Your child, made into art.

A photograph captures how they looked. A painting holds the feeling of that moment—painted by hand, one layer at a time.

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Recent Portraits

Vibrant · Soft and natural · Playful · Minimal · Energetic

Give the moment a place to live

Children change quickly, while photographs pile up on our phones. A painting turns one fleeting stage into original art made for your child, your colors and your home.

FROM MY KIRKLAND STUDIO

It began with my son.

Before my son turned two, I finished one painting of him every day for a month and fell in love with the subtle expressions toddlers have before they have all the words. Their feelings are enormous, yet their faces leave a little mystery. Wondering what they might be thinking as they discover the world around them is what I look for in every child I paint.

Miwa Gardner
Artist and mother · Kirkland, Washington

What families say

“Miwa painted a complex portrait of our oldest son as a Christmas gift for my wife, and she absolutely nailed it. The likeness is uncanny. She kept me updated throughout, and truly listened to what mattered most. An A+ artist and an A+ portrait.”

-Ben· Christmas gift commission

“Despite not meeting my son in person, Miwa did a phenomenal job grasping his characteristics and facial expressions. His eyes are one of my favorite parts of his face, and the depiction is amazing.”

-Shirley· Parent commission

Painted entirely by hand

Every portrait begins with a pencil sketch and is built layer by layer in watercolor on archival, 100% cotton paper.

No AI. No filters. No automated effects. Just pencil, pigment, water and time.

I accept one private commission each month, allowing me to give every painting my full attention. Your finished portrait is signed and dated on the reverse and arrives with a handwritten note from me.

Choose your portrait

12 × 16 inches
Starting at $290

An intimate portrait for a bedside, reading corner or gallery wall.

Keepsake

22 × 30 inches
Starting at $540

A larger statement piece designed to hold its own in a room.

Signature

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How a Commission Works

1. Tell me about your child

Share who the portrait is for, what makes it meaningful and whether you have a date in mind.

2. Send your photographs

Please send a few original, high-resolution photographs. I’ll help you choose the strongest reference and we’ll talk through the colors and feeling you love.

3. Approve the direction

I confirm the price and timeline, then create a watercolor sketch for your approval before painting begins.

TIMING

Most portraits are completed within four working days after the photograph, color direction and sketch are approved. Please allow approximately two weeks from approval to delivery within the US. More complex portraits may require additional time.

For Christmas delivery, please enquire by November 20 for US orders or November 1 for international orders. Availability may close earlier because I accept approximately one commission each month.

CHOOSING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

A strong portrait begins with a strong photograph. Please send original, high-resolution images with the face clearly visible, well lit and in focus. If you are unsure which photograph is strongest, send several and I will help you choose.

Begin with a sketch

Not quite ready to commission the full portrait?

For $20, I will create two small watercolor sketches from your chosen reference photograph. You can see how I interpret your child and choose the direction that feels most like them before the final painting begins.

If you continue with the portrait, the $20 is credited toward your commission price.

Start With a Sketch

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Questions parents ask

The 12 × 16 inch Keepsake feels intimate and works beautifully in a bedroom, reading corner or gallery wall. I naturally do my best work at a larger scale, where the watercolor has more room to move and I can explore the expression and details more fully. The 22 × 30 inch Signature gives me that freedom and has a stronger presence in a room. If you are unsure, tell me where you imagine hanging it and I will help you choose.
A good reference photo should be high-quality, with clear visibility of the eyes and facial contours. If you are unsure which photograph is strongest, send several after enquiring and I will help you choose.
I am especially drawn to quiet, unguarded and in-between expressions. The moments where we are left wondering what a child might be thinking are often where the feeling lives. I will help you choose a photograph that feels true to your child and works beautifully as a painting.
Yes. Your portrait is signed and dated on the reverse and arrives with a handwritten note from me.
Yes. International shipping is $35. Any customs duties or import taxes charged by the destination country are the buyer’s responsibility.
Every commissioned portrait is carefully scanned before shipping. If the original is lost or damaged in transit, I can provide a high-quality giclée reproduction from that scan, so the artwork is not lost completely.
Thankfully, this has never happened. However, I carefully scan every commissioned portrait before shipping. If the original is ever lost or damaged in transit, I will provide a high-quality giclée reproduction from the scan, so you will still have the artwork.

A portrait begins with a conversation

I accept approximately one private commission each month. Tell me who you’re thinking of having painted and any date you have in mind. I’ll reply personally with availability and next steps.

No payment is required to enquire.