To start your portrait, just fill out the form below
Once your form lands in my inbox, I’ll be in touch to request a few reference photos of the person or pet you’d like drawn. Having several options is helpful—it allows me to choose the photo that will translate most beautifully into a finished portrait.
You’ll find a guide to choosing great photos at the bottom of this page.
Payment is accepted via Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, or checks, with an invoice available upon request. A 50% deposit officially saves your spot, and the remainder is due before I ship your finished piece.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
GRAPHITE PORTRAITS
free U.S. shipping
WHICH PHOTOS WORK BEST
A good reference photo makes all the difference in creating a portrait that truly captures your loved one. The more visual information I have to work with, the easier it is to create a portrait that feels true to them — no professional photography required.
The ideal reference photo has:
Soft natural light (window light is perfect)
Gentle shadow for depth (not flat flash)
Eyes that are clear and in focus
A natural expression or slight turn of the head
Decent resolution (not tiny or heavily filtered)
If that already feels manageable, you’re off to a great start. Here are a few more tips that can help.
ANGLE & POSE
A slightly turned or 3/4 angle works beautifully, adding depth and form. Side views can also be very charming. Natural, relaxed poses almost always translate better than stiff or overly posed photos.
LIGHTING (WITH A LITTLE CONTRAST)
Soft natural light is ideal — especially light coming from one side, like near a window. Photos with gentle highlights and shadows tend to create the most dimensional, expressive portraits.
EXPRESSION
Candid moments and relaxed expressions often capture personality best. A photo that feels like them is always better than a perfect-but-forced smile.
FULL HEAD IN FRAME
Please make sure the entire head is visible in the photo. Cropped heads can be tricky to work from and limit what I can do compositionally.
PHOTOS THAT TEND NOT TO WORK AS WELL
Selfies, heavy filters, blurry images, harsh flash, blown-out lighting, or photos with very deep shadows across the face.
If you’re unsure whether a photo will work, you’re always welcome to send a few options — I’m happy to help you choose the best one.
Each portrait is drawn entirely by hand, with carefully layered tones, soft edges, and close attention to light and form, to create a timeless, expressive likeness that feels true to the subject.
Every piece is created with archival materials and finished ready to frame. Portraits are matted and framed in a simple off-white wood frame, chosen to feel timeless and at home in any space.
Please note: portraits of people are typically head-and-shoulders compositions unless otherwise approved. For pets, full-body portraits are always welcome. Turnaround time is based on current schedule and is shared before the commission is finalized.
COMING THIS YEAR
I’m currently developing a watercolor portrait offering, with larger sizes and a more painterly approach. These commissions are not yet open, but I’ll share details once they’re ready.
If you’d like to be notified when watercolor commissions open, you can join my email list here.
Submitting this form doesn’t commit you to a commission — it simply starts the conversation.
6x8 original graphite portrait, matted & framed to 9x12 — $325
Optional hand-lettered name (script or block letters) with larger frame — +$65
Now booking commissions for April 2026.