Our Services
Formal provides commissioned oil portraiture, gift cards, and portrait painting workshops for teams and families.
Each commission with Formal is a fully guided process — from initial conversation to final installation. Every stage is handled with intention, care, and precision.
Portraits begin with a personal consultation and a curated studio photo session, establishing the tone, light, and composition of the work. The painting then unfolds over six months, with scheduled updates and review opportunities throughout.
Upon completion, your portrait is professionally framed, packaged, and installed. Clients also receive one year of complimentary insurance and may choose ongoing monthly care for cleaning and preservation. Every element is designed to ensure the work endures — in craft, in condition, and in presence.
Invest in Permanence
Standard-level portrait commissions begin at $500, with canvas sizes from 8” x 10”.
Each commission includes consultation, streamlined photography session or photo modification, all materials, custom framing, and local delivery.
Premium-level portrait commissions begin at $5,000, with canvas sizes from 30” x 40”.
Each commission includes consultation, source photography sessions, all materials, custom framing, and local delivery.
Also included in Premium portraits at no additional cost are interior design services and placement guidance, to ensure the finished work complements its intended environment, as well as a private unveiling ceremony, available for families, clients, or teams wishing to celebrate the work’s completion.
Costs related to extended travel or delivery outside the local range are not included in the base price. Large scale portraits are encouraged, with pricing adjusted according to scale.
Travel
Each portrait begins where the subject feels most at home. Formal travels to clients and gift recipients for source photography, with extended travel arranged by commission.
Give the perfect gift — an experience that becomes an heirloom.
A thoughtful gift for weddings, anniversaries, milestones or holidays — where the memory of the process becomes as treasured as the portrait itself.
A Formal portrait is more than a gift — it is a lasting expression of appreciation, memory, and meaning.
Gift cards are available for weddings, anniversaries, holidays, family milestones, and professional achievements — occasions where the value of time, legacy, and care deserves to be made tangible.
Each gift includes a private consultation to begin the process and can be applied toward any commissioned work. Elegant digital and physical presentation options are available for delivery.
Give what endures.
Workshops
The Formal Portrait Painting Workshop
An opportunity to step inside the painter’s process — Formal Workshops invite teams, families, and communities to engage directly with the art of portraiture. Guided by artist William Arvin, participants learn the foundations of observation, composition, and form while exploring the enduring value of craftsmanship in a digital age.
Each workshop is designed to create connection — among colleagues, loved ones, or peers — through the act of seeing and creating together. Whether hosted in a corporate environment, private home, or studio setting, every session is tailored to the group’s goals and experience level.
Workshop Offerings Include:
Corporate Team Sessions — Designed to strengthen collaboration and creativity within teams. Participants engage in guided exercises that explore perception, identity, and visual storytelling, culminating in a collective portrait or series of studies.
Family & Private Workshops — A personal, hands-on experience for families and small groups. Learn the principles of portraiture, explore light and proportion, and create your own painted or drawn study under William’s guidance.
Studio Intensives (by request) — For individuals or small groups seeking a more technical experience in oil portraiture and composition.
All workshops include:
Materials and tools provided
Instruction and live demonstration
Guided creative exercises and feedback
Optional professional photography documentation of the experience
Pricing:
$950 for groups of up to 10 participants. Each additional guest may join for $125 per person.
Custom scheduling and travel arrangements available, with additional travel fees when applicable.
Bring your group’s creativity to life.
Book a brief consultation to discuss your workshop goals and reserve your date.
Schedule a Consultation
Every portrait begins with a conversation. Schedule a private consultation to discuss your vision, the process, and how we can create a work that reflects your presence with care and integrity.
