A portrait can be created for various reasons--as a gift to someone that you care about, as a way of remembering how someone looks (or looked) at a certain age, to express an inner feeling about a subject, as a formal rendering with perfect likeness or something a little more whimsical. Here you will see five different portraits of very different people, male and female, and all in a unique style. Take a look and think about what you want, the style you'd like to see, the medium, the size.

With all of these I have used photographs as well as live sittings, and have worked over sketches of each person until I get just the right mood and sense of likeness. I can use photos you have taken and emailed to me as well--the actual person need not come to the studio. Prices vary depending on size, medium and quantity of detail, and, once we have decided on the these issues, then half of the settled price is due before the portrait is begun. The other half of the amount due would be sent after the portrait is complete--and I can provide a contract with these features, including the final date the portrait will be finished. Please take a look and let me know what you are looking for. These are just samples and each one reflects the personality and tastes of the sitter. Click on the small thumbnail to see the larger version of the portrait.

This portrait was created in watercolor, in a slightly formal style, with the subject in a soft, white gown, hair natural & waving gently, and gestures very in tune with her personality. She is a sweet young woman, age 25, who loves butterflies, the blue and purple glory of hydrangeas and the outdoors. At times she struggles with mood swings and depression, and this is reflected in the storm clouds gathering in the background, as well as the weeping willow tree--the flowers, butterflies and tree are all native to her home in the deep South. The Bluebird of Happiness, though, flies from those darkened skies, holding in his beak a ribbon with her name, birhdate and birthplace--a symbol of Life and Joy.

This young man is Puerto Rican, with thick, black curly hair and exotic Egyptian eyes. I was very struck by his face the very first time we came in contact with each other. He is very creative, a fine photographer and has a friendly, flamboyant personality--and yes, he is gay. He was 20 years old at the time of this portrait, in fine physical condition, and wanted his portrait to show a little of his upper body. The collar is a fantasy--I put him in this style collar because he always looked quite Egyptian to me, and he was very pleased with the result (of course, we consulted on it first). He has had many compliments on this acrylic portrait, and it is included in the "Potpourri of Paintings" section of this website, where it has been requested as a print many times.

I really love this piece because it is not only a portrait, but a devotional painting as well. The lady who requested this is a devout Catholic, a member of the Legion of Mary (thus you see their emblem on the table to the right), who adores animals--she not only has a house full of them but is also a local Wildlife Rescuer to whom the city sends baby animals when they are found in parks or along roads being built. She asked that she be portrayed at the feet of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who should be shown as a young and lovely Jewish girl (NOT blonde and blue-eyed), with the Legionaire's Vow over the top. Each animal, flower and bird in this portrait was chosen specifically for her personal taste, as was the icon of her favorite Saint (on the left), St. Peter Claver. She wept when she received this portrait, and said it expressed perfectly her deep and childlike faith in the Divine Mother.

This is actually a pencil and watercolor portrait of one of my favorite actors, Hugh Laurie, in his role as Dr. Greg House, seen on FOX TV on Monday nights. His character is very intelligent and yet also quite dark, having to deal with crippling pain every waking hour, and this shows itself in his bitingly sarcastic wit and cruel sense of humor. Dr. House is not a man who cares particularly about his personal appearance, and regularly shows up to work in jeans, t-shirts with old rock band logos, sneakers and a 5-o'clock shadow from hell. His depression and inner despair are what mostly comes through on this piece, I think, along with the discomfiting stare he often aims at patients and co-workers alike. This is a straight forward portrait, with the intense blue of his eyes emphasized. I have also included a series of expression studies I created with him as the subject.

This elegant lady has closets full of beautiful clothes and dozens of pair of shoes,but we decided to go with a designer gown from the 1950s, captured from an old Vogue magazine--a coral-colored Spanish jacket with loads of black jet beading and a tight fitting skirt of deep sage-green, brushed satin with a sweeping attached train. The drama and beauty of this outfit really does fit her own personality, and we were quite pleased with it. She was around age 28 at the time, with clear light olive skin draw tightly across her high cheekbones, smoky, moody eyes and a sardonic expression around the mouth. The portrait was created in the style of the old Vogue fashion illustrations and has become a popular print in the "Potpourri of Paintings" section of this site as well. The detail on the right is a close-up of the face.