Painting Commissions
How it works to commission a painting - from portraits to landscapes & mastercopies
How Painting Commissions Work
Hannah paints from life using traditional materials & techniques typical of the 19th century - faithfully used by the old masters of portraiture & painting such as Singer Sargent and Sorolla, to as far back as Velázquez and Van Dyck. Painting in this way offers a meaningful experience for the client - sitting for a portrait painted from life can be a fun and collaborative process. A Photograph may capture a moment - but a portrait captures essence, personality and mood of the sitter that can transcend mere likeness.
Beyond portraiture, Hannah is available for other commissions such as still life, landscape painting and master copies of classical works.
While most projects are completed in Hannah’s studio in Florence, travelling to your location is also optional if needed for your project.
With over 15 years of experience consulting and collaborating with clients as a creative professional, Hannah has a sharpened toolkit for understanding a brief, setting goals, making the creative process transparent and communicating clearly with her clients to produce quality creative work.
If you are interested in commissioning a painting please contact Hannah below:
It has been such a pleasure to work with these clients that I’d like to share some of their feedback from the commission experience…
“I can’t even describe how wonderful it is to see the end result on our wall. Thank you so much for all your hard work and for making time to collaborate with us in Firenze! …We couldn’t have picked anyone better to complete our project.”
-Kim & Adrian, North Carolina
Painting Commission FAQ
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It depends on what is being commissioned. In the case of a portrait painting, we will organise how many sittings (where the subject is posing live in the artists studio) are needed for the complexity of the portrait. We find a happy balance between the availability of the sitter, and the best result possible for the painting.
When starting, usually a small study is made to arrange the composition of the work before preparing materials for the larger painting or drawing.
During the project, which might happen over a series of weeks (or months in the case of larger works) the client is emailed progress updates with photos. A final image is sent to the client on completion, to allow an opportunity for any final adjustments. We then allow the painting to dry before varnishing and transport.
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It depends on the complexity of the portrait. For example, a head and shoulders portrait that is life size would ideally take at least 6 live sessions to produce optimal results. It is always a matter of finding a happy balance between the availability of the sitter, and the best result possible for the painting.
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Ideally, yes. I am trained to paint from life and so the best results can be produced from life. Painting from life also allows for the delightful opportunity for the sitter to feel more involved in the painting process, and through observing someone from life, allows me to get a better idea of their personality, mannerisms and expressions, all which can inform the portrait much better than a photograph can.
In the case of painting a master copy or other type of commission, photo references might be necessary and can be discussed when beginning the project.
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It depends on the type of commission, which can vary greatly in subject matter and scale. Some smaller portrait paintings can be produced in 6 sessions, or a couple of weeks. Other, larger works can take several weeks or months to produce. Please feel free to email me with your idea to discuss.
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Yes! I have an excellent courier here in Florence who takes great care to ensure your painting arrives safely. They can organise boxing, customs paperwork, insurance and delivery.
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Though I usually work from my studio in Florence, it is possible to travel to your location depending on the time of year and duration of the project. Please feel free to reach out to enquire.