Commissioning a Portrait in Washington DC
Hazel Morgan provides a bespoke portrait painting service to clients throughout Washington DC. An award-winning artist with over four decades of professional experience, Hazel creates hand-painted oil portraits of exceptional quality for individuals, families, corporations, and institutions across the state.
From the boardroom to the family home, Hazel’s portraits have graced the walls of distinguished collectors, university halls, and corporate headquarters throughout Washington DC. Each commission begins with a personal consultation and results in a work of enduring artistic merit.
Portrait Painting Services Available in Washington DC
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.
Washington DC Area
Hazel Morgan serves portrait clients in Washington DC and the surrounding communities. Portraits are shipped directly to your door with professional packaging and full insurance coverage.
Portrait Services in Washington DC Communities
How to Commission a Portrait from Washington DC
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Washington DC. 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 Washington DC, 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 Washington DC typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalized Consultation in Washington DC
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 Washington DC 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 Washington DC 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 Washington DC
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 Washington DC 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 Washington DC. 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 Washington DC
Hazel admires Washington DC for its remarkable sense of purpose and its deep, living connection to history. There is something genuinely moving about a city where grand ideas and human stories sit side by side on every corner. From the quiet dignity of the Lincoln Memorial to the tree-lined streets of Georgetown, the city carries a weight and warmth that Hazel finds endlessly inspiring. It is a place that takes itself seriously without losing its humanity, and that balance resonates strongly with her as a portrait painter. After all, great portraiture is about exactly that — finding the gravity and the warmth in a single human face.
Hazel loves the people she meets through her portrait commissions in Washington DC, and she means that sincerely. Her clients here tend to be thoughtful, accomplished individuals who have spent their lives in service of something larger than themselves — diplomats, academics, community leaders, and dedicated public servants. Sitting with someone for a portrait is an intimate experience, and Hazel has found that Washingtonians bring a particular openness and depth to those sessions. They have stories worth telling, and they understand instinctively why having those stories recorded in paint actually matters. That shared understanding makes the whole creative process feel genuinely collaborative and alive.
Hazel also admires the extraordinary cultural richness that the city offers at every turn. The Smithsonian Institution alone represents a kind of generosity toward human curiosity that she finds deeply moving — the idea that art, history, and science should simply be available to everyone, free of charge. Spending an afternoon in one of its galleries always sharpens her eye and reminds her why portraiture sits at the very heart of how we understand one another across time. Looking at a painted face from two centuries ago and recognising something of yourself in it is a quietly extraordinary experience.
Hazel also loves the neighbourhood character that makes Washington DC feel like a collection of small communities rather than one imposing capital. Places like Dupont Circle have a creative, unhurried energy that gives the city its real personality, distinct from its political identity. It is in those quieter, human-scaled corners that Hazel feels most at home, most inspired, and most grateful for the connections her work has allowed her to build here.
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 Washington DC.
Request a Free Consultation