1. Why do you make your collages on paper?

There are several reasons. One is just personal preference—I like the way the portraits look when matted and framed. It gives them a clean, professional, and elegant look. The primary reason, however, is related to my training as a museum conservator: paper-on-paper avoids any mismatch in the physical properties, such as response to humidity changes that can occur when there are layers of different materials in contact with each other, and this can help prolong the life of the artwork.

2. Why don’t you apply a varnish or clear topcoat?

Again, this is related to my training as a museum conservator. All varnishes or other materials that can be used as a topcoat will yellow over time and due to the nature of the artwork, the topcoat cannot be removed. This is very different from varnishing an oil painting, for instance. Oil painting varnish also yellows and darkens over time, but it is designed to be removed and replaced without damaging the underlying painting.

While many of the modern acrylic varnishes do have good longevity, I feel it is better for the artwork over the long term to not add any materials that I know can never be removed and will eventually cause yellowing or other visual changes to the piece.

3. How do I care for my torn paper collage artwork?

The greatest danger is light, which will cause fading of the inks used in the magazines and catalogs that were used to create the piece.  Please avoid exposure to direct sunlight or prolonged exposure to fluorescent lighting.

Due to the delicate surface texture, your torn paper collage artwork is best displayed framed under UV filtering glass with archival quality mats.

Keep your artwork in conditions that feel comfortable to you—avoid storing the artwork in very hot places, such as an attic or garage. Also avoid very damp areas, like basements, which can lead to mold growth.

4. How long does it take?

Torn paper collage is not a quick process! Each paper fragment is hand torn and individually glued in place. Because of this, your custom portrait can take up to 4-6 weeks, depending on the size and the complexity of the subject.

5. Do you only do dog portraits? What other animals can I get a custom portrait of?

I can make custom portraits of any pet and am happy to do so! Dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, horses, farm animals—you name it. You can check out some of my wildlife torn paper collages here to see some of the other animals I’ve worked with.

6. How do I order a custom pet portrait?

When you place your order, I will require high-quality digital images of your pet. Try to provide photos that really capture the personality of your pet.

I require full payment to start work on your pet portrait. I accept payment via PayPal, Venmo, cashier’s (bank) check or money order. You can also place your order directly in my website shop, here.

Once I receive your order and photos, we can clarify any remaining details of the portrait: subject(s), size, colors, etc. I can also give you an estimate of when the portrait will be completed. Portraits can take 4-6 weeks to complete, but if you have a specific occasion or timetable you need the portrait for, please let me know.

Before I ship the completed piece, I will email you a digital image for your approval.

Feel free to contact me via email at tamara@tamarajaeger.com or by filling out the request form on my website, here.

7. I have professional photos of my pet. Can you use those? 

No, it’s a violation of the photographer’s copyright.  It’s much simpler and easier for me to use photos that you took yourself. They don’t have to be professional looking—they just have to clearly show your pet and, ideally, give me a good feel for their personality. 

The only situation where I would consider using professional photos is where it is not possible to take new photos of your pet and professional photos are the only ones that exist (i.e. for a memorial portrait of a deceased pet). In this case I would require written permission from the photographer before I could use their images as reference photos for your custom pet portrait.

8. I still have questions!

Feel free to contact me by filling out this form or by email at tamara@tamarajaeger.com. I’m happy to answer any other questions you have!

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