Commissioning an Icon for Your Home or Church
My Contact
Thank you for considering commissioning me to paint an icon for your home or your church community!
The first step in commissioning an icon is to get in contact with me, either by email chenrirohrbacher@gmail.com or phone (907) 321-5083.
The Commission Work Process
Then by email or in person we can discuss what image you have in mind; the size of the icon; whether it will be painted in egg tempera or acrylic; whether or not you desire gold leaf; any special requirements you might have and the price. Sometimes it requires more than one consultation to determine exactly what is needed and how best to proceed.
The next step is my providing you with a drawing of the proposed icon.
Ordinarily there is no charge for consultation and drawing.
However, if the proposed work is over 4’ in height or it is part of an architectural installation, I charge a non-refundable drawing fee of 10% of the price of the icon.
If you approve the drawing, then the work is commissioned on receipt of half-payment of the agreed-upon price (less the drawing fee, if there is one). Full payment is due on completion of the work.
For church commissions a letter of agreement between myself and the pastor or other responsible person or committee is necessary at the time of the half-payment at the beginning of the commission.
Sometimes I’m able to begin work immediately, but other times I am at already at work on other projects in the studio. If this is the case, I will begin work on your commission when that other commissioned work ahead of yours is completed.
Because I work alone and everything from the preparation of the wooden panel to the final varnish is done by hand, the work takes time. I draw and paint relatively quickly, but even then, it usually takes me 2-6 months from start to finish to complete an icon.
Shipping and Handling Information
Packing and shipping is extra and not included in the price of the icon. I ship in the most expeditious and least expensive way possible, either by USPS or Alaska Airlines Airfreight.
Icons smaller than 36” tall can easily be shipped either Priority Mail or Parcel Post via USPS. For larger icons I build a crate and ship airfreight with Alaska Airlines.
Over the past thirty-five years I’ve shipped icons without any difficulty to locations throughout the continental United States, Mexico and Europe as well as to remote villages in my own state of Alaska.