Karin often includes meaningful family objects or still life materials into her portraits if the sitter wishes.

Karin Wells works in traditional oils on hand woven Belgian linen and uses only the finest materials. She employs the old and traditional grisaille method of underpainting, the building of thick light, and thin glazes to produce a painting in the luminous classical realistic style of the Old Masters.

In portraiture she begins the process by getting to know the client and discussing their ideas for the portrait. Together they select the clothing to be worn and any props necessary for the painting before scheduling a photography session.

Karin's paintings often draw a combination of elements from different photos that she has taken, i.e., the smile from one, a hand gesture from another, and perhaps a twinkle in the eyes that she sees. She does many sketches and drawings to work out the composition and correct anatomy. Sometimes she borrows the clothing or props for a color match when necessary.

Karin is happy to paint a client's name into the portrait if they wish. Each painting she does will take from six months to a year to complete because of the drying times of the many layers of paint that are applied. She always finishes a work in its frame in order to create a completely compatible unit. While she works on finishing the picture in the last few weeks, Karin enhances and colors the frame subtly with the paints and glazes from her palette.

In keeping with standard portrait professional practices, Karin requires a deposit of 50% in order to begin the work. The artist prefers not to show the client the work-in-progress. The balance of the portrait fee is payable when the completed portrait is accepted. Karin will make every reasonable effort to create a work that satisfies you completely. References will be supplied upon request.

In order to paint a posthumous portrait or copy an heirloom picture, Karin feels it necessary to see the reference material from which she will be working in order to determine the price.

Karin can also arrange to paint a less expensive "head and shoulders view" portrait if the client wishes, but she prefers to represent more of the figure in order to capture the body language that oftentimes expresses the true personality and character of the sitter.

Prices will increase when the size of the canvas exceeds 24" x 20" and/or with a detailed and complex background. Additional figures of people of animals will increase the cost by 80% per figure. Expenses associated with overnight travel and any shipping costs are additional.