Commissioning a Portrait in San Rafael, California
If you are looking for a portrait artist in San Rafael, Hazel Morgan offers a truly personal fine art service to clients throughout San Rafael, 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 San Rafael 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 San Rafael Area
As your trusted Portrait Artist San Rafael, Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in San Rafael and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
How to Commission a Portrait from San Rafael
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in San Rafael, 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 San Rafael, 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 San Rafael typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Why Clients in San Rafael 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 San Rafael
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 San Rafael 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 San Rafael. 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 San Rafael
San Rafael carries a cultural richness and natural beauty that Hazel finds deeply compelling as a foundation for her portrait work. What captivates Hazel about this Marin County city is the way its layered identity - part historic downtown, part thriving arts community - creates such a vivid sense of place and personhood among the people who call it home. The Marin Symphony, which has long been a cornerstone of the region's performing arts life, speaks to a community that values artistic expression in meaningful, lasting ways. Hazel is equally drawn to the energy surrounding the San Rafael Farmers Market, a beloved weekly tradition that brings the community together with an authenticity and warmth she finds genuinely moving. The streets of downtown San Rafael, anchored by landmarks like the historic Rafael Theater and the Marin County Civic Center - the extraordinary Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structure that defines the area's architectural ambition - reflect a population that holds both creativity and civic pride in high regard.
Hazel admires the way San Rafael's natural setting amplifies its community character. Mount Tamalpais looms beautifully to the southwest, and the tidal reaches of San Pablo Bay frame the eastern edges of the city, giving residents a constant awareness of landscape and light that Hazel finds inspiring for her understanding of how environment shapes a person's sense of self. The Canal neighborhood brings cultural diversity and resilience to the city's story, while areas like the Fourth Street corridor celebrate locally rooted creativity and independent spirit. Hazel is drawn to the influence of the Marin Art and Garden Center in nearby Ross, a historic estate that has anchored the region's visual arts culture for decades, as well as the tradition of outdoor cultural events like the San Rafael Art & Wine Festival, which each year draws together artists, families, and longtime community members in celebration of what makes this corner of Marin County so distinctive. For Hazel, painting portraits for San Rafael clients means honoring people whose lives are shaped by a genuinely extraordinary sense of place.
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 San Rafael, California.
Request a Free Consultation