ORDERING A CHILD PENCIL PORTRAIT
Capturing the magic and innocence of a child’s personality is what gives child pencil portraits their true charm. The soft, unblemished tones of their skin, their glistening eyes — these reflect the pure essence of childhood. With all child pencil portraits, capturing these key elements is the most important part of the entire drawing. That particular look, that cheeky smile, is what gives the pencil drawing its entire reason for being.
Whenever I undertake a child pencil portrait — or indeed any portrait of adults or animals — the photographic reference must be pin sharp and of excellent tonal quality. While I can use artistic licence to enhance aspects of the drawing from weaker references, if the fundamentals of the subject’s form and shape aren’t present in the original image, the chance of achieving intense realism is greatly reduced.
If you only have old photo prints for your child pencil portrait, that’s fine. As long as there’s enough detail, I can digitally enlarge the prints to create a better reference, allowing me to see the fine details much more clearly.
Although you can order a child pencil portrait directly through my website, pay a deposit, and complete the order online, many people prefer to call and discuss their portrait personally. Since every portrait is unique, clients often have special requests to ensure they get exactly the right result. As mentioned above, the detail and size of the finished piece depend on the reference quality. So before finalising an order, I always check that the reference image is suitable for creating a stunning child pencil portrait. Once that’s confirmed, the rest of the process is smooth and straightforward.
MULTIPLE SUBJECT CHILD PENCIL PORTRAITS
Looking for child pencil portraits featuring more than one child in the same composition? This is a popular choice. Many clients love having 3–4 poses of the same child within their group portrait composition. Often, this includes a central head-and-shoulders child portrait surrounded by other poses, creating a “through the years” effect that tells a beautiful story. For these projects, I create a digital proof showing how the poses will be arranged, so you can visualise exactly how your finished child pencil portrait will look.
If you’d like your child pencil portrait to feature siblings or even a family pet, that’s also possible. Combining multiple children with an animal in a single hand-drawn pencil portrait often results in a truly heartwarming piece.
CHILD PENCIL PORTRAITS IN COLOUR
A colour child pencil portrait brings an exceptional level of realism and purity. Colour allows me to capture delicate skin tones and a child’s natural complexion for a lifelike finish. Every child’s unique personality naturally radiates joy and fun, which is beautifully preserved in my child pencil portraits, especially in colour.
CHILD PENCIL PORTRAITS IN BLACK AND WHITE
Black and white child pencil portraits evoke a timeless mood and emotion. Without the distraction of colour, the focus shifts entirely to the subject’s pose, expression, and atmosphere. While coloured child portraits offer vivid realism, black and white works often create a deeper, more emotive connection.
Whether you choose a black-and-white or colour child pencil portrait, my goal is always to deliver the highest level of realism and detail. If you’re not completely happy with the finished result, I’ll continue refining it until you are — at no extra cost.
GETTING THE PERFECT CHILD PENCIL PORTRAIT
As many parents know, capturing the perfect pose of a child without food on their face or toys scattered everywhere can be a challenge. Personally, I love reference photos that show children in their natural environment — slightly messy, relaxed, and fully in their own world. These moments often make for the most authentic child pencil portraits, capturing both appearance and personality.
When trying to photograph a child, my best advice is to take plenty of candid shots during playtime. You’ll often find one that perfectly reflects their character and works beautifully as a portrait reference. If you prefer something more formal but are struggling to get the right shot, I can arrange for one of my professional photographers to visit your chosen location for a dedicated photoshoot.
HOW CAN I PAY FOR MY CHILD PENCIL PORTRAIT?
I require a deposit to confirm your order, with the balance due before dispatch. If you order in advance — for example, for Christmas — you can spread payments over several months at no extra cost. I always aim to make the payment process as easy and flexible as possible.
CAN YOU TAILOR MY CHILD PENCIL PORTRAIT TO MY BUDGET?
Yes, I can. My custom child pencil portraits range from £150 to £2000, meaning there’s an option for almost any budget. Please email or call me on 0777 999 3163, and I’ll be happy to discuss a portrait that meets your needs.
I WANT MORE THAN ONE CHILD PENCIL PORTRAIT, DO I GET A DISCOUNT?
Yes. Returning customers receive a 10% loyalty discount on each additional child pencil portrait. If ordering multiple portraits at once, you’ll also receive a 10% discount on orders over £500.
WILL MY CHILD PENCIL PORTRAIT BE INSURED WHEN SENT BY POST?
Absolutely. All portraits are sent insured and tracked. Framed child pencil portraits are insured for at least their purchase value, while unframed portraits sent in protective tubes are insured up to £500. I’ll provide tracking details once your artwork is dispatched, and you can specify delivery instructions when making the final payment.
