Fine Art Oil Portrait Commissions
by Marvin Mattelson
A portrait should go far beyond capturing a likeness. It needs to be worthy of the life it honors.
The ultimate goal is to create the illusion of life. When you stand in front of the portrait, it should feel as though the actual person is right there before you.
Every person is unique. Every portrait should be as well. He wants to know who he's painting—what matters about them, what makes them who they are, and what deserves to be celebrated.
I do what I love, so that you can love what I do!
He believes that the greatest portraits are a synthesis of technical skill, keen observation, and meaningful decision-making. Small details can be extraordinarily revealing. A subtle gesture, an expression, the way someone holds themselves—things that might easily go unnoticed—can say a great deal about who that person is.
Those observations become part of hundreds of decisions involving light, pose, expression, color, composition, edges, and symbolism. When these elements are thoughtfully orchestrated, something remarkable begins to happen. The painting no longer feels like paint on canvas. It takes on a life of its own.
Every portrait is an exciting challenge. The artistic solution emerges not from a preconceived formula, but from his sense of the individual’s character and identity.
Old Master Intelligence
For decades, Marvin has studied the greatest Old Master paintings—not simply observing what they did, but understanding why they did it.
The great masters knew that simply copying what they saw wasn't enough. They understood how to manipulate the visual image to create the illusion of life.
Marvin calls this strategic thinking—or OMI: Old Master Intelligence.
That understanding gives Marvin the freedom to approach every portrait differently.
Whatever the solution, every decision has one purpose: to make the painting feel alive.
A successful portrait begins with a meaningful conversation
You probably have questions. What do I want the portrait to say? What size? Formal or informal? Simple or complex? I know generally what I want. How do we turn that into a painting?
That's where the conversation begins.
From your initial inquiry to the final brushstroke, you work directly with Marvin. There are no intermediaries. Nothing gets lost in translation because the person listening to your ideas is the person who will paint your portrait.
The goal is to explore every possibility and discover the most compelling solution.
A great portrait becomes a cherished heirloom.
It can extend far beyond the moment in which it was painted. It captures something essential about those portrayed—their presence, their character, what makes them who they are—a legacy that endures.
Choosing the right artist is about more than commissioning a painting.
A great portrait is a work of art.
It’s a standard Marvin brings to everything he does. The painting must stand on its own as a work of fine art—something visually compelling and thoughtfully composed.
One of Marvin’s clients, Steve, called him and said, “You’re not going to believe this.” A leak from the apartment above was flooding his kitchen, and a plumbing crew rushed in to address the problem. After assessing the damage, they turned to retrieve their tools.
Then they saw the painting of his mother, Sylvia at Seventeen, and stopped cold in their tracks. As they stood there staring at it, Steve desperately pleaded, “Please! Please fix the leak! You can come back and look at the painting anytime!”
Great works of art command attention. They make people stop and look. For Marvin, a portrait succeeds when it has that power—and rewards you for looking.
One day my family's portrait will be hanging in the Mattelson Room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
You have created the most flattering image of me...ever!
Chairman - Velcro Industries
I've never seen another painting, whether in a gallery or in a museum, that can rival the beauty of my Mom's portrait. When people see it they are bedazzled!
