When Lori first reached out to me, she had a heartfelt request—she wanted a custom portrait of her mother, who had recently suffered a stroke.

Lori longed for a painting that would not only honour her mother’s warmth and kindness but also capture her youthful spirit.

She had a vision: a portrait commission that would showcase her mother bathed in a soft, golden glow, surrounded by delicate Tasmanian ferns. We worked together from the very beginning, fine-tuning every detail through digital mock-ups.

Each step of the way, I kept Lori involved, sharing progress shots and making refinements to ensure that the final piece truly reflected her mother’s essence.

To bring her vision to life, I hand-cut custom fern stencils, layering them into the background to create a sense of serenity and connection to nature while still keeping my signature style.

Using oil portrait painting techniques, I carefully blended the tones to give her mother’s face a gentle, lifelike presence—one that radiates the love and admiration Lori holds for her.

The result is a stunning heirloom that will be treasured for generations.

When the painting was delivered, Lori’s reaction was everything an artist could hope for: overwhelming joy and deep emotion.

If you’re looking to commission a portrait of a loved one—whether as a Mother’s Day gift, a birthday gift, or simply to celebrate and honour someone special—I’d love to bring your vision to life.

Let’s create something truly meaningful together.