Why Do Custom Watercolour Portraits Cost What They Do?
If you’ve ever looked into commissioning a custom portrait, you may have wondered why the price can vary so much.
It’s a fair question. Portraits are very different from prints or digital images you can buy online, and the process behind them is often invisible to the person receiving the final piece.
A custom watercolour portrait is not simply an image reproduced from a photo. It is a one-of-a-kind artwork created specifically for one person or family.
Here is what goes into making one.
What goes into a portrait?
Studying the reference photo
When I receive a commission or snap a photo for a live portrait, the first thing I do is study the details – hair, outfit, any characteristic that stands out.
Sketching the composition
I then start sketching the people in the portrait, making sure the space is balanced on all sides, and if there is more than one person, the height difference is realistic. I get most of the detail in at this point.
Inking the sketch
This is the stage that makes me the most nervous. Getting the lines right in one movement. Thankfully, I've had years of practice and can pretty much confidently go forward without too much sweat on my brow :)
Drying time
Between inking and painting, I give it at least 10 minutes before I remove the pencil marks, to avoid smudging the ink. During this part of the process, if I'm live painting, I try to speak to people around me. If I have multiple people to paint, I start on the next portraits.
Painting in layers
Once I've removed the pencil marks, I start painting. I do the skin first, then pick another section which doesn't touch the wet paint. Sometimes I add shadow areas before lighter ones, and sometimes the other way around. I just see what the portrait needs.
Finishing details
The highlight of every portrait is the details. The hair, the outfit, the fabric... anything that makes the person recognise themselves in it.
For this birth announcement, I paid attention to the detail on the baby's cloth, and the floral details on the mother's dress.
Why Custom Portraits Are Different From Prints
Most images we see today are mass-produced. They can be printed thousands of times and distributed instantly.
A custom portrait works in the opposite way.
It is created once, for a specific person or family. The painting exists because that particular moment, relationship, or memory mattered enough to turn into something tangible.
This is why portraits are often framed, displayed, and kept for many years.
What people usually commission portraits for
Many portraits are created to mark meaningful moments.
Some common occasions include:
- milestone birthdays
- anniversaries
- weddings
- memorial portraits
- family portraits to display at home
In these situations, the portrait becomes more than a picture. It becomes a way of honouring a relationship or remembering a moment in time.
This was commissioned to commemorate the passing of her cat, and remember the ones who are still here.
When a portrait might not be necessary
Not every occasion needs a full portrait.
Sometimes a personalised greeting card is the better choice if the moment is lighter, spontaneous, or part of a celebration such as a birthday or Lunar New Year.
Personalised cards can still include custom illustrated elements, but they offer a more casual way to mark the occasion.
Maybe you're tired of the cards in the shops, or you just want something with an extra special touch to it.
All my cards are hand-drawn and put together in a card builder, optimised for you to create a personalised portrait on your own in just a few minutes. There are multiple combinations possible, making it a unique piece of art!
- Create a unique, personalised birthday card
- Personalise a birthday invitation
- Personalise a special graduation card
- Send a heartfelt Mother's Day card
- Celebrate Valentine's Day
- Celebrate Lunar New Year with a personalised card
- Spread joy with a personalised Christmas card
- Personalise a Kingsday invitation
At its heart, a custom portrait is about recognition. Every portrait begins with a photograph, but it ends as something that exists only for that person and their story.
Commissions start from €25. Order yours here →