Commissioning a Portrait in Traverse City, Michigan
If you are looking for a portrait artist in Traverse City, Hazel Morgan offers a truly personal fine art service to clients throughout Traverse City, Michigan 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 Traverse City or in the wider Grand Traverse 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 Traverse City
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.
Portrait Artist Traverse City Area
As your trusted Portrait Artist Traverse City, Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in Traverse City and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
How to Commission a Portrait from Traverse City
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Traverse City, Michigan. 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 Traverse City, 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 Traverse City typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Consultation in Traverse City
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 Traverse City, Michigan 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 Traverse City 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 Traverse City
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 Traverse City 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 Traverse City. 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 Traverse City
Traverse City captivates Hazel Morgan in ways that speak directly to her passion for capturing the human face and spirit in paint. What draws Hazel most powerfully is the remarkable interplay between natural grandeur and tight-knit community pride that defines this corner of northern Michigan. The shimmering expanse of Grand Traverse Bay, with its famously clear blue waters framing the city's western and eastern arms, creates a quality of light that Hazel finds endlessly compelling when thinking about tone, reflection, and the subtle luminosity that defines a great portrait. She is equally drawn to the energy of downtown Traverse City, where historic Front Street anchors a creative community that takes its arts seriously. The Interlochen Center for the Arts, just southwest of the city, stands as one of the most respected arts education institutions in the entire country, and Hazel deeply admires how its presence infuses the broader Traverse City region with a genuine reverence for artistic excellence and creative ambition.
The cultural calendar of Traverse City reinforces everything Hazel values about communities that invest in authentic human connection. She is captivated by the National Cherry Festival, a beloved summer tradition that draws the entire region together in a celebration rooted in the agricultural identity of this cherry-growing heartland. The Traverse City Film Festival, founded by filmmaker Michael Moore and held annually at venues including the historic State Theatre on Front Street, speaks to a community that engages seriously with storytelling and the visual arts — qualities that resonate deeply with Hazel's own dedication to her craft. She also admires the vibrant energy of the Sara Hardy Downtown Farmers Market, where the faces of growers, makers, and neighbors reflect exactly the kind of authentic, grounded community spirit she works to honor in every portrait she creates.
For Hazel, portraiture is ultimately about celebrating the individuality of real people within the context of the places and communities they call home. Traverse City's blend of natural beauty along the Leelanau Peninsula, its thriving arts culture, and the warmth of its people make it a community whose residents she feels privileged to portray. Every commission she accepts here carries the weight of that deep appreciation for a place where creativity and community are genuinely, visibly alive.
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 Traverse City, Michigan.
Request a Free Consultation