A fresh perspective on fine art
Introducing digitally hand-painted portraits for the modern era
Transform your cherished moments into timeless family heirlooms.
Capture the essence of your unique story with a captivating custom portrait that will immortalize your cherished memories for generations to come.
These handpainted mixed media portraits are a true work of art, and the ultimate way to honour those who mean the world to you. And yes, that includes your pets too!
In a world where digital photos often get lost in the sea of smartphone galleries, a custom portrait becomes a lasting testament to the moments that matter most.
Where classical techniques meet modern tools
Blending classical techniques with modern tools, digital painting and digital mixed media artworks go far beyond mere filters and instant clicks. Every brushstroke, every subtle hue and each meticulous adjustment is skillfully and thoughtfully applied, ensuring the creation of a unique work of art. With expert craftsmanship, your piece is bound to evoke joy and hold significance for generations to come.
I use a graphics tablet, stylus and wide range of specialized digital brushes to create each portrait. Each one is painted completely by hand without the use of filters or AI, and involves many hours of work.
How are portraits created?
Art from a cell phone image?
Absolutely! You know the photo - it captures their expression perfectly, but the rest of the image is, well….not something you’d want to display on your wall! I can work from “less than perfect” photos to create something you’ll be thrilled to hang on your wall.
I‘m pleased to be a member of the Beyond The Brushes Master Artisan Atelier. This group, headed by Master Artist Michelle Parsley, offers ongoing learning in digital painting. The goal isn’t to simply “smudge pixels” like so many digital painters, but rather to learn classical oil painting, graphite and pastel techniques and then apply them to modern digital painting. I like to think that if Michelangelo were alive today, he’d at least be dabbling in digital painting! The group allows me to not only further my skills, but also to engage with other digital painters who are an endless source of encouragement and inspiration. To be always learning and refining my skills as a digital painter is central to my life as an artist.
Wait….isn’t it just a filter?
No! Each painting is a hand-crafted labour of love.
Sure, there are fancy programs out there that claim to turn your photos into paintings in one click. But trust me, no computer algorithm can match the thoughtful strokes of a digital artist.
The photos below show the difference between a filter and hand painting. Once you see a digital painting side by side with an image “painted” by a computer you can immediately see the difference.
Each artist has their own unique “hand” which can be seen in their work. No two artists will paint the same subject in exactly the same way, which is what makes each piece an original.
But is it really art?
Of course!
Art comes in all shapes and forms and digital painting is just another way to express creativity. And, just like traditional painting, it takes a long time to master. Artists spend years learning not only the software, but also classical painting techniques. We use special digital brushes and techniques to get the perfect results we're after.
In the end, I believe the only thing that really matters is whether you love a piece of art and how it makes you feel.
If you’d like to take a deeper dive, check out this blog post.
Original photo
“Paint” filter applied
Hand painted portrait
