CUSTOM FAMILY PORTRAITS


GIFT YOURSELF OR YOUR LOVED ONES A MEANINGFUL TREASURE TO ENJOY FOR A LIFETIME AND PASS DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION



I’m now offering 2 options for my illustrated custom family portraits.
The Adventure Series continues with its bold vibrant ‘graphic-novel-front-cover-vibe’ as well as the stripped-down version, called The Love Series, for those who have less wall space or budget at their disposal.


Have a read through the below and let me know what you choose to go with. You can read my client reviews ant the end of this page and see what they have to say about their experience and their own original artwork. (If you’re viewing this page on a phone, examples of my work will also be at the end of this page if you’d want to see those before you get stuck into the ins and outs).



The Adventure Series
Front Cover Illustrated custom portrait, full colour background (bold or subtle), a setting, personalised outfit/clothes, 2-5 personal references per person, 2 pets (more can be added at additional cost, see below) and a banner (a song lyric, a saying, a specific date or celebration, names…) hi-res digital file for printing up to A1 size as many times as wanted (I’m always happy to help with paper type and ink choice advice from your local printer’s services).


The Love Series
Full illustrated custom portrait on a plain field, personalised outfit/clothes, 1 personal reference per person, 2 pets (more can be added at additional cost, see below), hi-res digital file for printing up to A1 size as many times as wanted (I’m always happy to help with paper type and ink choice advice from your local printer’s services).


Here are some of my previous works to help you decide.
Copyright Call Me Ishmael - These are simply to give you an idea of what to expect and to give you ideas about what we can include in your art piece.
 
The process is simple and fun.
There’s a little bio form I have ready to go for you to complete for each human. This will tell me about who you are (things like hobbies, personal traits, signature outfits, fav places etc). I’ll gather info and attentively design each character from that info and from photographs you provide. The clearer the image I get of each one of you, the better the representation.
The beauty of my family portraits lies in the detail and deep individual personalisation of each family member: there’s no AI, no templates or those generic computer generated sketches.
I spend upwards of 40hours on my pieces and this is reflected in the price - should you ever wonder why my original art pieces are more expensive than the sites online where you can input a few photographs, click and get a super quick result.
Any special requests are very welcome, there is so much to play with and I love that creative part of the process so ask away for outlandish ideas or inspiration. (Family of superheroes, family in spacesuits and alien costumes, on your favourite beach or in front of your fav mountain, the options are endless).


Here are my Q4-24/Q1-25 prices: Digital File Custom Illustrated Family Portraits. (Convert to your currency using an up-to-date exchange rate, NB 10% discount if paying in ZAR from a South African bank account)
 
(incl. 2pets)
The Adventure Series in AUD
The Love Series in AUD
1 person
610
480
2 people
740
580
3 people
870
680
4 people
1000
780
5 people
1130
880
6 people
1260
980
7 people
1390
1080
babies up to 12months old
55
35
extra pet
35
35

I do have a payment structure that can be paid in as many as 3 settlements if needed. Don’t hesitate to ask for this. Email me any questions you may have.

A really big Thank You for your support and trusting me with these special representations of your loved ones, I am beyond grateful that this is how I get to provide for my family, it’s my dream come true.

You can see previous commissions at the highlights titled "portraits 1-3" on my instagram page here, and you can have a read below & see what a handful of my past clients have said:


Reviews & Testimonials

My sister isn’t one to be moved to tears, but when she saw the artwork of us I commissioned from CMI, she burst into tears. Asking Megs to create an incredibly special & important piece was a no-brainer. Her skills and craft are at an exceptional level (even as she continues to build on them), & she is very well aware of how special each piece is to the person who is commissioning/receiving it. She creates with grace, kindness and empathy, not to only make a pretty picture, but to bring memories and connections to life.  -Rabi, Jozi

Hi just fetched our family portrait, WOW , you nailed it, the boys were giggling at the picture and were very confused what a pic of our family was doing in the shop. Thank u so much for the amazing details and effort 🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍   ….(the next day)…..   Sorry for message again. We cannot stop staring at our masterpiece, I've sent to my sister she said so weird how each child is so spot on, my oldest and youngest clinging to my legs, love it so much, you are so talented 😍  - Jamie 

Can’t stop staring at it! You nailed it!!!! Thank You ♥️ Oh my goodness he LOVES IT! So does the world I’ve shared it with & your details!!! Your ears must be burning! Shared with some of my nearest & dearest last week already as I just couldn’t contain myself 😆 Will keep punting it. They just have to be pointed towards you, then your work speaks for itself! Thank you for bringing joy to our day, which would have otherwise been very gloomy. Stay safe   - Tracey, Cape Town 

It was so much fun to gather photos and information for Ronel and Finn’s portrait, I had to be very sneaky! Then a bit of waiting, before the big reveal on crisp cotton paper. A gift and an experience all rolled into one.  -Leroux, ZA

Leroux gave me a beautiful gift a few weeks ago. and I was completely blown over, I could not believe my eyes. It was your illustration of me and my son and all the things we enjoy. It is such a special gift and I think for people just want to be seen and this is such a special gift coz I feel very much seen. It's so beautifully executed, it even looks like us, with just a few lines you’ve really managed to absolutely capture what we look like, thank you, this is so beautiful.  -Ronel, Glenn Cairn 

J’ai eu les larmes aux yeux 🥺🥺🥺🥺Super émue. C’est incroyable! C’est nous tous !!!! Merci merci merci. J’en reviens pas - c’est tellement parfait. ❤️   -Elodie 

Hi Megs, I got to Cape Town this week and went to collect the portrait and was absolutely blown away, it’s exceeded my expectations. The detail you put into it is so appreciated from the ring to the hooper to the tree and the cats and Matt’s man bun and the flowers!!! The details in the flowers and how accurate they are. So so grateful for the effort you put in. We're gonna treasure it and put it in our entrance hall in our new home. Just thank you, its something we’re gonna treasure forever .Really really just in love with it.  -Kim

Thanks so much, I can’t wait to get it up on the wall!!! I keep looking at it. I don't know how you managed to capture Oliver SO PERFECTLY! And even my outfit, my favourite dress and earrings even! And then don't know where to start with the girls even, little Em’s on that bike and Isa’s hair! I’m finished!  -Mona

Hey Megan. the kids LOVE the painting. They can’t stop looking at it and pointing things out. It’s amazing and came out way better than I expected. Thank you so much.  -Jason

Arrived safe and sound. Thank you SO MUCH. We love it!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️  -The Maidmans

Dear Megan, yesterday your painting for us arrived. And I must say, that the result is terrific. I was of course not able to show it to Conny, my wife yet, as it is a birthday present, but I was able to show it to my two daughters already, and both of them love it.  It must be very difficult to generate a painting just from pictures and email exchange, and without having had the chance to see your objects in real life, but you have clearly done an outstanding  job. Greta especially loves, how her stuffed ape has been drafted and the cool dress you made her wear. Anna loves her hockey bat and her favourite doll the most. All of us three think, that both Conny and myself are very well painted.I will let you know, once Conny has seen it, and the painting has been framed, and hangs at its final destination, which is in a prominent position above the piano in our living room.For the moment I just would like to express my sincere thank you very much for the painting itself, but also for the very smooth and professional process during the last 2-3 months. I can and will definitely recommend you further.Have a great start into the week.  - Thornsten, Germany