would request the best quality photo you have, nothing blurry or too dark. However, I do realize that sometimes that is not possible. Email me what you have so I can evaluate if I can use the photo reference. If there are any undesired elements in the photo, I can often remove them. However, there has to be enough detail for me to see what I need to paint. The more photographs you can send the better.

One main photograph is used for the painting and the rest as reference photos to better see details. Please indicate which photograph best represents your loved one, and which you would like to have for the portrait. Let me know which photo best depicts his/her true coloring. The better the quality of the photograph,  the better the finished painting will be. Photographs should be clear, in focus with the subject occupying the majority of the frame. Photographs showing subjects in the distance aren't usually good enough to work from. 

Q: WHAT TYPE OF IMAGES SHOULD I SEND FOR PORTRAITS? 

Pug PhotoA: Photos work best if they are taken at eye level.  Make sure that limbs are not cropped off and that the photo is in focus and not too dark. If you have an old or poor quality photo email me the photo first so I can see if it can be used for a portrait.

Q: CAN YOU COMBINE MULTIPLE REFERENCE PHOTOS? 

A: Yes. Submit your photos for review. If the reference photos are suitable I can combine them to paint one painting. Just leave a detailed description at time of check out what you like to have done. What I can't do is take a profile shot and turn it into a frontal view. You will be send a mock-up for ap