One of my favorite parts of my job has been creating custom portraits for people. It is all pretty new to me but after I opened up my Etsy shop and started getting commissions to create peoples portraits has been proved to be really amazing.

Creating a custom portrait is a bit like a puzzle. Most of the time, these people  are strangers to me. All I have is a few pictures and the little bit of info the subject gives me. But there is so much information a picture can give. That saying, " A picture is worth a thousand words", is so true when trying to paint someone new. The way the subject holds themselves, what they wear, that glimmer in their eye, says so much.

In my latest portrait I created a portrait of a cool high school girl who wanted a something different for her graduation party invitations. I loved her style, she would definitely would have been one of those kids I looked up to. Here's the pic...



The Sketching begins...I have to really focus on her wonderful bangs and eyes.


I also look at a lot of incredible incredible daguerreotypes online for inspiration...

Via George Eastman House

 In progress...making some changes and adjustments. Since this portrait had pets, I had to get all them just right too. Looking for just the right cat spots to make the kitty's look just right...
 


All my illustrations are done the old fashioned way of painting over a graphite drawing with many layers of watercolor and gouache paints. I keep adding light layers of paint until I get the desired colors and just the right feeling...


Here is the final portrait!
 


Didn't it turn out sweet?

If you are interested in me creating a custom portrait for you, check out more examples of my custom work here.

Here's to more portraits!