Central Texas Photographer Franco Washington, A.K.A. Love’s Apprentice, is also a painter know for his colorful interpretations of queer figures and life-like portraits. His subjects are wide-ranging and have included accomplished individuals in community activism, academia, and black- queer pop culture. Love’s Apprentice is also known for including African Inspired patterns and color stories to depict the cultural origins and to express the cultural pride of his subjects.
Recently, Love’s Apprentice portrait work has recently become more personal, merging new figures with revisited themes and emotions captured in his early works. With increasing demand for commissioned works, Love’s Apprentice is reimaging the beauty of those who want to be captured by his brush, turning an otherwise ordinary photo into an artistic manifestation. In 2023, Love’s Apprentice has exhibited works in the stage productions Patches and Joy, by the Mahogany Project and was commissioned to paint the first portrait of Priscilla Hale to be exhibited in the Pricilla Hale Art Center for Allgo in Austin, TX.
Love’s Apprentice is going back to the basics and incorporating the same clouds, textures, shapes, and emotions of his earlier work to symbolize the connection between the past and the present which works to reveal certain truths masked by time, change and conformity. Embellishing his works with floating shapes surrounding figures of people, Love’s Apprentice developed his own visual vernacular to explore themes of nostalgia, status, pride, opportunity, strength, vulnerability, and power.
When looking back on the stylistic and conceptual approach of Love’s Apprentice’s body of work, it is going to be exciting to see where his work will evolve to. His vibrant paintings has trended darker and darker offering more contrast to the images he creates. He still often portrays queer influencers, past and present. He surrounds himself with the colors and emotional vibrance that fill his paintings. The walls of Love’s Apprentice Taylor, Texas based studio are covered with colorful, patterned artwork he’s painted throughout the years, many of which are just for his personal musings.
Love’s Apprentice’s portraiture is always a visual reminder of the importance of seeing examples to aspire to. Having grown up in a culture with a narrowly defined ideal of masculinity, love, and success, Love’s Apprentice’s works rebuild what it actually means to be a seen. His portraits wholly convey the hope for those it reaches to be utterly themselves in spite of who they believed they were.
Commissions q&A
Am I currently accepting commissions?
Yes, I accept a limited number of commissions annually. Securing your spot in the queue 3-4 months prior to your desired delivery date is advised. Please submit an inquiry here.
What are your price ranges for commissions?
All commissioned works include a sketch fee (deposit) of 25% of total artwork cost. Commissions vary in price based on the medium, scale, and subject matter. I'd be happy to draft an estimate for you. Please submit an inquiry and I will follow up with an overview of the process and initial details I’ll need to provide a price range for your project. On average, the cost for commissioned artwork by Love’s Apprentice is $1.25 per square inch.
How do commissions work?
Most commissions begin with a simple description of your commission vision. The following
details help expedite my reply:
- (1) An example of the mood, vibe, feeling of the artwork you’d like commissioned
- (2) Your desired artwork size (roughly), orientation, and medium (canvas, wood, metal, oil, acrylic, etc..)
- (3) Your target receive-by date. I’’l then reply with an overview of the process and next available kick-off dates.
Once we arrive at a general direction, size, and budget, I’ll use your sketch fee to create a mockup of your desired image. Upon acceptance of your sketch, we’ll lock-in a spot (expected completion date) in my commission queue.
What can I expect when I order a commission?
The timeline for a typical commission is as follows:
Basic details confirmed & next available kick-off established.
Sketch fee paid.
2-3 weeks following sketch fee payment, you will receive a mockup of desired image via email.
Once mockup is accepted, spot in commission queue is secured. I will also send your estimated project delivery date at this time.
I begin preparing for your piece, building the background and sourcing materials.
At project kick-off, I get to work on your piece.
I’ll send progress updates and requests for feedback along the way.
A final photo will be sent for approval prior to pickup/delivery.
Do I get to offer feedback during the process?
Absolutely. Feedback is encouraged throughout the process, but most importantly (1) in the planning stages when sending details about your desired completed artwork; and (2) when you receive the mock-up for review.
What kind of information do you need from me to make my commissioned artwork?
You are part of the process! I encourage you to gather and send materials for reference in the creation of your commission such as inspiration images, favorite past works, design boards, interior color schemes, personalized touches, etc. Photos of the room where the artwork will hang + detailed wall/furniture dimensions are also useful.
Can I return a commissioned artwork?
Unfortunately, I do not provide refunds for commissioned artworks, but if unsatisfied with you piece, you may return it to Love’s Apprentice at no cost to you.
