Commissioning a Portrait in Kirkwood, Missouri
If you are looking for a portrait artist in Kirkwood, Hazel Morgan offers a truly personal fine art service to clients throughout Kirkwood, Missouri and the surrounding area. With over four decades of professional experience, Hazel has built an international reputation for creating exquisite hand-painted oil portraits that capture the character, warmth, and individuality of each subject.
Whether you live in the heart of Kirkwood or in the wider St. Louis County, MO region, commissioning a portrait from Hazel is a straightforward and enjoyable process. Portraits can be painted from professional photographs, personal snapshots, or — where practical — from live sittings arranged at a location convenient to you.
Portrait Painting Services Available in Kirkwood
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 Kirkwood Area
As your trusted Portrait Artist Kirkwood, Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in Kirkwood and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
How to Commission a Portrait from Kirkwood
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Kirkwood, Missouri. 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 Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Consultation in Kirkwood
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 Kirkwood, Missouri 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 Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood
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 Kirkwood 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 Kirkwood. 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 Kirkwood
Hazel admires Kirkwood with a depth of feeling that goes well beyond professional courtesy. There is something genuinely grounding about this St. Louis neighbourhood, with its tree-lined streets, its unhurried pace, and the quiet pride its residents carry in the place they call home. The historic Kirkwood Historical Society reflects exactly the kind of layered, lived-in character that Hazel finds herself drawn to again and again — a community that values its own story and isn't in any rush to forget it. For a portrait painter who believes that every face holds a history worth honouring, that sensibility feels like an natural fit.
Hazel loves the warmth that Kirkwood clients bring to their sittings. People here tend to arrive unhurried, ready to talk, and genuinely curious about the process. That openness makes all the difference in portrait work, where trust between painter and subject shapes everything — the quality of a glance, the ease of a posture, the way a person's personality begins to settle into the canvas. She has noticed that many of her Kirkwood clients share a deep affection for their community, whether they're regulars at the beloved Kirkwood Farmers Market or long-time visitors to the cultural offerings along Argonne Drive. That rootedness gives Hazel something real to work with, something she can feel beneath the surface of a portrait rather than simply observe.
Hazel also admires the way Kirkwood balances its heritage with genuine vitality. The neighbourhood doesn't feel frozen in time — it feels cared for. Meacham Park, with its own distinct history woven into the broader fabric of the area, reminds Hazel that communities are rarely simple, and that the most meaningful portraits rarely are either. Complexity, she believes, is where the real beauty lives, both in people and in places.
Hazel also loves returning to Kirkwood because it reminds her why she became a portrait artist in the first place. It isn't about capturing a likeness — it's about sitting with someone long enough to understand what makes them themselves. Kirkwood, with its richness of character and its quietly proud residents, gives her that opportunity time and time again, and she is genuinely grateful for it.
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 Kirkwood, Missouri.
Request a Free Consultation