commissioning a bronze portrait bust

Becoming a Patron: Commissioning a portrait bust can be far more straightforward than might be expected. It is ensured that at every stage of the progress all are satisfied and that there can be no disasters.

Stage 1: Initial Meeting. Initially there is a meeting, which can be at your home or my studio, to discuss what exactly are your requirements and to see if you feel that I am able to deliver. I will show you my full portfolio of commissions together with samples of bronze, showing the surface finishes (patination) that I can achieve. It is an opportunity to meet one another and for us both to become comfortable with the task ahead!

Choices: At this initial meeting all aspects of the work are discussed, such as where the work will be placed, your sitting requirements, the type of expression that you wish to be captured in the work, venue, costs, size of work, type of base, finish of bronze, delivery dates and traveling expenses etc. You may even prefer a bas-relief wall mounted plaque rather than a portrait bust (which can be modelled entirely from photographs.) Or you may prefer to have a bronze-resin cast?

Contract: Everything discussed is drawn up into an informal contract so that you have reference to that which has been discussed. This is often quite simply in the form of a letter that I will send to you outlining what has been discussed at our meeting together with a final quote for the finished work. The quote is always the price you will pay which will include basic traveling expenses. That there are no hidden extras and the price that you agree is what you will pay.

From this basis, should you decide to go ahead, the logistics of the modelling sessions begin. However, if you decide not to go ahead with the commission at this stage there is absolutely no commitment. I only ask that you cover my basic traveling expenses, if the meeting has been at your home.

Payment: My preferred method for undertaking a commission is to ask for no payment until the clay is complete and all are happy with it's likeness. This enables both parties to relax knowing that there is no obligation, nor is there a pressure to achieve an quick result. Over the many years I have found that this simple safety measure works so well, that it has become standard practice for my private commissions. Thus when the clay is complete and satisfaction has been achieved on all sides, a payment of 1/2 of the total is due, with the remainder being paid upon receipt of the bronze.

Stage 2: Sittings. Most clients favour modeling sessions in the comfort of their own home. This involves choosing a good light room with space to place the dais and maneuver the modeling stand together with ample plastic sheeting to protect the floor! I can also offer sittings in my Devon studio should you prefer.

At the end of the modeling sessions many of my clients tell me how relaxing and enjoyable they have been. There is no need to keep absolutely still - on the contrary - it is time for numerous teas/coffees and good conversation. Movement and shuffling to remain comfortable are encouraged and if the work is done in your home, you will have the use of your most comfortable chair.

I will take approximately 10 hours of your time. This can be divided into 6 x 1.5 has, 5x 2 hours or 4 x 2.5 hours over a period of no longer than a month. Photographs will be used to minimize your labour, but the process cannot be rushed. If the time-honored skill and judgment of modeling is to fully capture your appearance, then sittings rather than photographs are essential and I will ask that you allow me to look from all angles. A skilled eye can always detect the difference between work done from sittings or from photographs.

I invite the client (and their family) to take and active role in informing me of their opinion as to the resemblance of the developing clay, at each stage of the sittings. This helps ensure that everything is considered.

Once the sittings are completed and the clay finished and approved the work is ready to progress to stage 3. At this stage you will be invoiced for the the first payment of 1/2 of the value of the commission.

Stage 3: Casting: Your work is over and the clay is ready for casting. This can take up to 90 days depending upon the schedule of the bronze casting foundry. From the finished clay I will prepare a rubber mould and take a wax model which will be reworked. This is delivered to the foundry to be cast into bronze. The fine detailed finishing of the bronze will be done in my studio to ensure that every nuance is captured as seen, and not lost in the roughness of the casting process.

Stage 4: Delivery. Having chosen the patina and the type of base suitable for the placement of the bronze, the work is now ready for delivery. Preferably this is by hand or possibly by insured parcel post. Written maintenance instructions together with a signed certificate of authentication are supplied with every bronze.

Materials: All casting is overseen and finished by Luke ensuring the highest possible standard of replication of his work.

Bronze: Bronze castings are individually cast at a specialist art casting foundry, using the traditional lost-wax process. Each piece is carefully filed, hand finished and patinated in Luke's studio.

Bronze-Resin: Cold cast bronze is polyester resin saturated with bronze dust giving a highly durable and quality imitation of genuine bronze. All bronze-resin castings are undertaken by the artist. The bronze-resin castings are so effective that they can easily be mistaken for the real thing.

Prices:

Prices can vary according to complexity of form and detailing. A total quote will always be written into the contract. All prices include a marble base as standard. This can be upgraded according to your choice of marble.

	bronze	bronze-resin
Head & neck	£6,000 - £7,500	£4,500- £6,000
Head with shoulders	£7,500 - £8,500	£5,000 - £6,500
Head with torso	£9,500 - £12,500	£7,000 - £9,500
Wall reliefs	from £4,500	From £3,500

Traveling expenses: These are kept to a basic minimum, as agreed at our first meeting and added to the above price of the bronze.

About Luke's Commissioned Work: With a long string of successful public and private commissions, Luke has reintroduced a renaissance style approach based on time-honored skills combined with minute observational detail. He is one of the few sculptors fully versed in bronze casting having received a diploma from the Royal College of Art Foundry Course. This enables him to control the finest quality and subtle detail in his portrait work.
Luke is much in demand as both an artist and educator for the Royal College of Surgeons of England where he teaches portrait modeling to plastic and maxilofacial surgeons. Luke's flare and ability is above all for portrait sculpture, admiring great artists such as Rembrandt, Michelangelo and the Impressionists. He is one of the founder members of the South West Sculptors Association. He now lives in rural Devon with his wife, Aga and studio.
.

Artist's Statement: "I have always made portrait busts and I see myself upholding traditional values of art. I work with minute modifications until both client and myself are fully satisfied with the finished clay, before proceeding with the casting. I employ a fine balance of strong draftsmanship, sensitive observation and overall an immense enjoyment of being with people. I set my goals high and strive for perfection".

Press Quotes: "Brilliant Portrait Artist was how the press described Luke Shepherd…."
Livewire Magazine.