Fantasy Portrait

Ancestral Messenger, Francesca De Grandis.

Ancestral Messenger

Your spirit portrait is truly one of kind. Brush-stroke by brush-stroke, I meditate on the otherworldly you. Many digital portrait painters use templates—e.g., the same faerie wings for all their clients. Or they digitally alter a photo. I paint the portrait, with a virtual brush, a computer screen my canvas.

Click a portrait to see it clear and detailed. This site blurs a painting when shrinking it to fit the page.

Order your spirit portrait: Click here.

Francesca De Grandis

Middle Management for Chaos Gods, Self Portrait

Spirit guides me, as I portray your spirit. The photo you send me is just my jumping off point to envision and depict—not the physical, but—the otherworldly, magical you. See the difference between clown painting of me and photo that inspired it. My portraits are not slavish copies of photographs. This is about us affirming your mythopoetic truth in a way that is fun for you.

Want your inner and outer beauty celebrated in an art piece? Click here to order your fantasy portrait.

Here is an example of my process with a customer. Dave told me he’d loved two fantasy creatures his whole life: the dragon and the Tolkeinesque dwarf. He added, “…when I get to play a role-playing game,…I play the dwarf … it’s something about their almost British “Keep Buggering On” mentality, their sturdiness…” About dragons he wrote, “There is a wisdom to the dragon, a view of history only held by something which lives longer than a human life.” That—and a photo of him—was all I needed: I channeled Gimli’s Warrior Cousin, Friend to Dragons (below). Dave’s posted his reaction in a comment field below.

Dave sent me two photos of himself for me to use as my model.

Dave sent me two photos of himself for me to use as my model.

Gimli’s Warrior Cousin, Friend to Dragons

I see you. Truly see you. Do you want the invisible-you made manifest? Click here to receive your portrait.

A personal story: Tara Noonan commissioned a portrait of her mom, who I’d never met. Even if I’ve met the person I’m painting, creating a spirit portrait is like painting in the dark. So I get nervous about doing a good job. When I sent the portrait to Tara for approval, she responded, “It’s truly amazing how I feel you captured my mom’s essence, her groundedness, her warmth, her sadness and strength, all in this portrait. Thank you so much for this! I am really excited to share this with her. And I am glad you guys “met”, kind of!  Thanks for your beautiful work…Love, Tara”

Her feedback was a great affirmation for me, a fledging painter. I was also relieved!  Tara’s mom’s portrait is to the right. It is not everyone who would accept their mom depicted as a clown! I kept trying to not do it. Finally I had to give way—unless I trust my inner voice, I am unable to paint. I figured I would change it if Tara felt it was wrong!

Be assured, I do not choose between your inner voice and mine, I choose them both. The Divine guides my brush, but might guide you to ask for a revision. I make sure your portrait depicts your inner beauty, dignity, and uniqueness.

I’m also excited to share Tara’s feedback because it demonstrates the special nature of these paintings. Getting commissions is difficult thus far, even though everyone’s loved their portrait, telling me I intuited something important about them. But 1) I haven’t a reputation as a visual artist, yet and 2) my painting captures someone’s spirit, which is unusual; most folks don’t understand that a glamorous fantasy pic can also be a channeled spirit portrait. So, Tara, thanks for helping make clear my ability to see and affirm the amazing hidden parts of someone!

Roberto Campus (Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Lucas Arts, Penguin Books, Hulk, Dungeon Magazine, GamePro): “As a professional illustrator and artist, I personally enjoy Francesca’s artwork and find it to be original and inspired by the natural world. Her whimsical, bright style is a breath of fresh air for the world of fantasy and fairy art. The wild yet harmonious color palette and subject matter speak to an enchanted world of fantastical creatures, just outside our windows, on the edge of our own existence, where spiritual understanding through the artistic muse is accessible. Francesca’s art captures this essence and brings it to the mundane world for our enjoyment.”

And here is my portrait of Roberto Campus:

Want a truly one-of-a-kind portrait depicting the unique person you are, at a low price? Click here.

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24 Responses to Fantasy Portrait

  1. Mary Louise Wooldridge says:

    These portraits are quite lovely and provocative. You have truly found your purpose and are fortunate to be able to express it for other to appreciate.

    What is the cost for a portrait?

  2. cindy hunt says:

    Oh francesca , thank you thank you the painting is how I see my secret self, you are totally amazing! I thought about what I could give you and this poem I wrote last year when I was staying I Gualala you might know it tiny town on northern ca coast

    So many stars, I feel small
    Then I remember connection with
    Goddess, tears come to my eyes
    Our Gods power is strong
    The Mystery is always with us
    Beauty is everything
    Beauty is everywhere
    Mother I give my life to you
    I am special in your eyes
    I am worthy Mother
    For I am your reflection
    I am your eyes, your hands, your heart
    I wish to do your will
    I want to live my life in unity with you
    To live in motion with the word
    And the word is you

    Thank you again for the painting
    Love Cindy

    • Francesca De Grandis says:

      Cindy. The whole project has been a joy from start to finish. You have been warm, charming, and supportive. And it has been amazing getting to know you by channeling a soul portrait for you, thanks for a great privilege.

      To anyone else reading this, if you saw the painting, which turned into a picture poem, bc I ended up also channeling text for it, you would see a profound relationship between the picture poem and the poem Cindy posted above. Beautiful connectivity!

  3. Cindy Hunt says:

    Hi Francesca, I’m going to be ordering a fantasy portrait soon, what I’m asking you is the tattoos I have on me have meaning to how I see myself . Should I include them when I send you a pic of myself ? Thanks for your help.

    Have a blessed day, cindy

    • Francesca De Grandis says:

      Cindy, yay! Feel free to include the tattoo pics, that wld be awesome. On the other hand, if taking pics of them is a hassle, it is fine to not send them. Whatever Spirit tells you re what to send me is great. I work intuitively, so I do not need the “perfectly right” choice of pics for me to tune into your inner beauty. If you have more questions, let me know. Blessings.

  4. Maximilian says:

    After going over a number of the blog posts on your
    web page, I honestly like your technique of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the near future.
    Take a look at my website as well and tell me how you feel.

    • Francesca De Grandis says:

      Thanks for yr comment! I went to yr site, but I only speak English so was not able to read it. Best of luck with it!

  5. Pingback: Blessing This Site #3 | StarDrenched

  6. Bev says:

    Francesca, OMG – I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Thank you so very much!!

    Oh I wish you could see the big goofy smile on my face!!

    *Does happy dance* *traumatizes the cat by doing a happy dance* lol

    I’m so pleased that you got my eyes right! I wasn’t sure if the color came through properly in the photos, but you got them perfectly! My pale green eyes are usually the first thing that people notice.

    I also noticed that it seems that I have earrings with a G-clef symbol. Very appropriate for a musician – which you didn’t know. Well obviously, you knew, but on a deeper level!

    I’ve already gotten compliments from my FB friends and I showed it to my tattoo artist’s girlfriend who is a very talented artist in her own right and she was truly impressed!

    I love your artistic style and your ability to see past the ‘mundane’. And I speak as a fellow artist.

    Francesca, you are just so talented and have such a wonderful gift. I am so hono(u)red (I’m bilingual! LOL) to have this wonderful piece you’ve done.

    Many thanks and every bright blessing!

    • Francesca De Grandis says:

      Bev, thank you for so much praise, OMG! And your post is fun. You have a way with words.

      I received the drawing you sent me after I finished your portrait. Wow! I feel honored that an artist as good as you likes my work. I almost don’t believe it, am kinda stunned.

      I also have to tell you, your post praises the two things that I was most worried about in yr portrait, so yr post is a great affirmation for me. Let me explain: Trance painting is sometimes like painting in the dark, because so much of what I paint comes from the ether, not from the client’s photograph or from the info about themselves they might (or might not) send. So i sometimes worry if i am completely off mark, even though clients always say the opposite. Painting you, I kept wondering if all that big scroll work jewelry i put on you was right, because your photo had you wearing just a few delicate small pieces. Your post affirms I was right to follow my instinct. Your post will make me more confident, i am still so new a painter, let alone creating portraiture. 

      The second item i was worried about was how i painted yr eyes. I could not tell for sure your eye color from the photos, but that was not even the issue, because clients know the portrait is a fantasy and represents their spirit, not their exact physical looks. The issue was that i intuitively tried something new with your eyes, did them in a different way than I usually do, and I worried it did not work. But that new way contributed to the pale green you said was just right. So I am going to worry less when i paint, thank you!

  7. Tara Noonan says:

    My mom loved the portrait of her I commissioned from you! She got chills when she saw it, saying that she’d never received a gift that touched her so much. She told me it was like looking at herself as she’d never seen herself before. Great work! Best Mother’s Day present ever!

    • Francesca De Grandis says:

      I really appreciate hearing that, Tara. I loved painting your mom. And I am very very very grateful for your supportive post. And i want to thank you again, from my heart, for your commission.

  8. Angie says:

    Francesca has a unique way of catching a person’s mystical makeup, the person’s spirit. Her portraits are top notch. The colors are beautiful, but what gets me the most is her way of capturing a subject’s expression. All who get one of these beautiful portraits are fortunate indeed. 

  9. Dave Gilham says:

    The fantasy art portrait you made for me is Fantastic, I love it. Just looking at it makes me smile, and it is great to see the vision of me that you brought to light. It is more than I could have expected and getting to see it really made my day!

    • Francesca De Grandis says:

      Dave, Thank you for your kind feedback. I’m gratified, because I really wanted your portrait to feel special to you. And my ego is happily swelling – you’re a graphic artist by trade so your input has that extra bite for a newbie-artist like moi.

  10. Katie says:

    Thanks Francesca!! You captured my true authentic spirit! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You showed me the part of myself I thought was too hidden for anyone else to see, let alone capture.

    • Francesca De Grandis says:

      You’re welcome but it was my priviledge: I feel like I got to meet some beautiful aspects of you by painting them.

  11. Francesca De Grandis says:

    Ways to use fantasy portraits:
    * Is your pet otherworldly, maybe even your familiar? I can capture the spirit of that. 
    * Show mom how magical she is to you, with her fantasy portrait for Mothers Day or Yule.
    * Children want to look fanciful – e.g., Faeries, animals, pirates. I’d love to paint your child, for a birthday present your child will treasure and pass down to your grandchildren.
    * One price, two gifts: Give a copy of your magical child’s painting to grandparents.
    * Show a discouraged friend how magical and special they are – gift them a fantasy portrait of themself.

  12. Rommy says:

    I truly adore my portrait. The level of artistry more than surpassed my expectations. I am so glad I had it done 🙂

  13. Robyn says:

    I can only say that Francesca’s portraits are gorgeous!
    We never met in person, but still I feel she captured the “essence of me” in my portrait.
    I really want to encourage you to get yours done!

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