Hazel Morgan paints in that classical tradition while portraying people as they are today. Every commission is an original oil painting – never a print or a digital effect – built on sound drawing, a single believable light source, and a restrained background that keeps all attention on the sitter. The result has the depth and permanence only oil can give: rich colour, luminous skin tones, and a surface that rewards close looking for decades.
Commissioned to mark a milestone – a significant birthday, a retirement, a wedding, a graduation, or simply a face a family wants to hold on to – a classical portrait becomes an heirloom, valued long after the occasion that prompted it.
COMMISSION A PORTRAIT
Creating a stunning portrait requires effective communication and collaboration with my clients every step of the way. As a portrait painter, I understand the importance of understanding your vision and preferences when you commission a portrait. That’s why we’ll have a friendly chat to discuss your exact requirements, ensuring that I can bring your desired portrait to life. If you’re unsure about what you want, there’s no need to worry because I have extensive experience in guiding and advising my customers.
To make the process even smoother, I have compiled a comprehensive guide to commissioning a portrait on this website. It offers valuable insights on how to capture suitable photos for me to work from and provides a detailed overview of the entire process, from start to finish. If you’re curious and want to learn more, simply click the link below. You’ll also find a list of frequently asked questions that may address any queries you have. Feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any additional questions or concerns-I’m here to assist you.
The Classical Portrait Tradition, Painted for Today
Classical portrait paintings have marked life’s milestones for five centuries: scholars and statesmen, brides and children, captured in oil with a dignity no photograph can quite reproduce. Hazel Morgan works within that tradition – layered oil glazes, considered composition, a restrained palette – while painting people as they live now. The result is a portrait that feels at home beside antique family pictures yet is unmistakably of its own time.
What Defines a Classical Oil Portrait
Three things distinguish the classical approach. First, drawing: the likeness is established with careful draughtsmanship before colour is considered. Second, light: a single, believable light source models the face the way the old masters preferred, lending depth and seriousness. Third, restraint: backgrounds stay quiet – a dark interior, a curtain, a suggestion of landscape – so nothing competes with the sitter.
Choosing a Pose and Setting
Formal three-quarter poses suit boardroom and institutional portraits; relaxed seated poses suit family settings. Hazel advises on dress, background and scale during the consultation, and can paint head-and-shoulders, half-length or full-length compositions depending on where the portrait will hang.
Commissioning a Classical Portrait
Every commission begins with a conversation and your photographs. Hazel then plans the composition, paints in oils on Belgian linen, and ships the finished portrait worldwide. Read about the commission process, browse the galleries, or see how a portrait is painted from photographs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do classical portraits require a live sitting? No – most are painted from photographs, with guidance on taking suitable ones. A live sitting can be arranged where practical.
What sizes do classical portraits come in? From intimate head studies to full-length canvases; the right size depends on the room and viewing distance, discussed at consultation.
Can a portrait match paintings we already own? Yes. Hazel regularly matches the tone, scale and framing conventions of existing family or institutional collections.