Best Portrait Artist in Los Angeles (2026 Guide)

Los Angeles has no shortage of people who can paint a portrait, and that is exactly what makes the choice difficult. A quick search returns everything from live studio painters and gallery-represented realists to online services that print your photograph onto canvas and add a few brushstrokes. They are not the same thing, and they are not priced the same way, so the first job is knowing what you are actually looking for. If you want a genuine, hand-painted oil portrait to hang for decades, be given as a milestone gift, or take its place in a family or institutional collection, you are looking for a fine-art commission rather than a reproduction. This is an honest guide to some of the best portrait artists working in and around Los Angeles for that kind of commission, with the criteria we used set out in full so you can weigh them yourself. A note on transparency: this guide is published by Hazel Morgan Fine Art, and we have placed Hazel first. We explain exactly why below, and you should read the criteria and decide for yourself. The other five options are genuine, well-regarded painters and services, and any of them may be the right choice depending on the style, subject and budget you have in mind.

How We Chose These Portrait Artists

A portrait is a significant, often once-in-a-lifetime purchase, and unlike a decorative print you cannot return it and try again. These are the five things we weighted, and the things we would suggest you check with whoever you approach:

• An original artwork, not a printed photograph. Is every portrait hand-painted from the ground up, or is it a photograph transferred to canvas with paint added over the top? A true commission interprets the subject rather than copying an image.
• Who actually holds the brush. In some studios the named artist supervises while assistants do much of the painting. Ask whether the artist you are hiring paints the work personally, start to finish.
• Range of subject and source. Can they work from photographs as well as live sittings, combine people or pets from separate images, and handle the subject you need, whether that is a family, an executive, a pet, a horse, or a portrait painted in memory of someone who has died?
• Track record and standing. Years in practice, exhibitions, memberships of recognized art bodies, and a body of completed commissions you can look through.
• A clear, collaborative process. A proper commission includes discussion, reference selection, and an approval stage before the work is finished, so there are no surprises at the end.

Here is the shortlist at a glance.

1. Hazel Morgan (Best for Bespoke Oil Heirlooms From Photos or Life)

Disclosure: this guide is published by Hazel Morgan Fine Art, which is why Hazel appears first and why we have set out our criteria openly. Read them, compare her with the five options below, and decide for yourself. Hazel Morgan is an award-winning oil portrait artist with over four decades of professional experience, serving clients throughout Los Angeles, the wider county, and California from a Wilshire Boulevard address. Her work is realistic and contemporary-classical in style, and the principle behind it is simple: a commissioned portrait should capture a person’s character as well as their likeness, so it reads as a piece of fine art rather than a copy of a photograph. Experience and standing. Hazel has painted portraits professionally since the early 1980s and has completed hundreds of commissions over that time. Her work has been exhibited with bodies including the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and she holds membership of several leading art societies. That length of practice matters in portraiture, because likeness, skin tone, and expression are the hardest things to get right and they are learned over decades, not months. Every portrait painted personally. This is the point Hazel is most firm about. Every commission is painted by Hazel herself, from the first block-in to the final highlight, rather than delegated to studio assistants. When you commission Hazel, the hand that painted the portraits in her gallery is the same hand that paints yours. What she paints. Because Hazel works to commission rather than to a fixed catalog, the range is deliberately broad:

• Classical portraits of individuals, couples and children, and family portraits that can bring several people together in one composition
• Corporate and executive portraits of CEOs, founders, board members and retiring leaders, and academic and ceremonial portraits for universities and institutions
• Memorial and posthumous portraits, painted sensitively from photographs of a loved one who has died
• Dog and pet portraits, and equestrian portraits of horses and their riders
• Historical and replica portraits where an existing or period work needs to be recreated

Painted from photographs, live sittings, or both

Not everyone can sit for a portrait, and a good deal of the most meaningful work never could, whether that is a child who will not stay still, an executive with no time to spare, or a portrait painted in memory of someone who has passed away. Hazel works comfortably from photographs as well as live sittings, which makes the commission practical for busy Los Angeles clients.

• From your photographs. Professional shots or personal snapshots both work. Hazel guides you on choosing reference that will produce the best painting.
• Combining and adjusting. People or animals from separate photographs can be brought into a single composition, and clothing, backgrounds, poses and other details can be altered so the finished portrait is exactly as you picture it.
• A collaborative approval stage. The commission includes discussion and an approval point before the work is finished, so the portrait is right before it is signed. You can see how this runs on the process page.

What clients say. Rather than quote a rating here, we would point you to Hazel’s testimonials and finished work and suggest you judge for yourself, which is the honest way to assess any artist. Worth knowing: Hazel takes on a limited number of commissions so that she can paint each one personally, so she suits people who want an original heirloom and a considered, one-to-one process rather than the fastest or cheapest option. She is the right choice when you want a genuine, hand-painted oil portrait, across almost any subject, created by the artist herself from photos or life. Best for: clients who want a bespoke oil heirloom, painted personally, whether the subject is a person, a family, an executive, a pet, a horse, or someone being remembered. You can read more about Hazel or start a commission through the contact page.

2. Juan F. Bastos (Best for Society and Institutional Portraits)

Juan F. Bastos is a portrait artist covering Los Angeles who has worked in the city since 1996 and has completed several hundred portrait commissions across the Americas, Europe and Asia. Working in oil and pastel, his portraits hang in private homes, corporate offices and institutions, and his sitters have included well-known collectors and public figures. He was profiled by The New York Times in 1999 in a feature on the return of high-end portraiture. Why consider him:

• A long, well-documented career in society and institutional portraiture
• Skilled in both oil and pastel, which suits clients who want a drawing as well as a painting
• Work held in universities, museums and corporate collections

Best for: clients who want a portrait in the classic society tradition from an established Los Angeles name, in oil or pastel.

3. The Portrait Agency (Best for Choosing From a Group of Vetted Artists)

The Portrait Agency takes a different route from a single-artist studio. It represents a selection of eight portrait painters who all serve the Los Angeles area, and it helps match your commission to whichever of them best suits your subject and the style you have in mind. Because the roster covers a range of hands and price points, it is a useful option if you would rather compare several artists in one place than approach each one separately. Why consider them:

• Eight represented artists to choose between, all covering the LA area
• Help matching your commission to an artist who fits the subject and style
• A single point of contact if weighing up several painters at once appeals to you

Best for: clients who want to compare several portrait painters through one agency rather than researching each artist separately.

4. Oil Portrait Painter (Best for a Portrait From a Photo on a Budget)

Oil Portrait Painter concentrates on hand-painted oil portraits worked up from a photograph you supply, with affordability as the main draw. If your priority is a painted portrait at a lower price point rather than a bespoke fine-art commission with sittings and a detailed approval stage, this is the kind of service worth looking at. As with any budget option, ask exactly who paints the work and see finished examples before you commit, so you know what you are getting for the price. Why consider them:

• Oil portraits painted from a photograph, with no sitting required
• A lower price point than a bespoke fine-art commission
• A straightforward option when budget is the leading concern

Best for: clients who want an affordable hand-painted oil portrait from a photo and are comfortable with a simpler, lower-cost process.

5. Kate Sammons (Best for Atelier-Trained Contemporary Realism)

Kate Sammons runs a studio in central Los Angeles and works in a classical, contemporary-realist tradition. She trained in the atelier system, studying classical drawing in Florence and portrait and figure painting in Philadelphia before earning a journeyman certificate, and her work has been recognized by the Portrait Society of America and exhibited at institutions including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Alongside commissions she produces gallery paintings, so her practice sits firmly in the fine-art world. Why consider her:

• Rigorous atelier training in the classical tradition
• A record of national exhibitions and portrait awards
• Works to commission and for galleries, largely painted from life

Best for: clients who want a highly trained, gallery-caliber realist and are able to arrange live sittings.

6. Michelle Dunaway (Best for Expressive, Emotive Brushwork)

Michelle Dunaway is an award-winning American portrait artist known for bold, expressive brushwork and a strong focus on capturing emotion and mood. She has painted from life extensively and exhibited at galleries in the Los Angeles and Laguna Beach area, and her portrait work has been repeatedly recognized in the Portrait Society of America’s international competition. Her style is looser and more painterly than a tightly finished classical portrait, which is exactly why some clients seek her out. Why consider her:

• A distinctive, expressive style with a focus on emotion rather than photographic detail
• A strong record in national portrait competitions
• Experience painting from life and exhibiting in the Los Angeles area

Best for: clients who prefer an atmospheric, painterly portrait over a highly detailed classical finish.

Which Portrait Artist Is Right for You?

There is no single best portrait artist in Los Angeles, only the best fit for your subject, your style, and how you want to work:

• You want a bespoke oil heirloom painted personally, from photos or life, across almost any subject: Hazel Morgan.
• You want a portrait in the classic society tradition, in oil or pastel: Juan F. Bastos.
• You want to compare several vetted portrait painters through one agency: The Portrait Agency.
• You want an affordable oil portrait painted from a photo: Oil Portrait Painter.
• You want a gallery-caliber, atelier-trained realist and can sit from life: Kate Sammons.
• You prefer a loose, expressive, emotive style: Michelle Dunaway.

Whoever you choose, the two most useful checks are the simplest ones: confirm the artist paints the work personally rather than delegating it, and look through their finished portraits to be sure the style is one you will want to live with for years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a commissioned oil portrait cost in Los Angeles?

Prices vary widely depending on the artist, the size of the canvas, the number of subjects, and whether the work is painted from photographs or live sittings. A genuine, hand-painted fine-art portrait is a considered purchase rather than an off-the-shelf product, so the best approach is to describe what you have in mind and ask the artist for a clear quote before you commit.

Can a portrait be painted from a photograph instead of a sitting?

Yes. Many portraits are painted entirely from photographs, which is often the only practical option for children, busy executives, pets, or a portrait painted in memory of someone who has died. A skilled artist can also combine people or pets from separate photographs into one composition and adjust clothing, background and pose. Hazel Morgan works from photographs as well as live sittings.

What is the difference between a commissioned portrait and a photo-to-canvas print?

A commissioned portrait is an original artwork, interpreted and hand-painted by the artist, that adds character, presence and permanence beyond the photograph it may be based on. A photo-to-canvas service prints your image onto canvas, sometimes with a little paint added on top. The two look different in person and are valued very differently, which is why it is worth knowing which one you are buying.

How long does a commissioned portrait take?

It depends on the artist and the complexity of the piece, but a hand-painted oil portrait commonly takes several weeks to a few months from the point painting begins, allowing for drying time between layers and an approval stage before the work is finished. If the portrait is a gift for a specific date, start the conversation well ahead.

Is this list biased toward Hazel Morgan?

We publish it, so yes, which is exactly why we have said so openly, set out our criteria, and listed five genuine, well-regarded options alongside Hazel. Use the criteria, look through each artist’s finished work, and speak to more than one before deciding.

A Final Word

Los Angeles has real depth of portrait talent, and the right choice comes down to your subject, the style you love, and how you want to work with the artist. Whatever you decide, commission an original, hand-painted portrait from someone whose finished work you have seen and admired, and confirm they will paint it themselves. If you would like a genuine oil portrait painted personally by Hazel, from your photographs or from life, you are welcome to start a commission with Hazel Morgan.