How to Choose the Right Size for Your Portrait

When people first get in touch about a painting, size is often the question they feel least sure about. That makes sense. It is hard to picture a canvas on your own wall when all you have is a photo on your phone.

You do not need to know the answer before you ask. Size is something we can work out together. Still, a few things are worth thinking through first.

Start with the wall, not the canvas

The most useful thing you can do is look at where the painting will hang. Is it going above a sofa, a fireplace, a bed, or a narrow strip of wall in a hallway?

A simple trick: cut a sheet of paper or cardboard to a rough size and tape it to the wall. Leave it there for a day. You will notice very quickly whether it feels lost in the space or crowds everything around it. A size that sounds large in numbers can look modest on a big wall.

Think about how close people will stand

Viewing distance changes everything. A portrait in a hallway or beside a reading chair will be seen up close, so a smaller painting can work beautifully there.

A painting across a living room, or above a mantel, is usually seen from further away. In that case a bigger canvas helps the faces read clearly from across the room.

Count the faces

The number of subjects has a big effect on size. A single person or one pet can sit comfortably on a fairly modest canvas. A couple needs a little more room. A whole family, or a family with two dogs and a cat, needs enough space for each face to be painted with care rather than squeezed in.

As a rough illustration only, a head-and-shoulders portrait of one person might suit something in the region of 12×16 inches, while a group of four might feel more natural at something like 24×30 inches or larger. These are examples to help you picture it, not a list of fixed options. The right size for your painting depends on your photo, your wall and what you want the portrait to feel like.

Consider how much of the person you want to show

A close portrait of a face is different from a full-length figure standing in a garden. If you want background, setting, or the whole body included, the canvas generally needs to be bigger so the faces do not become tiny. If you want something intimate and focused, a tighter crop on a smaller canvas can be very powerful.

Your reference photo matters too

Size and photo quality are linked. A painting is not a straight copy of a photo, but I do rely on the photo for detail: the shape of an eye, the way light falls across a cheek, the texture of fur. If the photo is small, blurry, or taken from far away, it can be harder to paint a large, detailed portrait from it. It is still worth sending what you have, and I will tell you what is realistic.

Budget and practical things

Larger paintings take more time and more materials, so size usually plays a part in the cost. Framing, packing and shipping also tend to vary with size. Rather than guess, the simplest route is to ask. When you request a quote, I will talk through options for your particular photo and give you my actual terms.

If you are still not sure

That is completely fine. On the inquiry form there is a "Not sure" option for exactly this reason. Choose it, tell me a little about the room and the photo, and we can figure it out together. You are welcome to request a quote for a custom portrait from your photo and include a quick snapshot of the wall if you like. I usually reply within 24 to 48 hours, often sooner.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to choose an exact size before I contact you?

No. A rough idea such as small, medium or large is enough to start, and "Not sure" is a perfectly good answer. We can settle the details once I have seen your photo.

Can a small painting still include more than one person?

Sometimes, yes, especially with a close crop. But each face needs enough room to be painted properly, so with several subjects a larger canvas is often the better choice. I will give you an honest opinion when I see the photo.

Will my photo work for a large painting?

It depends on how sharp and well lit it is, and how much detail it shows. Send the best version you have, ideally the original file rather than a screenshot, and I will tell you what I think is possible.

Does size affect the price?

Usually it does, along with things like the number of subjects and the amount of detail. For my current terms, please request a quote rather than relying on general guidance.