Doug Brock Graphite Pencil Artist dougbrockstudio.com
Looking for a unique gift for a family member or a friend or even for yourself? Consider a custom graphite portrait made from a favorite photograph.
I usually leave the framing up to the customer, as the choice of frame is usually such a personal issue. Do you like wood or metal? And there are so many choices of type of wood or metal and type of finish. And of course do you want the drawing matted or unmatted? How intricate a mat? What color mat? So many choices! If you absolutely don't want the joy of framing your drawing, I can provide that, too. Just let me know.
Don't have a perfect photo for a drawing? Don't despair. I can usually isolate an individual from a photo ("Grandma Barton" in the gallery was standing between two other women). I generally like pure white backgrounds, so a distracting background in a photo might not be an issue. I have even "erased" face paint - "Audrey" in the gallery actually had face paint on her forehead, nose, cheeks, and beside both eyes! An interesting challenge, but the mother just liked that smile...
Need a drawing QUICK? Well, my drawings don't happen "quick," even if there were nobody ahead of you in line. Still, if you need a drawing for some special occasion and are pressed for time, email me and I'll see what I can do for you.
"What about getting a drawing printed onto a shirt or a mug or a calendar or some Christmas cards?" All good ideas, and definitely options. Just let us know what you need!
"What is the world's greatest hobby?" I'd vote for DRAWING! All the tools you really need to get started are already in your house! Grab a pencil or pen and any old piece of paper and get going! I like a realistic drawing style, but that is only one possible style. Just enjoy putting lines on the paper. Try for realism or not. Just draw! Let yourself create! Even if you get serious about drawing, the cost is low for good paper and better quality pencils. The only thing you need to add is imagination and a healthy dose of patience. (Okay, there are too many exclamation points in this paragraph, but then I am pretty enthusiastic about drawing.)
Welcome to my studio!
You can see samples of my drawings in the Gallery. I hope you find something you like, and I hope you consider taking the time to contact me, even if only to talk about drawing.
If you'd like to read more about my drawing process and see drawings in progress, you can read my Blog.
To contact me about a commission: Contact (Your name and email are required; everything else is optional.)
I take commissions for drawings (usually of people or pets, but it can be of your house, your favorite creek, the fox you caught on camera while it was crossing your backyard, or whatever!). The time from your commission to the completed drawing is usually four weeks, but a faster turn-around may be possible if you need the drawing more quickly.
The drawing will be made on 100 pound acid-free Bristol smooth (9x12 or 11x14).
Cost: I charge $100 for a basic single-subject drawing on 9x12 stock. The fee will be higher for additional subjects or complex drawings or for larger drawings. As a rule of thumb, most of my drawings are in the $200-300 range.
Original photo: A good drawing requires a good photo! A 3x5 photo is usually big enough, but a tiny subject in a 3x5 might be a problem. The subject needs to be well focused. Zoom in on your photo - can you see the eyelashes? If so, you've got lots of detail that will help me with my drawing. If all you see is a dark area where you're pretty sure that eyelashes go... My drawing style needs those details! Good contrast also helps yield a good drawing.
A digital scan of your original photo (or the original file from a digital camera) is ideal and can be sent by email or on a CD (Don't compress the image though - I need all the detail I can get.). Please don't send the original photo, unless you're willing to take a chance of the photo being lost or damaged in the mail. Not LIKELY, but a copy is the safe way to go!
How long will it take? A drawing usually takes about four weeks to complete, but depends of course on other projects in work.
When your drawing is nearly completed, I will email you a photo of the drawing for your input. If we agree to changes, new photos will be sent until the drawing meets with your approval. You have no obligation to buy the drawing if you are unhappy with it in any way!
Billing: I have been very happy using PayPal for billing. PayPal allows you to securely use your PayPal account or a credit card if you so choose.
Matting: I mat all drawings because the mat provides that much more protection for the drawings and it helps keep the drawings from being smudged during insertion or removal from the clear art bags. I usually mat the 9x12 drawings to fit an 11x14 frame. If you prefer, I can mat your drawing to fit the larger 16x20 frames - the wider border of the mat is especially nice, but of course 16x20 frames are less common and do cost more.
Packaging: Your drawing will be protected by a clear art bag and foam board. The example below uses a foam board with "copper" pattern. We can of course customize your package if you prefer different options.
Shipping: I ship using Priority Mail, which usually takes 2 to 3 days for delivery.
To contact me about a commission: Contact (Your name and email are required; everything else is optional.)
Though hardier than most other media, graphite drawings still require care to maintain the sharp edges and white spaces. Don't allow paper or other surfaces to rub across the front of the drawing. Don't slide the drawing into an envelope. And don't touch the drawing surface, either; skin oil is bad for drawings.
The best protection for your drawing is under glass, in a nice frame.
I'd love to hear from you, whether you are interested in my drawings, or in art, drawing, and portaits in general.
Contact (Your name and email are required; everything else is optional.)
If you'd like to discuss matters over the phone, you can give me a phone number and time when it would be convenient for me to call. Email is fine, but a phone call can save both of us time!
My wife and I have called the Kansas City area our home since 1985 (Go, Chiefs!). We have three sons, three dogs, a bearded dragon, and a cockatiel (a relatively low pet count for us, but then my boys are growing up and have become more interested in text messaging and chasing girls than in chasing a herd of pets).
Some sites I'd like to recommend...
- My parents' web site, Church Growth International
- Friend and author, Martha Gilstrap - "The Power of the Written Word"