Commissioning a Portrait in Novato, California
If you are looking for a portrait artist in Novato, Hazel Morgan offers a truly personal fine art service to clients throughout Novato, 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 Novato or in the wider Marin 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 Artist Novato Area
As your trusted Portrait Artist Novato, Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in Novato and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
How to Commission a Portrait from Novato
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Novato, 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 Novato, 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 Novato typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Why Clients in Novato 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 Novato
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 Novato 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 Novato. 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 Novato
Novato, the northernmost city in Marin County, carries a spirit that Hazel finds deeply compelling as a portrait artist. What captivates Hazel about this community is the way its history and natural beauty are so vividly intertwined - from the adobe walls of Olompali State Historic Park, a site spanning thousands of years of Coast Miwok heritage and ranching history, to the open grasslands and wooded ridges of the Marin Municipal Water District lands that frame the city's eastern edge. Hazel is drawn to the way Hamilton Field, the historic former air base transformed into a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood, speaks to reinvention and layered identity - qualities she finds endlessly relevant when capturing the story of a person's face on canvas. The proximity to Black Point and the Petaluma River wetlands lends the area a quiet, contemplative atmosphere that Hazel admires for its understated richness.
The cultural life of Novato resonates strongly with Hazel's values as a portrait painter who believes that community shapes individual character. She is particularly moved by the Novato Farmers Market, a beloved weekly tradition that reflects the agricultural roots of the broader Marin landscape, and by events like the Art, Wine & Music Festival held in downtown Novato, which brings together local makers and creatives along Grant Avenue each year. Hazel admires how the historic downtown corridor preserves a genuine small-city warmth rarely found so close to a major metropolitan area, with independent businesses and community-run spaces sitting comfortably alongside local landmarks. This is a place where people know one another across generations, and Hazel finds that kind of rootedness profoundly meaningful when a client commissions a portrait - because the best portraits are never just about appearance, they are about belonging.
For Hazel, creating a bespoke oil portrait for a Novato client means honoring someone who lives within a landscape of real consequence - volcanic peaks like Mount Burdell rising above open space preserves, the tidal marshes of the Petaluma Marsh Wildlife Area stretching nearby, and a community that takes quiet pride in its distinctive place within the greater Marin tapestry. That sense of place informs every brushstroke.
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 Novato, California.
Request a Free Consultation