Commission a Portrait Painting, by Vincent Keeling
Thanks for thinking of me in terms of commissioning a portrait painting. The first thing to say is that I do realise for most people the idea of getting a custom portrait painted, is a big decision and perhaps a little intimidating not knowing where to begin. This being especially true as a portrait commission is usually of a loved one, whether a friend, family member or beloved pet. And of course, anything custom made in this modern world, with all the care, love and time this requires, is not cheap so there is that too.
Considering all this, what I hope to do here is offer a little reassurance that if you do entrust me with this most special task, I promise to do my utmost to make the portrait a success for you; And if perhaps, I’m not the right portrait artist for you, my painting style isn’t quite to your liking, that’s no worries at all. I’m still hoping the information below might prove useful to you.
“Leonard has arrived and it us such a beautiful image it moved me to tears. Thank you so much for this excellent piece.” Joy Bratherton, 2016 - Crewe, Cheshire, UK
And in this regard I figured the best strategy would be to answer as many of the most frequently asked portrait questions I can think of, thus allowing you to get a feeling for this strange world of traditional portrait commissions.
Added to this, I’ll show you some samples of my own custom portrait paintings, including some recognisable famous faces to add a little spice and interest. And yes, maybe convince you I can capture a likeness in the unlikely, unwieldy, yet magical stuff of paint.
Oh by the way, if you don’t already know me, I’m Vincent Keeling, an Irish artist based in Dublin who has been painting portraits, amongst many other subjects, for over three decades now. I began in my teens and am now in my early fifties.
Okay, so without further ado, let me answer some of those pressing portrait questions floating around your head.
So let us begin! - Vincent Keeling – vincentkeeling@gmail.com
By the way, I'm still in the process of making updates and adding to these portrait pages, so forgive me if it takes a week or two to finish things up! And forgive any typos:)Thanks! 06 April, 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PORTRAIT PAINTING COMMISSIONS
Do you paint portraits for people outside of Ireland?
Yes, indeed — I’ve done portrait paintings for people all around the world, including quite a few shipped to the UK and the US.
Do you paint pet portraits as well as people?
Yes, I am happy to say that I do! With that in mind I've recently set up a dedicated page for my Dog Portrait Paintings, which I'll be adding to soon.
What medium do you use?
I use oil paints, the kind of mediums, for all my portrait work.
Do you have any reviews or testimonials from past customers?
Yes, indeed I have recently set up a page which I'll link to below, as I reckon it's something I'd look for if I was in your shoes. Custom Portrait Testimonial Page.
How long does it take to paint a portrait?
It would be great to be planning 3 months out, if possible. Here’s how it breaks down; Maybe 4 to 6 weeks for the painting process, and then another 4 to 6 weeks of drying time before the varnish goes on. These estimates will of course depend on my schedule and the size and complexity of portrait commission involved.
What if I need the portrait sooner?
I could possibly do something for you within 1 month, and the main way to achieve this would be to send the portrait to you unvarnished. Then you could either ship it back to me for varnishing, or, if you live outside of Ireland, perhaps find a local artist or framer to entrust with this specialist task. Varnishing is always free, if I do it, but extra shipping charges might be involved here. And if even 1 month is too long for you, perhaps you could announce the portrait as a gift and something to look forward to.
Why is varnishing the portrait important?
Varnishing is important for two big reasons. Firstly, the varnish provides a general protective layer to keep your oil painting safe well into the future; And secondly, it unifies and enriches all the tones and colours with a general gloss; Without this the portrait in oils, can tend to dry a little unevenly and patchy. Thus, to my mind the portrait never really shines at its best, until varnished.
How much does a portrait commission cost?
The cost of portraits as you might expect will depend on a number of factors, but I realise people appreciate clarity when it comes to pricing. So, what’ve done here is to outline some regular prices for single head-and-shoulders portraits.
I’ll try to stick to these when quoting, but I do have to add the proviso that if there’s a lot of extra complications - detailed backgrounds, clothing, hands etc - this could lead to additional costs.You’ll find a more detailed breakdown on Custom Portrait Prices here.
Prices for Single Colour head-and-shoulders portrait paintings. (ex shipping)
30x40cm - €1000 unframed
35x45cm - €1200 unframed
40x55cm - €1500 unframed
45x60cm - €1750 unframed
Sepia toned portrait painting of a couple, from an old photograph, taken in a photo booth. 18x14 inches, oil on canvas.
Do you work from life or photos?
I work from photos rather than life, for although I love the romance of the idea of working from life, the convenience of working from photos is hard to beat from a practical point of view. Also this allows for surprise portrait gifts, and memorial portraits not possible when working from life.
Do you take the photo?
I don’t tend to take the photos but don’t find this such an issue these days when almost everyone has mobile photo with a powerful camera attached. Also over the course of a life, people often have gathered a number of favourite photos of loved ones that would be hard or impossible to replicate on a given day.
Should I just send one photo for the portrait?
Well, it’s no harm in sending one image if you feel it’s the perfect pic, but most people are usually looking for a little guidance and therefore often send me on a shortlist of 3 or 4 images. That said, I should mention here that it really helps my process to see even more photos of the person in various lighting conditions and settings. Not a huge amount, but about 8 to 10 pics in total – these help me get a better sense of the character of the person I'm painting and tends to improve the portrait I later create.
Do I offer a framing service?
While I don’t offer a full framing service I do have one standard white frame suitable for small to medium portraits. Usually adds €100 to €150 to the cost.
Do you require a deposit?
Yes I do ask for a 50 percent deposit up front, and then final payment before shipping. I am open to chatting about instalments too though, especially if you’re planning well in advance.
How do I know I’m happy with the portrait before paying the full amount?
How this usually works is that when the portrait is finished I’ll email you a photo of the painting to make sure you are happy. It is pretty rare, but this is when any minor alterations can be made if necessary. I will do my best to make sure this isn’t an issue though.
How do you take payment?
For portrait work I usually take payment in one of the following four ways.
- Bank Transfer
- Paypal Transfer
- Revolute Transfer
For added security I usually suggest a minor payment first of 10 euro, just to make sure there’s no typos. If none of these methods work I could also set up a custom voucher via my website.
This one above was an interesting portrait painting of Damien Dempsey, obviously going at full tilt with a ton of passion in his expression. This was a 50x50cm oil on linen. It was also a novel custom painting as well in that it was commissioned by a group of groomsmen, who knew their soon to be married friend was a huge Damien Dempsey fan. I think they might have got it signed for him too. By Damien that is. I signed it too of course, but perhaps that didn't carry the same weight.
I got a say I loved this commission of Willie Nelson and Ray Charles, singing Seven Spanish Eyes.
A copy of John Singer Sargent's wonderful portrait of Lady Agnew, by Vincent Keeling
Detail of a portrait commission of a lovely young Tanzanian girl hugging her doll. 20x16 inches, oil on canvas.
Pet portrait of Rufus, the dog. 30x30cm, oil on canvas, by Vincent Keeling
More information on my Dog Portrait Paintings
Equestrian portrait of the racehorse, Lambro. 20x16 inches, oil on canvas, by Vincent Keeling
Feel free to email me here with any enquires, and no harm to send on a photo of the image you want painted, if you have it handy, as this is the only way I can give a firm quote. Oh yeah, and brilliant to know if you're trying to keep within a size and budget based around my guide prices above, as there might be ways to crop the image to try make this happen for you.
Thanks and hope to hear from you soon!
Vincent Keeling
Email: vincentkeeling@gmail.com
Click below if you would like to see the full catalogue of previous
Famous Portrait Paintings, by Vincent Keeling