There’s a photograph somewhere on your phone that you look at differently from the others. A moment with someone you love, or a place that changed something in you, or a face that you want to keep seeing even as time moves on. That’s the photograph I work from.
Transforming a photo into a personalized watercolour painting is one of the most meaningful commissions I take on. Not because it’s technically demanding — though it is — but because the result matters to someone in a way that a print never quite can. It’s a unique object. There’s only one.
The Three Stages of a Watercolour Commission
The photos below show the three stages of this particular painting in sequence. Each one is a different technique — and each technique has a specific purpose.
Stage 1 — Wet on wet. The paper is wetted first and the first colours are dropped in while it’s still damp. The pigment spreads organically, creating the soft atmospheric background that watercolour is known for. This is where the mood of the painting is decided.
Stage 2 — Wet on dry. Once the first layer is completely dry, I work on top with a loaded brush on dry paper. This gives me control — sharper edges, deeper shadows, the beginning of form and structure.
Stage 3 — Final details. The last stage is the most delicate. Fine brushwork, careful observation of the reference photo, and the restraint to stop before doing too much. A watercolour portrait is finished earlier than you think.
Commission Your Own Watercolour
If you have a photograph you’d like turned into a one-of-a-kind watercolour painting — a portrait, a family moment, a surf session, a place that matters to you — get in touch via the contact page. Share the photo, tell me a little about what it means to you, and we’ll go from there.
Every commission is different. Every painting is unique.
From surfers, to surfers — and to everyone who has a moment worth keeping.
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