Gloria Pinsker Portraits

CREATION OF A BRIDAL PORTRAIT

WATCH CLIENT’S REACTION TO SURPRISE GIFT OF A CUSTOM PORTRAIT OF HER DECEASED DOG

My mission as an artist is to make people happy with my artwork, by creating a custom painted portrait or drawing that will help them celebrate the special bond they share with a beloved relative, friend, or animal companion. You can order a custom painting or drawing of an adult, child, animal, or any combination of these. I work from personal observation (whenever possible) and photographic references. If you do not have suitable photos and you live within my service area (Montgomery County, PAa, Bucks County, PA and some areas of New Jersey), I can come to your location and take the reference photos.* I can also help you go through your own photos to find what might be suitable. If you live too far for me to take my own reference photos, I can work from yours, as long as they are clear, well-lighted and contain enough detail.

*(Please note that for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, I will travel to vaccinated households ONLY).

My portraits are NOT digital art or paint applied over a photograph (see “Know What You’re Getting” below), but are hand-drawn and painted in the traditional fine-art manner. Photography and fine art both have their own unique merits and characteristics, but a painted portrait has a look and charm that is uniquely different from a photographic representation. Everyone has photos in their house, but a fine-art painted portrait adds a touch of class and elegance to your home that is unique and beautiful. If you are the type of person who cares about the finer things in life, you will appreciate this important distinction. 

If the subject is deceased, a beautiful memorial (posthumous) portrait can be done, provided you have suitable photographs for reference. This is a very moving and wonderful way to celebrate the life of your loved one and pay tribute to their memory. In the Gallery you can see some examples of memorial portraits that were done from the clients’ clear photos. 

Do you have a cherished vintage photo, black-and-white or color, that you would like turned into a work of art? I can turn your photo into a beautiful hand-painted portrait, provided the photos are clear, in focus, and contain enough detail. 

A custom hand-made portrait can be created in your choice of pastel, acrylic, oil, charcoal, or graphite pencil (called the “medium”).  I also sometimes combine two or more of these materials in one portrait — i.e., oil paint over acrylic paint. This is called “mixed media.” Each medium has its own special charm and with proper care will give you a lovely work of art that will last for many years. I use only fine-quality artists’ materials, and each portrait is given careful and loving attention. You also have a choice of having the portrait done in full color, three-tone, white on black, or monochrome.

On My Artwork page you will see examples of each. If you are unsure about which options to choose, contact me and I will help you decide based upon your photos, your preferences and your budget. 

GIFT VOUCHERS are available for any type of portrait. Portraits make a thoughtful and unique birthday gift, anniversary gift, or gift for any other occasion. Contact me for details on purchasing a Gift Voucher.

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING!

Maybe you’ve seen ads for “hand-painted portraits” at very cheap prices and delivered “within a week.” If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Many of these cheapo “portraits” are simply your photo put through filters in a photo-editing program. Or they may be digital art, which is not the same as a hand-drawn and painted portrait on paper or canvas.

Some portrait companies employ artists in a sweatshop or assembly-line type of operation overseas. You have no personal contact with the artist creating your portrait. Often, the companies are misleading you about what you’re receiving. Many times, if the reference photo was high-quality, they have printed the photo out on canvas and then applied a thin layer of paint over it, much like the “retouched” studio photos of decades ago. This thin paint layer may have been applied “by hand” over your photo, but THIS IS NOT ORIGINAL ARTWORK! Furthermore, the very nature of such a hyper-realistic effect and the slow drying time of oil paint makes it impossible for a piece of artwork that is hand-painted in oil from start to finish to be completed and delivered to the client within a week! Hyper-realistic art takes many, many hours (sometimes hundreds), and only a very thin film applied over a photographic print could dry that fast and be completed that quickly. Not only is this not a true, hand-crafted portrait, but it could fade and peel after a while.

My portraits are entirely handmade, from the initial drawing to the last stroke of pastel or paint. A lot of time, thought and effort goes into creating an ORIGINAL CUSTOM PORTRAIT — a work of art created just for you, made with the finest archival materials that will last for generations. I will be in contact with you personally throughout the process, and even send you process photos if you would like. The creation of your portrait becomes a personal experience rather than a cold, impersonal transaction.