Commissioning a Portrait in Santa Monica, California
If you are looking for a portrait artist in Santa Monica, Hazel Morgan offers a truly personal fine art service to clients throughout Santa Monica, California 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 Santa Monica or in the wider Los Angeles County 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 Santa Monica
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.
Santa Monica Area
Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in Santa Monica and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
How to Commission a Portrait from Santa Monica
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Santa Monica, California. 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 Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Consultation in Santa Monica
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 Santa Monica, California 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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica
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 Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica. 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 Santa Monica
Hazel admires Santa Monica for its rare and generous quality of light — the kind that rolls in from the Pacific each morning and settles over the city with a soft, golden warmth that painters spend entire careers chasing. There's something about the way that light touches people's faces here, along the promenade or out on the pier, that makes Hazel feel as though the city is constantly offering her new subjects to study. She has long felt a deep affection for this stretch of the California coast, and every visit reminds her why she keeps coming back. The city has a way of making people look entirely themselves — unhurried, open, and at ease — and that quality is everything to a portrait artist.
Hazel loves the remarkable variety of people she meets through her Santa Monica commissions. Her clients here tend to carry a genuine warmth and curiosity about the portrait process, often arriving at their first sitting with thoughtful questions about how she sees them — which is exactly the kind of conversation that leads to truly honest, meaningful work. Many of her sitters have mentioned wandering through the Bergamot Station Arts Center before meeting her, and she finds that people who spend time around art already understand something instinctive about being seen. That shared language makes the whole experience richer for everyone.
Hazel also admires the neighbourhood of Ocean Park for its quietly creative, unhurried character — the kind of place where artists and thinkers have always found room to breathe. Walking those tree-lined streets between sessions, she often notices small details in people's expressions and gestures that later find their way into her work: a particular tilt of the chin, a way of laughing, a moment of stillness. It's the kind of neighbourhood that quietly feeds the imagination without demanding anything in return.
Hazel also loves the sense of community she has found among Santa Monica's residents over the years. Whether she's setting up for a sitting near Santa Monica Pier or simply sharing coffee with a client before they begin, there's a genuine generosity of spirit here that she finds deeply moving. Her clients in this city don't just commission portraits — they invest in something personal and lasting, and Hazel finds that kind of trust to be among the most rewarding parts of her work as a painter.
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 Santa Monica, California.
Request a Free Consultation