Oil Painted Portrait

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Oil Painted Portrait Commission

I’ve been oil painting for over ten years now. I work in layers, which takes time, but that’s part of why I like it. It’s how oil paint holds light and skin tone in a way other mediums don’t. An oil painted portrait isn’t a quick job, and that’s really the point of it.

Why oil, and why realism

My own style leans toward surrealism, but with an oil painted portrait commission I use realism and composition skills to move away from that, in a sense. What I’m after isn’t just a likeness, it’s trying to get at the qualities of a moment that stay with you, the kind of thing that imprints on memory. A portrait, done right, works a bit like reminiscence does.

How the process works

Send me a photo through the form above, ideally one with good lighting so I can read the tone and form properly. I paint in layers, building up the piece over several sessions rather than in one go, which is part of why an oil painted portrait takes longer than a drawing would. I’ll check in partway through if there’s anything specific about the likeness or mood you want me to get right, so we’re not adjusting after it’s already finished.

Materials and framing

I paint on canvas board, and each piece comes framed and ready to hang. I keep the framing simple, usually a plain wood or black frame, so the painting itself stays the focus rather than the frame competing with it.

Sizes and pricing

A5 is £100. A4 is £175. Larger sizes or multiple subjects are available, just get in touch for a quote. Turnaround is normally around two weeks, sometimes longer depending on how many commissions I have on at once.

Common questions

What kind of photo should I send?
Clear, well lit, and reasonably high resolution. If the photo’s too dark or blurry I’ll ask for another before I start, since the painting can only be as good as the reference.

Can I commission a pet, or more than one person?
Yes, though it’ll need a custom quote rather than the standard price above.

How is the portrait delivered?
Framed and packaged securely. I post within the UK as standard and can arrange international shipping on request.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes. Get in touch if you’re outside the UK for a shipping estimate before commissioning.

If you want something similar at a lower price point, I also do trois crayon portraits in charcoal and sanguine. Or have a look through my portfolio to see more of the oil work before commissioning your own oil painted portrait.