Birthing Portrait:
Details

Thank you for your interest in commissioning a birthing portrait. The Birthing Portrait idea was born out of my personal observation that the journey into motherhood is often utterly transformational, and yet, in western culture, women and their experiences are minimally celebrated, honored, or supported as they cross this heroic threshold. This Birthing Portrait experience offers what so many women/birthing people long for: an opportunity to share their story, for that story to be received with reverence and held as sacred, and to be honored, celebrated, and symbolically welcomed into the circle of motherhood. This is done through a two part process: you will reflect on your experience of your fertility journey, pregnancy, birth and/or postpartum story, using a framework which I will provide. From those responses, I will draw inspiration and create a custom ceramic sculpture that powerfully represents your unique story, experience, and self.

About the Sculpture  

I work with raw, naked clay bodies, most often stoneware and porcelain, and create sculptures through the combined processes of wheel throwing and hand building. I incorporate various methods of layering to create texture in the piece and typically fire my pieces with primitive and alternative firing techniques. I will often use materials outside of the typical ceramic medium, incorporating acrylics, pastel, charcoal, beeswax, or stains into my sculptures. If you choose to work with me, your sculpture will be unique, and therefore the materials used will be unique. My sculptures are often described as being an anthropomorphic, abstract, and organic expression of the female form.

Pricing

Please email katherine@katherinehanks.com for pricing inquiries.

What to Expect

The Process

To book a commission, email me (katherine@katherinehanks.com) with your name, desired sculpture size, whether you have interest in additional offerings (mounts/bases), stylistic preferences, and anything else applicable. I will then send you an invoice for a 50% deposit, which, once paid, will reserve your commission slot. Shipping will be calculated and invoiced upon completion and shipment of your commissioned piece.

Once I receive the deposit, I will notify you of your projected commission date and  will send you a document entitled “Birthing Portrait Storytelling Prompt.” Read through this early on to give yourself plenty of time to reflect on your responses and thoughtfully and thoroughly respond. Perhaps set aside a “retreat day” or an uninterrupted morning to deeply engage with this part of the process. The more time you give yourself to spend on this part of the collaborative process, the more you’ll get out of the experience and the more inspiration I will have to engage with.

I will need your completed responses at least six weeks before your scheduled commission date.  This ensures that my commission schedule remains on track, and that I have plenty of time to compile all necessary materials for the creation of your sculpture without waiting on necessary components. Once I have received this information from you, I will give you an updated timeline.

Once your commission slot arrives, I may reach out to ask the occasional clarifying question, or to ask your opinion on a few design aspects. Otherwise, no further action is required from you and at this point, I will begin creating your sculpture!

There is typically a 3 month lead time which cannot be expedited due to the nature of the ceramic medium and process, so I ask that you please be patient with this part of the project. If you have requested that your piece be mounted on bronze, expect up to an additional two months for its fabrication.

Once your sculpture is complete, I will again connect with you to collect the remaining balance and schedule a pick up, delivery, or shipping time. If you have selected for your piece to be shipped, I work with a third party to safely pack and ship your sculpture and so expect some extra time for your work to safely arrive to you.

Availability
Currently, I am booked out until October 2024. Please note that the previously stated lead time is subject to change at any time if another commission is booked from the time this email is sent.

Policies 

Payment
Cash, checks (made payable to Katherine Hanks Studio), and any major credit card are accepted. A 50% non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required to book a commission slot and the remaining balance is due upon completion of the piece. 

Refunds
No refunds or credits of any payment will be granted after the storytelling prompts are due, 6 weeks prior to the scheduled commission date.