Commissioning a Portrait in Erie, Maine
If you are looking for a portrait artist in Erie, Hazel Morgan offers a truly personal fine art service to clients throughout Erie, Maine 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 Erie or in the wider York County, ME 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 Erie
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 Erie Area
As your trusted Portrait Artist Erie, Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in Erie and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
How to Commission a Portrait from Erie
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Erie, Maine. 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 Erie, 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 Erie typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Consultation in Erie
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 Erie, Maine 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 Erie 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 Erie
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 Erie 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 Erie. 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 Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania carries a distinct character that Hazel finds genuinely compelling — a lakeside city shaped by industry, resilience, and a surprisingly vibrant creative spirit. What captivates Hazel about Erie is the way Lake Erie itself defines so much of the city's personality, from the sweeping natural beauty of Presque Isle State Park to the working waterfront that speaks to generations of hardworking families. The Erie Art Museum, with its long-standing commitment to showcasing regional and national artists, reinforces for Hazel just how seriously this community takes artistic expression. Erie's neighborhoods — from the historic elegance of the West Bayfront to the revitalized energy along East 12th Street — are home to people with deep roots and rich personal histories, exactly the kind of layered human stories that Hazel believes deserve to be honored in oil paint.
Hazel is particularly drawn to the cultural traditions that make Erie such a distinctive place. The Celebrate Erie summer festival draws tens of thousands to the downtown streets each year, celebrating local music, food, and community pride in a way that reveals the genuine warmth of Erie's people. The Erie Philharmonic, one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the country, speaks to a city that has long valued beauty and craft — values that resonate deeply with Hazel's own dedication to her portrait work. She also admires the way the Bayfront District has evolved into a gathering place that balances natural scenery with civic energy, and how Flagship Niagara League keeps Erie's extraordinary maritime heritage alive through the US Brig Niagara. These are communities and institutions that understand legacy, and that understanding is something Hazel brings directly into her approach to portraiture.
For Hazel, creating a bespoke oil portrait for an Erie family means honoring all of this — the lake-city grit, the artistic ambition, and the deep sense of belonging that defines life in this corner of northwestern Pennsylvania. She approaches every commission with the belief that a portrait should feel as specific and irreplaceable as the person it represents, and Erie's own strong sense of identity makes her commitment to that work feel all the more meaningful.
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 Erie, Maine.
Request a Free Consultation