What happens if the painting isn't right: proofs, photos and revisions

Two moments to shape the painting

The proof, before painting. This is where the composition is set: the crop, the size, the background, the pose and any artistic direction. Changes here are easy and free.

The photo, before shipping. The finished painting is photographed in consistent light. This is the stage for color, brightness and small details. The painter reworks the canvas before it's varnished and packed.

The changes people ask for most

• A color that reads too warm or too cool
• An expression that's slightly too serious
• A background that feels busy
• An overall tone that's darker than expected

How long revisions take

Small adjustments usually take one to three days. Larger changes take longer, and anything that amounts to repainting a section takes as long as painting it did. Within reason, we don't count revisions.

Changes that are hard or impossible

• After varnishing, reworking the surface is difficult.
• Once heavy texture has dried, it can't easily be reshaped.
• Some requests conflict with each other, such as matching a blurry photo exactly while adding detail the photo doesn't show. We'll explain the trade-off rather than promise the impossible.

The best way to avoid revisions

Be specific at the proof stage, send a reference for the style you like, and tell us where the painting will hang. Most revisions come from expectations that were never said out loud.