Care instructions will be printed out and included in your order. Please read them carefully before opening your artwork. For pastel artwork, you must place it directly into a frame, ideally with a mat and UV protection glass. The more you touch the piece, the more you risk smudging it.

You MUST provide me with a high quality photo. This is a CRUCIAL step in the process. If you do not provide me with a good photo, I will have to cancel your order. Photos need to be e-mailed, full size, to katieemmittart@gmail.com.
Note that I am going to draw directly from the photograph. I will not combine multiple photographs for one animal.
When I have a fantastic photo to work with, I can create a truly exceptional piece of artwork for you. The better the photo, the better the drawing!
The best photos are high resolution, clear, and crisp.deally, when you zoom in, you should be able to see individual hairs in the fur. You can easily use a smart phone to take these photos, an SLR is not needed.

Tips for choosing and taking a good photo:
Be eye-level with your subject.
Take the photo in good bright lighting – next to a window or outside (cloudy or partly cloudy day is actually best for outdoor photos!)
Get relatively close to your subject – avoid taking photos across the room or yard.
Try to capture (or find) a photo that shows their personality and spirit as much as possible, or how you like to remember them.

If your pet has passed over the rainbow bridge, here are some tips:
Collect as many as you can, send them all, and let me know your favorite ones.
Try to look for photos that are crisp and not pixelated.
If you only have film photos, scan them onto your computer or phone at the highest resolution possible.

Approach your pet when they are napping or just waking up from a nap. It can be difficult to take a photo when they are hyper and want to play!
Get your pet’s favorite treat or toy and hold it right to the camera as you snap a photo.
Get down to eye level.
If you can, take them outside or get them next to a window or door so the lighting is as good as possible. Direct sun can be a little much in some cases – a lightly overcast day is ideal.
Use the best camera you have. Avoid using flash. Hold the camera steady, and take LOTS of photos.
Try to capture their attention so their ears are pointing forward. You want to capture an image of your pet that showcases their personality and where they are attentive.

Typically, my waitlist is out 1-3 weeks. During the holidays, things can be backed up for months. If you are planning on ordering a Christmas gift (the busiest time of year for me,) I highly recommend ordering no later than August or September to guarantee that your gift arrives on time. If you contact me about a Christmas gift in November or December, it is likely I will not be able to get to it until January.

I do not do rush processing, nor do I allow clients to jump ahead on the waitlist. If you are in a time crunch, you can also pay ahead for the piece, and then allow your gift recipient to contact me and design their own commission.

Once I start your order, it will take 1-2 weeks for completion and 1-3 days for delivery.

Shipping, handling, tracking, and full insurance is included at no additional cost. I will ship to the shipping address you provide me upon completion. I will not ship your piece until I have your final approval.
I always ship USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground, and insure the full cost of the piece.
If you are an international customer, there will be an additional shipping charge of $30 USD.
I am not responsible for shipping delays. If the piece is lost or damaged in the mail, I will file a claim on the insurance. Once I receive reimbursement from USPS (up to four weeks,) I’ll begin work on recreating the piece for you at no additional charge. (I’d like to note that I’ve never had this happen in my 12+ years of shipping artwork.)

Once I’ve finished your piece, I will send you a photograph for final approval. If there is something you want me to change, I will happily make a maximum of two adjustments to the piece, free of charge.

Once your piece has been packaged, no changes can be made.

50% of the cost of your custom artwork is considered a deposit. Deposits are non refundable once I have started work on a custom piece.

As the commissioner, you may cancel or terminate your commission at any time by sending me (the artist) an e-mailed notice. Upon cancellation, the commissioner will compensate the artist as follows:

Partial Completion: If the artist has partially completed the work, the commissioner will compensate the artist at 25% of the total compensation in addition to the 50% deposit.
Full Completion: If the artist has completed the finished artwork at the time of termination, the commissioner agrees to compensate in full.