Charcoal Portraits
from Photographs

I specialize in realistic fine art charcoal portraits. All art portraits are hand drawn using charcoal on high quality 140 lb watercolor paper.

I strive for a realistic interpretation of the subject; however my goal is not to imitate the reference material but to obtain a truthful and accurate depiction of the subject. A strong likeness happens naturally during the drawing process. My art portraits consist mainly of custom commission charcoal portraits drawn from the client's favorite family photo of a particular individual or pet.

You may purchase a gift certificate which makes a wonderful gift for baby showers, weddings, anniversaries, graduations or birthdays. Gift certificates make great wedding gifts as the bride and groom are able to work directly with me to have their portrait drawn from their very favorite wedding photo.

Commissioning a custom charcoal portrait is a truly elegant way to capture your memories.

Commissioning the portrait

To commission a charcoal portrait I require a 50% deposit in order to start the commission. When I’m half way done I will scan or take a digital picture of the progress and e-mail it to the client. If everything is satisfactory then I will continue to finish the commission and will ship the portrait as soon as the final payment is received.

Photo Tips

The better the quality of the photo used in the portrait, the better quality of portrait I am able to produce. So choose a portrait that is clear and shows the subject in the best light. The photo can be e-mailed to me or air mailed.

Commission Fees

Head and Shoulders charcoal portrait 11x14 of one individual $125⁰⁰

Head and Shoulders charcoal portrait 11x14 of two individuals $225⁰⁰

A portrait down to the waist 11x14 of one individual $175⁰⁰

A portrait down to the waist 11x14 of two individuals $300⁰⁰

Pets add $50⁰⁰ per portrait

Other sizes of portraits can be discussed on an individual basis depending on the intricacy of the project.

Ordering Artwork

Use my contact form or email me providing details of the portrait(s) you would like commissioned. Forward me your photo(s) by email or by regular mail. See Photo Tips for best results.
Once I receive 50% of the portrait price I can start the commission. Half way through the commission I can scan and e-mail or mail you a copy, if you’re happy with the progress then I shall proceed to finish the commission.
Once completed and you are fully happy with the portrait, I will invoice you for the balance owing. Once received, I will ship your artwork.

Note: Turnaround time for portraits is usually 2 weeks (allow 5 days for shipping) but can vary depending on the number of commissions I am working on. If you need the portrait for a specific date, please let me know.

Each graphite portrait takes 15-20 hours to complete and is typically drawn on a sheet of 11 x 14 Arches watercolor paper. All artwork is created using acid free archival materials and is delivered with an invisible protective coating to ensure smudging and fading does not occur over time.

Images can be sent either by regular mail or by email. Just see the tips at Photo Tips for selecting and sending your photos. The actual area of the portrait for a single or double portrait is 8 x 10 to allow for framing which I can provide or it can be done once you receive the portrait. If your portrait contains 3 subjects or more, the actual area of the portrait is 11 x 14 to ensure the level of detail can be achieved unless otherwise requested. Arrangements can be made so you can monitor the progress of your portrait, at your request.