Commissioning a Portrait in Illinois
Hazel Morgan provides a bespoke portrait painting service to clients throughout Illinois. An award-winning artist with over four decades of professional experience, Hazel creates hand-painted oil portraits of exceptional quality for individuals, families, corporations, and institutions across the state.
From the boardroom to the family home, Hazel’s portraits have graced the walls of distinguished collectors, university halls, and corporate headquarters throughout Illinois. Each commission begins with a personal consultation and results in a work of enduring artistic merit.
Portrait Painting Services Available in Illinois
Hazel offers a comprehensive range of portrait styles and subjects to suit every occasion and setting. Each portrait is painted entirely by hand in fine oil paints on premium Belgian linen canvas, using techniques refined over a career spanning more than four decades.
Classical & Formal Portraits
Traditional oil portraits for private collections, family legacies, and formal settings. Available as head-and-shoulders, half-length, or full-length compositions.
Corporate & Boardroom Portraits
Distinguished portraits of CEOs, directors, chancellors, and civic leaders. Painted to the exacting standards expected by boardrooms and institutional collections.
Family & Child Portraits
Intimate portraits that capture the personality and spirit of children and families. Painted from photographs or sittings to create a cherished keepsake.
Pet & Equestrian Portraits
Beautifully detailed oil paintings of beloved pets, horses, and companion animals. Each painting conveys the unique character and personality of the subject.
Memorial & Posthumous Portraits
Sensitive and respectful memorial portraits created from photographs. A meaningful way to honor the memory of a loved one through fine art.
Academic & Institutional Portraits
Portraits of chancellors, professors, benefactors, and distinguished alumni for universities, schools, and learned societies.
Portrait Artist Illinois Area
As your trusted Portrait Artist Illinois, Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in Illinois and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
Portrait Services in Illinois Communities
- Portrait Artist Cook County | Commission a Portrait
- Portrait Artist Lake County | Commission a Portrait
- Portrait Artist McHenry County | Commission a Portrait
- Portrait Artist DuPage County | Commission a Portrait
- Portrait Artist Kane County | Commission a Portrait
How to Commission a Portrait from Illinois
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Illinois. The process has been refined over hundreds of commissions to ensure a seamless experience for every client.
Step 1: Initial Consultation
The process begins with a complimentary consultation — by telephone, video call, or email — during which Hazel discusses your vision for the portrait. This covers the subject, preferred composition, size, background, clothing, and any particular details you would like to include. There is no obligation at this stage.
Step 2: Photographs & References
For clients in Illinois, Hazel can work from professional photographs, high-quality personal photographs, or a combination of multiple reference images. She provides clear guidance on the types of photographs that produce the best results. Where feasible, live sittings can also be arranged.
Step 3: The Painting Process
Once the composition is agreed, Hazel begins painting. The process typically takes between six and twelve weeks depending on the complexity of the piece. Clients receive progress photographs at key stages so you can see the portrait taking shape and provide feedback before completion.
Step 4: Delivery & Framing
Completed portraits are professionally packaged for shipping. Shipping and framing costs are provided once the painting is complete. Hazel can also recommend master framers who specialise in fine art framing to complement your finished portrait. Clients in Illinois typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Consultation in Illinois
Every portrait commission is unique, and Hazel provides a personalized quotation based on your specific requirements. Factors such as the size of the canvas, the number of subjects, and the complexity of the composition are all discussed during an initial telephone consultation, which is entirely free and without obligation.
Hazel welcomes inquiries from clients in Illinois and is happy to talk through your ideas at a time that suits you. Whether you have a clear vision or are simply exploring the possibility of commissioning a portrait, she looks forward to hearing from you.
Why Clients in Illinois Choose Hazel Morgan
Hazel Morgan brings a rare combination of artistic excellence, professional reliability, and personal warmth to every commission. Here is what sets her apart:
Over 40 years of professional experience — Hazel has been painting portraits professionally since the early 1980s, amassing a body of work that spans hundreds of commissions for private, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide.
Award-winning recognition — Her work has been exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and other prestigious venues. She is a member of several leading art societies.
A personal, one-to-one service — Unlike studio operations, every portrait is painted entirely by Hazel herself. You deal directly with the artist from first consultation through to delivery, ensuring your vision is faithfully realised.
International shipping expertise — Hazel regularly ships completed portraits to clients across the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and beyond. Every painting is professionally packaged to arrive in perfect condition.
Complete satisfaction guaranteed — Hazel works closely with each client throughout the painting process. Progress images are shared at every stage, and adjustments are made until you are completely happy with the finished portrait.
Frequently Asked Questions — Portrait Commissions in Illinois
Hazel provides personalized quotations after an initial telephone consultation, during which she discusses your specific requirements. The consultation is complimentary and entirely without obligation. Please get in touch to arrange a convenient time to talk.
Not at all. The majority of Hazel’s commissions are painted from photographs, which makes the process convenient for clients in Illinois and beyond. Hazel provides guidance on the best types of photographs to supply. Live sittings can be arranged where practical.
Most portraits are completed within six to twelve weeks from the start of painting, depending on the complexity of the commission. Hazel provides a realistic timeline during the initial consultation. Rush commissions can sometimes be accommodated for special occasions.
Hazel has extensive experience working with a range of photographic references, including older or lower-resolution images. She can often combine multiple photographs to create a single cohesive portrait. During the consultation, she will advise on whether your available photographs are suitable.
Completed portraits are professionally packaged using custom-built crating and shipped via insured courier directly to your address in Illinois. Shipping and framing are quoted separately after the portrait is completed.
Client satisfaction is paramount. Hazel shares progress photographs at key stages throughout the painting process so you can provide feedback and request adjustments. This collaborative approach means that by the time the portrait is complete, it faithfully reflects your vision.
Why Hazel Loves Illinois
Hazel admires Illinois for the sheer depth of character it wears so openly. From the windswept prairies of the central plains to the electric pulse of Chicago's neighbourhoods, the state carries a kind of honest, unguarded energy that she finds deeply moving. Growing up hearing stories of the American Midwest, Hazel always imagined Illinois as a place of quiet strength and big ambition living side by side — and spending time there confirmed every bit of that feeling. It is a place where people seem genuinely comfortable in their own skin, and for a portrait artist, that quality is everything.
Hazel loves the way Illinois residents carry their stories so visibly. When she paints someone from Chicago's Pilsen neighbourhood — a community long shaped by Mexican-American culture, murals, and an enduring creative spirit — she can feel layers of history and pride in every sitting. Her clients from Illinois bring that same groundedness to the portrait process. They are open, warm, and refreshingly unselfconscious, which allows Hazel to reach past the surface and find the genuine expression she is always searching for. That ease of connection translates directly onto the canvas in ways that still surprise her.
Hazel also admires the cultural richness that Illinois has quietly built over generations. She has a particular affection for the Art Institute of Chicago, a place she regards as one of the most thoughtfully curated museums in the world. Standing in front of Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte there reminded her, powerfully, that great portraiture is really just careful, loving attention to the way people exist in the world. That reminder stays with her every time she picks up a brush.
Hazel also loves that Illinois has always celebrated figures of remarkable character and moral courage — Abraham Lincoln's deep roots in Springfield being perhaps the most enduring example. Visiting the Lincoln Home National Historic Site gave her a genuine sense of how a person's surroundings can shape their inner life, which is something she thinks about constantly when composing a portrait. Illinois, in all its variety and warmth, keeps giving her new reasons to feel inspired — and its people keep giving her the most rewarding faces to paint.
Ready to Commission Your Portrait?
Begin with a complimentary, no-obligation consultation. Hazel would love to discuss your portrait ideas and provide a personalized quotation for clients in Illinois.
Request a Free Consultation