I accept digital photographs and scans of conventional photographs via upload on this website for commissioned portraits.  The photo must be in-focus and preferably sent in the original size as shot, (i.e. not compressed or reduced in any way, as this greatly reduces image quality).  At least 1MB (1,000 KB) files are preferred.  It may be a snapshot showing a person's particular expression that you want to be made into a painting, not necessarily a professionally shot studio portrait.  Whatever the photo, please know that the face in the portrait will look the same as what is shown in the portrait.  I do not reposition the subject's body or other parts.  Lighting conditions are changeable to a certain degree, but if there are heavy shadows on the face I may not be able to determine how the subject actually looks, so these may be reproduced in the work. 

Portraits will be bust-length (face with neck and shoulders/top of chest) or with torso as you specify.  Full body is available at additional charge, depending on the subject. I am able to combine subjects from different photos into the same painting.  In these cases it looks best when the lighting conditions are similar in the photographs.  Please email me photo samples for my approval prior to upload.

If no digital photo is available, I do accept printed photos for a $10 surcharge in the event that the dimensions of your original print differ from the dimensions of the new artwork.  Professional portraits with a heavily textured finish may not be acceptable, as these may not scan well into the computer. (My process requires the image to be scanned even though no part of the finished piece will be computer-generated in any way).  If you have questions about printed photos and what is possible, please contact me directly.

I make all portraits on gallery-wrap style canvas, available with either .75" depth or 1.5" depth.  For pieces that will be framed I use the .75" depth, and the 1.5" depth canvas will be used for pieces that will hang unframed on the wall, unless specified otherwise by you.  I have frame options available at your request.  All pieces that will intentionally be left unframed will be finished with hanging wire in back.  Please specify whether or not you plan to frame your portrait so that I may finish it accordingly.

Please note that when you order a custom portrait, you are buying an artist's vision.  I will do my best to accommodate any special color requests, etc., but do understand that the piece will be my interpretation of your photograph, not a copy of it.  If you have any concerns or specific desires, please make your expectations clear before ordering. I do speak to all my clients regarding their specific needs and work closely with them in order to create a piece of art that they will truly enjoy.

Commissioned portraits are priced per size; however I reserve the right to adjust pricing based on the difficulty of the portrait.  Wedding and anniversary portraits look best in 14" x 18" and larger sizes.  Please allow 3 to 5 weeks for completion and shipment.