Lyric Portrait Commissions

Start your own Lyric Portrait

Everyone has a song, poem or quotation that has made a huge impact on their life. And just like the old saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” we all have images, whether physical or in our minds, which tell a story that is personal. One way to bring these two things together in a truly unique piece of art is to commission a Lyric Portrait. I have drawn countless heirloom-quality illustrations out of literally thousands of hand-lettered words and they remain one of my most popular art collectibles.

Choosing a poem, song lyrics, or other words

Do you have a favorite song lyric, poem, or quotation in mind? Most of my collectors approach me regarding a subject set of words that are very precious or otherwise hold great meaning to them. If you’re not sure, feel free to contact me to discuss. I am always interested and full of ideas.

Finding your image

Once you know who or what you’d like drawn in words, it’s time to find an emotionally arresting image. When working on subjects in popular media, I usually create my own video-still so that there are no issues with photo copyrights. If you’d like the art to be of a family member or friend, I will trust that the photos you provide are okay for me to use. My work looks best when I have the highest resolution images possible. Regardless of where the reference comes from, I’ll always do my best to make it work.

Drawing and hand-lettering process

After you choose the words and image and have approved my initial sketch, I’ll begin to draw and hand-letter the final piece. The surface will be heavy paper or illustration board, depending on the size of your art. To ink in the words, I use black Micron pens by Pigma. I’ll keep you updated along the way with phone pics as a shot of the final image!

Pricing, payment, and shipping

The price for my Lyric Portraits starts at $350 for an 8×10 inch drawing of a single subject. I charge more for multiple images combined or creatively composed, as well as for larger sized pieces. Before I begin any drawing, a 50% installment is required, and the remainder upon completion. I accept Paypal, Venmo, and Zelle. When mailing the finished Lyric Portrait to you, shipping will be an additional charge. Because these are custom projects, I cannot accept returns or issue refunds on original drawings.

Turnaround

Quality artwork takes a great deal of time and should never be rushed. You can expect at least 4-8 weeks from the time I receive your order to the time your Lyric Portrait is complete. Times can vary a bit. I usually have several commissions lined up at once and prioritize based on the time I receive each one. That being said, I am open to discussing special-case time-frames if you need a drawing done sooner, but I cannot always guarantee it. I only ship drawings when they meet the highest standards of quality I am able to provide.

Questions?

If there’s anything regarding a Lyric Portrait project you’d like to ask, please message me here on my contact page or direct-message me on social media. I’ll be glad to answer your questions.

Thanks,
— Forrest