Commissioning Your Custom Oil Portrait
Commissioning a portrait is a collaboration between you and Marvin alone. He will guide you through every step—from your first conversation to choosing the most appropriate frame—with one shared goal: creating the best possible portrait.
Why the artist you choose matters
That’s what ultimately determines what your portrait can become.
My portrait is the way I will be remembered.
A great portrait isn't simply an accumulation of elements. Composition is what brings everything together to create a unified whole. That's easier said than done. Unfortunately, not all portrait painters are created equal.
Ultimately, trust your own eyes. Look carefully at the work rather than relying on the opinion of someone trying to make a sale.
Oil portraiture is Marvin's lifelong passion, and his is the only brush that will ever touch your canvas. He doesn't use assistants or subcontract work to other artists or studios. If you commission Marvin, he believes it is his responsibility alone to fulfill that commitment. It's spelled out in writing in your contract.
Direct communication is the key
A portrait is a collaboration between artist and client, and clear communication is essential. From your first conversation through the completion of your portrait, you deal directly with Marvin. No assistants, agents, sales representatives, or intermediaries. Nothing gets lost in translation.
Marvin understands how important the portrait is to you. His goal is simple: every portrait he paints should be his best yet.
Marvin's a consummate professional. We really clicked. I couldn't put into words exactly what I wanted, but Marvin was able to create a masterpiece beyond my wildest dreams, as good, if not better, than anything I'd see in a museum.
Whenever possible, Marvin recommends viewing an original painting by any portrait artist you are considering. A reproduction on a screen can only tell you so much. That's why this site includes enlarged details that allow you to look more closely at the craftsmanship.
An original reveals something a reproduction cannot. Up close, you can see the brushstrokes. Step back, and it feels as though you're standing before a living being.
Marvin is his own toughest critic. He knows that once you discover a flaw, that's all you'll ever see. Before a portrait leaves his studio, it has to meet his own highest standard.
How to commission an oil portrait
Begin with a conversation with Marvin about whom the portrait will celebrate, what you want it to express, and where it will hang. You don’t need to arrive with every decision made. Together, you’ll explore the possibilities and establish a direction for the painting.
The planning, portrait procedure, and size and pricing pages explain the decisions involved—from composition and reference photography to the finished painting and its frame. Throughout the process, you work directly with Marvin.
Contact Marvin to discuss your portrait.