Portrait from a photo

Your questions, before commissioning

How much does a portrait from a photo cost?

From 90 € on paper in A4, from 180 € on canvas in 30×40 cm, 240 € in 40×50 cm, 320 € in 50×70 cm. Several people on the same canvas cost the same: the price follows the size alone. Only very large formats are quoted individually, reply within 48 hours. The first two sketches are complimentary and she adjusts them with you: you know what you are getting before you confirm, and the price announced is the final price.

How do I commission a portrait from a photo?

Send Giulia Dal Bon your photos, even old ones, of the person who matters to you, and she brings your idea to life with you. She offers you a free quote within 48 hours, then two free sketches: you tell her what you think, and she adjusts. She paints, you follow the progress, and your portrait is delivered to your home, carefully packed. A portrait starts at 90 €.

Who paints the portrait?

Giulia Dal Bon, a painter trained at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan. She exhibits her paintings in art galleries, paints by brush, on canvas or on paper, from your photos, and ships the painting anywhere in Europe, carefully packed. Corriere della Sera, Domus and Sky Arte have covered her work.

What exactly do I receive?

The painting itself, on canvas or on paper depending on the size chosen, varnished, signed if you wish, and carefully packed for shipping, sent from the country of destination. Before that, you receive the first two sketches, free of charge, and you follow the progress in photos. A 50 % deposit after the sketch is approved, the balance at the end.

Which size should I choose for a portrait?

The 30×40 cm lives happily on a desk or a shelf; the 40×50 cm is the size that suits a living room or bedroom wall; the 50×70 cm has real presence, visible from across the room. On paper, the A4 makes an elegant gift, easy to frame. If in doubt, send a photo of the wall: Giulia advises on size by looking at the space.

Canvas or paper, which to choose?

Canvas has texture and hangs as it is, edges painted: the usual choice for a portrait that stays on the wall for years. Paper has a particular softness, close to drawing, and fits a standard frame: perfect for a first painting or a gift. Acrylic colours last well on both supports.

How is a photo turned into a painting?

You send the photo by WhatsApp or email, with the size you would like and the idea you have in mind, however vague. Giulia replies within 48 hours with a quote, then offers two complimentary sketches that set the crop and the mood. Once the sketch is chosen, she paints by brush, in acrylic, showing you the work in progress. The portrait arrives at your door, ready to frame or hang.

Is the likeness guaranteed?

It is the heart of a portraitist’s craft, and the method protects it: the sketch first, complimentary, then the work shown as it advances, and touch-ups included until the face is right. Giulia is precise from the start about what she will paint. For her, the most important thing is that you are happy with the final result: the portrait leaves when it looks like you.

Can a portrait be painted from an old photo?

Yes, and these are often the most beautiful commissions: a grandparent, a memory of youth, a wedding photo from another era. However small, creased or black and white, the photo is a starting point; the painting recovers colour and presence. If several photos exist, send them all: each brings a detail, an expression, a light.

Can people from different photos be brought together in one painting?

Yes. It is one of painting’s great advantages over photography: Giulia composes a single painting from several images, people photographed at different moments, even at different ages. The complimentary sketch shows the overall composition before painting: you approve everyone’s place, the proportions and the background.

Can a portrait from a photo be given as a gift?

It is one of the most memorable gifts there is: the person discovers their own face, or a loved one’s, painted by hand by an artist. For a surprise, Giulia works discreetly from photos you already have. A gift voucher can also announce the painting to come: the person then chooses their own photo. The Gift a painting page explains both options.