Studio · San Diego, CA
A small, deliberate teaching practice and a handful of commission slots each quarter — so each student and each painting receives full attention.
Current availability
3 commission slots open for delivery before September 2026.
9 class seats open across spring sessions.
Inquire below(01) Classes
Most classes are taught in-person in San Diego. Private mentorships and critiques are also offered online.
Sat 8–11am · La Jolla & Sunset Cliffs
All levels · $95 / session
3 of 8 seats open
6-week eve. course · Tue 6–9pm
Beginner → Intermediate · $780
Waitlist — Spring 2026
Weekend workshop · Mar 14–15
Intermediate · $420
5 of 10 seats open
Monthly 1:1, in-studio or online
Serious students · From $260 / month
1 slot open
(02) Commissions
Commissions begin with a conversation: reference material, the room it will live in, the light through the day. A small color study is approved before the final canvas begins.
20 × 25 cm — oil on panel
Lead time: 4–6 weeks
From $850
40 × 50 cm — oil on linen
Lead time: 8–10 weeks
From $2,400
70 × 90 cm and above
Lead time: 3–5 months
From $5,800
A 30% deposit secures the slot. Final balance due on completion. International shipping handled by the studio.
(03) Guide
A commissioned oil painting is a months-long collaboration between collector and artist. Here's how the process works in the studio, what it costs, and what to expect at each step.
Commissions in the studio start at $850 for a small 20 × 25 cm study and scale up to $5,800+ for large works of 70 × 90 cm and above. Pricing reflects canvas size, complexity (portrait, landscape, or interior), the number of figures, and whether the piece is painted from life or from reference. A 30% deposit reserves the slot; the balance is due on completion, before shipping.
Lead times range from 4–6 weeks for small studies to 3–5 months for large oils. Oil paint requires drying time between layers, and a final cure before varnishing — most of the calendar is the medium, not the brush.
Landscapes (California coast, Tuscany, Scandinavian archipelagos), interiors, still life, and a limited number of portrait commissions each year. Strictly oil on linen or panel — no digital, no acrylic.
(04) Estimate
Answer seven short questions — subject, scale, medium, references, timeline — and you'll see an estimated range straight away. Emma confirms the final quote once she reviews your references. Nothing is charged here.
Typical range
$800 – $2,000
For studies and standard-format commissions. Larger canvases and multi-figure works are quoted separately after the conversation.
(03) Inquire