Hand Painted Portraits
Pictures tell so much about our favourite places, people and special events.
I explore emotion and relationships through compiling personal photos, applying customized lighting and ongoing communication.
A portrait from two photographs
A very full family portraiT
A composite portrait using the theme of "clouds" to bring everyone into one piece.
details
Details of merged shapes and details brought out.
Texture brought out on animals.
Background and facial details.
Stylized shadows and lighting details on hands, arms and faces of two subjects.
A composite family portrait on two panels
A composite set of family portraits, referencing lighting from a hike, featuring a gorgeous valley and a strong back-light.
An Edge to Edge Touch
I extend the edges of the front image down the sides of the deep, wooden canvas, so that the sides are lovely all by themselves.
With multi-part portraits, I connect each of the segments on the front and on the sides, keeping in mind the theme and subject of each panel.
My goal is to keep the panels beautiful, independent of frames, and to unify them, even if they're spaced apart or around corners.
A Look Into My Process
Can't find the perfect shot? Don't worry, I can reference separate photos to tweak the lighting, and other elements.
Finding the Right Shot
We decide on the photos of subjects that make up the portrait, or you can provide a single shot of everyone together. At this stage, what matters is that the photos show who you want to be, even if they're a little fuzzy, dark or partial shots.
Lighting and tone
can be explored by photographs that look great, or that capture a memory, place or time that matters to you. Check out my blog post on using personal photos for creating mood boards.
Getting a Good Idea of the Painting
I combine all the references to form a mock-up of the lighting, and turn that into a digital sketch. The filter-adjusted photos give us an idea of the colours and layout, although, in some cases, I look at separate photos to nail down the details.
Note: the photos are not traced: Above, I've stylized the planes of the face by hand, to understand and accentuate the expressive features of each subject.
Turning Digital into Traditional
At this point, the sketch is printed and transferred onto the wooden panels, which I prime, sand and repeat until I achieve a smooth, finished surface. (This makes the gloss extra lovely.) I use acrylic paint and other coloured medium and make adjustments to the palette, to bring everything together.
Longevity and Finishing
I finish each portrait or set of portraits with fixative, isolation coat and multiple layers of varnish to ensure the longevity of every piece. This means no yellowing, easy clean up, and even scratch resistance.
I apply a professional-grade, solvent-based varnish, which can be removed and reapplied every 10 years. Given the subject matter and where you'd like to place it, the painting can be coated anywhere from extra-glossy to a matte finish.
What would you like to see?
I'm happy to talk about my process, like diving in to the montage shown below. If you have an idea for a portrait or you're not sure about what might work, feel free to contact me about it. I'm comfortable with a range of backgrounds and creatures, which you can find in a range of styles throughout my portfolio.
A portrait montage, featuring three ladies and four animals, made by selecting favourite Facebook photos, for a personal touch.
Thank you! I will get back to you when I receive your message. Feel free to look at the rest of my work, including comics!
FAQ
What size will the final painting be?
The size, depth and number of panels can be selected from a wide range, depending on your space, and other preferences.
What factors affect the Budget?
Elements like size, number of subjects and what's in the background can make paintings more complex, but I can always simplify. Part of the process is communicating what's important in your painting.
Additional changes, other than the included revisions, may take extra time and require more budget.
Shipping and transport we can factor based on your location, although, if you live in or near Vancouver, we might not have to ship anything.
Can I see what it looks like?
Yep! I will provide files and photos along the way, to make sure everyone and everything looks great.