PRIVATE COMMISSIONS & FIGURATIVE WORKS
Where your vision becomes a permanent original.
A private, collaborative process — translating your personal story, your reference photographs, and your vision into a one-of-one, hand-drawn original, made to last generations.
The studio is dedicated entirely to custom work. Every piece is hand-rendered in archival graphite, high-density charcoal, watercolor, or sanguine on museum-grade cotton paper — never a print, never a reproduction. Because each commission demands genuine conceptual development and technical precision, the studio accepts a limited number of engagements, strictly by private reservation.
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I. Reference & Discretion
Every commission begins with your vision. We work directly from your reference photographs and the story behind them — what the piece is of, what it means, where it will live. All imagery you share is held in complete confidence. The details that matter — the light, the composition, the feeling — are refined together in a private consultation before any work begins.
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II. the work
Each piece is built by hand, layer by layer, in graphite, charcoal, watercolor, or sanguine on museum-grade cotton paper. The drawing is developed slowly and deliberately, preserving the texture of the paper and keeping the hand of the artist visible throughout. Nothing is printed, traced, or reproduced — every mark is made by hand.
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III. ARCHIVAL HAND-OFF
Upon completion, the original is finished for permanence and recorded in the studio registry. Each piece is framed, packaged with care, and delivered ready to hang — to your home, estate, or boardroom — with insured worldwide shipping.
THE HAND BEHIND THE WORK
FREQUENTLY ASKED
How do I commission a custom portrait?
Every commission begins with an inquiry and a conversation. You share your reference photographs and your vision, we discuss size, medium, and timeline, and the work begins with a 50% deposit. You'll see a progress image for your approval along the way. Andros Karr accepts private portrait commissions from clients in Houston, across Texas, and throughout the US.
What does a portrait commission cost?
Commissions begin at $2,800, with pricing by size. Larger works and multiple subjects are quoted individually. Full pricing is shown on the commission page.
Do you work from photographs?
Yes. Every piece is hand-drawn from your own reference photographs — a person, a couple, a family, a pet, or a place meaningful to you.
What mediums do you work in?
Original works are hand-rendered in graphite, charcoal, watercolor, or sanguine on museum-grade cotton paper. Never a print, never a reproduction, never AI.
How long does a commission take?
A hand-drawn piece done to standard takes a few weeks, depending on size and detail. A clear timeline is given once your reference photographs are reviewed.
Do the pieces come framed?
Yes — every commission arrives matted and framed, ready to hang.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. Finished works are packaged with care and delivered worldwide with insured shipping.
Can I commission a portrait of more than one person?
Absolutely. Multiple subjects — couples, families, groups — are welcome and quoted individually.
Where can I buy contemporary portraits or figurative art in Houston?
Andros Karr creates and sells original contemporary portraits and figurative work from his Houston, Texas studio — available by commission and, for select pieces, as original available works. Inquire through the studio to commission a piece or view current originals.