How to Commission a Portrait Oil Painting from a Photograph and Custom Artwork
No matter the size of the portrait , from a Little Portrait Painting to a “focal point of the room” artwork, I strive to create a portrait painting that is more than a mere reproduction of the photographic image you have supplied. I work to capture the emotion hidden behind the photo, to create a connection between the viewer and the artwork, and reveal on the canvas that the eyes are indeed “the mirror to the soul”. This holds true whether the portrait is of a child, a respected figure, beloved pet, or the polar bear.
Please scroll down for more info and price list.
This 18” x 24” colour portrait of a father and sons in an Alberta wheat field was created from a black and white photo .
I offer three categories of portraiture - all are given the same loving attention.
Traditional portraiture from a photograph you supply. Whether 10” or 72” high, your portrait is created in the finest quality professional oil paints on professional canvas. Please scroll down for some examples of my portrait painting in different sizes.
“Little Portrait Paintings”. is a special I have been offering for years. These are 6” x 6” traditional portraits of the face only from a photograph you supply. Suitable for people (especially adorable for babies or toddlers) and pets, perfectly sized & priced for the unique, heartfelt gift celebrating that milestone birthday, special occasion or beloved pet. Finest quality oil paint on professional artist canvas. Two portraits, for example, siblings, can be created either on a 6” x 12” canvas or two 6” x 6” canvases.
Object portraiture & custom art, favourite animal & more: I was thrilled to be commissioned to to paint the portrait of the oldest living polar bear in captivity (perhaps even on the planet) . But, a favourite canoe? A beautiful old tree? An heirloom high chair? Your lifetime home? All are suitable as portraiture, too! Please feel free Contact me with your ideas.
Please continue to scroll down for more info and price list.
20” x 16” oil painting on canvas. This portrait was created from a black and white photo of a beloved grandmother in her youth. I was given a description of her colouring. Isn’t she beautiful?! please scroll down for more info and portrait examples.
6” x 6” Little Portrait Painting of a toddler girl from a photo supplied. Please keep in mind that if you are looking at this on your computer , you are probably seeing it larger than it is in life.
Prices for an original oil painting from a photo you supply.
These prices are for a single portrait (one face of a person or pet ) with a neutral background. Prices for portraits with detailed backgrounds are listed separately. Please contact me for a quote if the artwork is to have more than one person and/or pet in it .
Live in the Toronto area? Arrange a curb side pick up & save on shipping.
6” x 6” Only one face per this size. 225 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping
6” x 12” This size is used for two 6” x 6” portraits, e.g. a couple, two siblings, two pets 450 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping.
12” x 12” one portrait of a person’s face. 500 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping
12” x 12” of a pet. A face, possibly complete body (depends on photo). Neutral background. 500 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping
12” x 12” Pet Portrait Composite. For example : three stages life as in painting below. 600 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping.
16” x 20” face only. Possibly complete body of a pet. 800 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping.
16” x 20” face only. Possibly complete body of a pet. Detailed Background. 1130 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping.
20” x 20” face only. Possibly complete body of a pet. 800 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping.
20” x 20” face only. Possibly complete body of a pet. Detailed background 1130.00 (incl. hst) + shipping.
18” x 24” face , shoulders , or complete body of pet, neutral background 900 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping
18” x 24” Face, shoulders, or complete body of pet, and detailed background 1130 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping
24” x 24” Pet portrait face or full body 1130 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping.
24” x 24” one person - face + portrait 1130 CAD (incl. hst) + shipping
24” x 24” one person or pet with detailed background 1450CAD (incl. hst) + shipping
IMPORTANT! Paintings are not returnable. 50% of the agreed upon price must be paid before the portrait begins and is non refundable.
Larger size? Please contact me here to discuss your concept.
About detailed backgrounds: Some backgrounds are similar to neutral ones & no additional fee is necessary. e.g., “painterly” clouds. A complex background, such as an intricate floral couch becomes a portrait in itself. It all depends on the size of the portrait & the extra time & paint required. I will inform you before hand - no surprises!
Also of note: commissions are completed in the order received. If you have a special date in mind, the sooner you order, the better. Paintings need time for design, creation, drying, packing (packing a large painting can be more than a day‘s work! ) and shipping.
Please scroll down for more info & to view more portraits. Please feel free to Contact me.
6” x 6” Little Portrait Painting of a little boy. Oil on canvas.
Please continue to scroll down for more information and portrait examples.
!8”h x 24” w. Portrait of a beautiful farm dog in memorial. This is a good example of a complex background. For this painting it was an important nod to this lovely dog’s life.
Here is an example of how the portrait process works. Although located in another city quite far from me, Christina Succi (above right), a wonderful CTV Ottawa reporter and anchor, found my art online through social media. Through email we discussed the heartfelt inspiration for the portrait, who it was for. Size, deadline and price were decided, too. When the portrait was complete I sent her clear photos of the portrait. Christina was able to pick up the portrait in person. If Burlington, ON. is handy to you, you can, too. However, shipping the portrait to my clients is usually the norm for me. I have completed commissions for as far east as the United Kingdom and Denmark, and to the west, Washington State and Oregon in the USA.
By the way, I feel extreme gratitude to my clients, whether collectors, or first time art buyers, for the trust they show me, by commissioning me to paint a portrait, so dear to their heart.
Polar Bear commission. Private collection. For this portrait of a beautiful old bear, I created a background of northern lights, stars and and a suggestion of water and ice. When planning your portrait, consider the background you might enjoy.
Custom painting commission- a portrait of a green canoe. The client commissioned a 48” x48” x 1.5” oil painting inspired by a 8” x 8” canoe painting she had seen in my sold Archived (sold) Art in the menu to the left.
Some More Info -
1. 6” x 6” x 0.75” People & Pet Portrait Oil Paintings on Canvas
6” x 6” portrait paintings have become a specialty of mine. Charming in size, but large enough for a clear portrait of a face. This is an affordable entry into traditional realism portraiture.
From a photo(s) you supply
225 CAD + shipping
Edges are painted giving a nice finish. Usually I carry the colour of the background around the edges, but sometimes a black edge works better.
Wired, ready to hang. But also suitable for display on a table easel or a shelf.
Almost every one of these 6” x 6” portraits has been commissioned by someone who desires to give a unique gift out of love for the recipient. How wonderful is that?!
I have painted 6” x 6” portraits of babies, toddlers, girls, boys, couples at different stages of life, dogs, and cats. Special gifts from great grandma to twin great grandson babies, a loving aunt who gifts all her nieces and nephews on their first birthday, wedding and anniversary gifts, special memories together, and, of course, the beloved pet, quite often in memoriam. For more examples, please scroll down.
2. Larger, Traditional Portrait Paintings
I have painted larger scale portraits up to 6 feet high, including 5 foot tall canvases of cats!
I was honoured to be awarded the portrait painting (72” x 48”) commission of Dr. Oscar Peterson, the late jazz great. This was presented to then Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion and the Peterson Family, and now hangs in The Living Arts Centre in Canada’s 6th largest city.
I have also been honoured to create the portrait of a McGill University Dean, an award-winning portrait of an army private, loving tributes in memoriam, adorable siblings, and more.
All deserving of special attention to bring the memory, the character, the love, to life on the canvas.
To see more examples, please scroll down.
For inquiries about portraits from photos you supply , please contact me here.
3. The Process
It’s simple!
Find the photo you love that is in focus, and where the facial features are clearly seen (please, no professional photographer’s photos as they have copyright).
Consider the size of portrait you desire, and the date you need it for. Imagining where you might display it will help with choosing the size.
Feel free to ask me any questions. Don’t worry! There’s no obligation, Contact me.
Email me the photo(s) you would like to work with. I’ll take a look to ensure that I can work from it.
Here’s my email. Contact me.
We discuss further details via email (so we’re both on the same page about what is desired).
For paintings larger than 12” x 12”, a non refundable 50% deposit is required by PayPal or e-transfer. This is the industry norm.
The painting begins using the finest professional quality oil paints, usually Windsor & Newton on professional artist canvas.
The edges of the canvas are painted, giving it a finished look. It is not framed, but is wired and ready to hang.
As soon a I complete the portrait and it is dry (oils take a while), I email you a high quality image of the completed painting for your approval.
Paintings are not returnable, but, rest assured, you will have see a good photo of it before final payment is requested.
After full payment is received, by either PayPal or e- transfer, the portrait is carefully packaged, then shipped, with tracking and insurance. I email you the tracking number.
Your portrait arrives!
This is a 16” x 20” oil painting portrait of three very special fur babies commissioned as a special gift from one spouse for another. The dog in this painting is not in scale to the two Ragdoll cats. The painting was approached as if three separate portraits even though the two cats are together. I was asked to add the blue bow tie.
This 12” 12” doggo portrait was commissioned as a surprise Christmas gift from one partner to another. The client requested the Hunter green background which carries around the edge. The client also supplied a photo of this beautiful collar, that I added with gold paint.
This 16” x 20” nostalgic and loving portrait of a father with his sons was commissioned as a surprise gift for the Mom. It was created from a black and white photo. Some additional photos were supplied to show the boys’ colouring at that age. I had to do some research on wheat for this one, as it wasn’t clear in the photo exactly how it looked. Don’t you love the concentration on their faces?
This dear little face is an example of a recent 6” x 6” oil painting commission. One of the fun things for me as an artist is that when a new sibling comes along, I often am asked to create their portrait, too! An honour!
Dog Portrait. 3 Stages. Commissioned in loving memoriam. 12” x 12”. Oil. Private collection. This was commissioned as a very thoughtful surprise gift. I was supplied with quite a few photos from which I chose the best references.
Sisters. 18” x 24”. Shown as square. Commissioned as a surprise gift from husband to wife. Private collection.