Portrait commissions with likeness, gravity, and a pulse
I am open for portrait commissions in acrylic. These are built for more than resemblance alone. The aim is a portrait with believable structure, clear presence, disciplined color, and enough painterly life to keep the result from feeling embalmed.
Whether you want a self-portrait, a gift, a memorial piece, or a portrait for your home or professional space, I can develop a work that feels personal without collapsing into sentimentality or generic polish.
What I offer
- Head-and-shoulders portraits for collectors, homes, and offices
- Self-portraits and personal milestone commissions
- Memorial portraits approached with seriousness and restraint
- Gift portraits that aim higher than novelty
- Painterly or more restrained handling depending on the project
Most portrait commissions begin from strong reference photos and a clear discussion of size, tone, and how formal or expressive the final painting should be.
What clients can expect
I care about the bone structure, the asymmetries, the value relationships, and the small decisions that make a human face read as a particular person rather than a generic template.
In plain English: the eyes need to hold, the head needs to feel built rather than pasted together, and the painting needs to look alive at ten feet and at ten inches.
A good portrait should not just say, “Yes, that looks like them.” It should also say, “There they are.”
What I need from you
Reference photos
Clear, well-lit images matter. The better the references, the better the portrait. If you have several options, send them and I will tell you which ones are actually useful.
Size and setting
Tell me where the piece will live and roughly how large you want it to be. A portrait for a hallway, office, or living room should be designed with the space in mind.
Timeline and budget
Give me the real deadline and the real budget range. That saves both of us from pretending miracles are a scheduling strategy.
Preferred mood
More restrained realism? More painterly interpretation? Something direct and severe? Something warmer and quieter? Say so, and we build accordingly.
Typical formats
- Canvas or panel
- Common sizes include 8×10, 11×14, 12×16, and 16×20
- Head-and-shoulders compositions are usually the strongest starting point
- Local Austin pickup or delivery when possible; shipping depends on size and destination