Jenna Rideout does take fine art and illustration commissions! If you’re interested, read on for more information and then get in contact with your enquiry. If you’re only looking to buy prints of existing work featured in the portfolio or on the YouTube channel, consider buying from one of our print on demand merch services.
Please note that all requests to replicate copyrighted material or to produce pornographic images will be ignored without response.
Commission Pricing Guide
Commission prices are determined on a job-by-job basis based on size and quantity of pieces desired, subject and complexity of the piece(s), and the cost of materials to be used. The following price starters are for single-piece commissions and are subject to increases depending on the above factors. Discounts will be considered for repeat clients and large orders, such as book illustration jobs.
- 5×8 or smaller simple illustrations, and all digital works start at $10 CAD
- 5×8 or smaller complex illustrations and portraits start at $20 CAD
- 9×12 or smaller simple illustrations start at $25 CAD
- 9×12 or smaller complex illustrations start at $40 CAD
- 9×12 or smaller portraits start at $80 CAD
- Larger pieces start at $80 CAD
Any desired matting/framing services and shipping costs are additional fees to be covered by the client before delivery.
A deposit of 50% of the quoted commission price is due before a job begins, and all remaining fees are due at pickup/prior to shipping. Deposits will only be refunded if Jenna is the one to cancel the commission (see payment & refund policy.)
Interested? Read a sample commission contract before getting in contact!
Note on Lightfastness
All art materials have different lightfastness factors to consider. This refers to whether or not the pigments in an art piece can be expected to fade or shift quickly, and under what conditions.
Jenna will always disclose the known lightfastness ratings of materials requested or suggested in the enquiry phase, and can apply a UV-resistant spray coating to finished works. Framing artwork behind UV-filtering glass also greatly increases its lightfast properties.
Keep in mind that lightfastness testing ratings apply to use and display under “museum conditions.” This means framed and displayed with archival materials out of direct sunlight and not in a damp or particularly humid space. Air pollution that is allowed to reach the painting, including smoke, will discolour paintings. Materials that are rated as being “completely lightfast” or “highest lightfastness” are expected to look the same as the day they were painted for 100 years under museum conditions.
Note that some art mediums such as alcohol inks are inherently not lightfast, and no brand is going to be more lightfast than another. This is something that should be considered when choosing the medium for a piece that you intend to display.
Artist’s Copyright and Usage Policy
You the client are purchasing the original art piece only, not the full rights to the image. Jenna retains the right to sell prints and merch of the image (generally not done with human portraits), feature the work on her YouTube channel and other platforms, etc.
Clients who wish to purchase reproduction rights (shared or exclusive) may enquire at any time. Jenna is willing to sell this right and no longer offer prints/merch, but will always retain the right to show any footage recorded during the painting process on her platforms and display a scan of the final piece in her portfolio.
Clients purchasing digital artwork will automatically have limited shared reproduction rights in order to print or display online for their own use.
Logo design and book illustration clients do automatically gain exclusive reproduction rights in their client contract and can request that Jenna not share footage or scans before a certain date. Book illustration clients also retain full copyright over all characters featured in these illustrations and are free to have another artist replicate the characters in future projects.
Reference Images
Clients will always be asked to provide reference images to work from. If you are providing photos that are not your own, please ensure that you can prove that you have permission to use the images in this way. If you don’t have photography skills or photographer friends willing to help you out, try sticking to reputable online image databases that display public domain images or images that have been appropriately released for use under a Creative Commons or GNU license. Jenna can point you in the right direction during the enquiry phase, but will not do the leg work for you.
If you are submitting your own reference photos for portraits (human or pet) please try to submit the best possible references. The subject of the photo should be well lit, not blurry, completely in frame, and not partially obscured by objects on or in front of them. Multiple references are always helpful, and can improve the usability of a less ideal primary reference. In the case of deceased subjects, Jenna may be able to work with less than ideal photos with the understanding that some information will be guestimated based on description and (in the case of animals) breed standards.
Good Reference Example
Meet Pebbles, also known as my honourary studio assistant. She is completely in view, her markings are clear, and the colour is good. There is nothing on or in front of her that may be blocking vital information. I could produce a good head shot portrait or a full-body piece in this position from this photo.
This would also be an excellent second photo if the primary reference showed the position desired from a different angle, but some of her markings or colours weren’t clear and more information is needed.
I would be hesitant to draw her in a significantly different position based only on this photo, because it’s clear she has a lot of white on her back legs, but I cannot see what the pattern looks like.
Bad Reference Photo
Meet Camo, my most cuddly buddy who absolutely doesn’t mind being my “bad photo” example. Although she is indeed centred, this photo is blurry, my hand is in the way, and her head is turned away so that I cannot see her face.
I can tell that she’s an orange and black tortoiseshell cat, but that’s it. This would be an acceptable supporting photo if the primary reference didn’t show her front paws and you want them included, if it’s the only example of her tail markings, or if the primary reference is in greyscale.