The term 'portrait painting' can also describe a painted portrait. Portraitists create their portraits by commission or are inspired by admiration or affection for the subject. If an artist portrayes him- or herself, the result is called a self-portrait.



Portraits can depict the subject 'full body', 'half length' or 'head and shoulders'. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait.

Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil ? especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body and gloss. Other oils occasionally used include poppyseed oil, walnut oil, and safflower oil. These oils confer various properties to the oil paint, such as less yellowing or different drying times. Certain differences are also visible in the sheen of the paints depending on the oil. Painters often use different oils in the same painting depending on specific pigments and effects desired. The paints themselves also develop a particular feel depending on the medium.

Traditional oil painting techniques often begin with the artist sketching the figure onto the canvas with charcoal or a "wash," which is thinned paint. Oil paint can be mixed with turpentine or artist grade mineral spirits or other lean vehicles to create a thinner, faster drying paint. Then the artist builds the figure in layers. A basic rule of oil paint application is 'fat over lean.' This means that each additional layer of paint should be a bit oilier than the layer below, to allow proper drying. As a painting gets additional layers, the paint must get oilier (leaner to fatter) or the final painting will crack and peel. There are many other painting media that can be used in oil painting, including cold wax, resins, and varnishes. These additional media can aid the painter in adjusting the translucency of the paint, the sheen of the paint, the density or 'body' of the paint, and the ability of the paint to hold or conceal the brushstroke.

Do you want to have your own masterpiece from your photo ?

How to choose photos?

Better photo lead to better results in painting.

Following criteria is very important to be able to produce the best custom painting for you, please follow it as close as possible:

1. Make sure you like the photo! Try choose something similar to your idea.

2. The picture is in sharp focus, blury pictures are not the best choise!

3. Eye colour must clearly be visible, better not have red eye.

4. Hair colour and style should be clearly visible.

5. Close up shots work better than where the subject matter is further away.

6. Light in photos are very important, better choose pics with more light, that dark on.

7. Photos where the subject matter is at a slight angle are better, rather than being 'face on'. This allows the painter to capture more depth of character.

However again don't obsess over picking the perfect photo-the main thing is that you should like whatever you send in to us. We will then perform our magic. Most photos sent to us will not meet all the above criteria. If you are having any difficulties with getting your photos to us, please contact us.