Commissioning a Portrait in Virginia Beach, Virginia
If you are looking for a portrait artist in Virginia Beach, Hazel Morgan offers a truly personal fine art service to clients throughout Virginia Beach, Virginia 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 Virginia Beach or in the wider Virginia Beach City 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 Virginia Beach
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 Virginia Beach Area
As your trusted Portrait Artist Virginia Beach, Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in Virginia Beach and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
How to Commission a Portrait from Virginia Beach
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 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 Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Consultation in Virginia Beach
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 Virginia Beach, Virginia 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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach
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 Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach. 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 Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach carries a spirit that Hazel finds endlessly compelling — a city where the Atlantic Ocean shapes not just the coastline but the entire character of the people who call it home. Hazel is drawn to the way Virginia Beach holds so many distinct identities at once: the broad, sun-washed stretch of the Oceanfront boardwalk, the quiet charm of the Pungo Rural Heritage Festival celebrating the agricultural roots of the city's southern reaches, and the creative energy surrounding the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, known locally as MOCA Virginia Beach, which has long anchored the city's visual arts community. What captivates Hazel about this place is how its residents carry the weight of that diversity with ease — fishermen and military families, longtime locals and newcomers, all woven together by a shared pride in their unique corner of the mid-Atlantic coast.
Hazel admires the richness that comes from Virginia Beach's layered history and natural landscape. The ancient cypress stands of First Landing State Park, one of the most visited state parks in Virginia, speak to a landscape both wild and deeply storied. The historic Cavalier Hotel, a landmark that has anchored the city since 1927, reflects a sense of elegance and community memory that Hazel finds deeply moving when she considers the lives lived across generations in its shadow. Add to that the thriving SoRo neighborhood with its independent restaurants and local art studios, and it becomes clear why Virginia Beach offers such a fertile backdrop for thinking about portraiture — about faces shaped by salt air, service, creativity, and belonging.
For Hazel, portrait work is fundamentally about honoring the specific human being in front of her, and Virginia Beach gives her clients a rich sense of place to carry into that conversation. Whether a client is connected to the working watermen culture of Rudee Inlet, the military heritage of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, or the beachside community gatherings at the Neptune Festival, each Virginia Beach resident arrives with a story distinctly their own. That particularity — that pride of place — is exactly what Hazel strives to capture in every portrait she creates.
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 Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Request a Free Consultation