Custom Oil Portraits, Painted by Hand
Original oil paintings of people and pets, individually painted from your photographs.
From €149 · Hand-painted in Latvia · Ships internationally
Your photograph, reimagined in oil
Your Photograph → Your Painting
The same moment, translated by hand into brushstroke and stretched linen. Each portrait is painted individually — never printed, never filtered, never mass-produced.
The process
From blank canvas to finished original, step by step.
- 01
- 02
- 03
The portfolio
Selected Works
A small selection of commissioned portraits, each painted by hand for a specific person, moment or companion.
The photograph
The finished painting
The Companion
Pet portrait · 30 × 40 cm (11.8 × 15.7 in)
Pisces
Birthday gift · 40 × 50 cm (15.7 × 19.7 in)
Little Chick
A childhood nickname · 30 × 30 cm (11.8 × 11.8 in)
Baby Portrait
Commissioned portrait · 30 × 30 cm (11.8 × 11.8 in)
Baby Portrait II
Commissioned portrait · 40 × 50 cm (15.7 × 19.7 in)
A gift that becomes part of someone's home
A photograph captures the moment. A painting gives it a place to live.
Choose a photograph that means something to you, and have it transformed into a physical oil painting — painted by hand, on stretched linen or a rigid panel, made to last.
Whether it marks a birthday, an anniversary, a wedding, a family milestone, or simply someone you love, a portrait is a gift that keeps a person close.
- Birthdays
- Anniversaries
- Weddings
- Family milestones
- Pets
- Memorials & keepsakes
- Couples
- Just because
How it works
From photograph to finished painting, in four simple steps.
- 01
Choose your photograph
Upload the photograph you want turned into a painting. A clear, well-lit photo of a face, a couple, or a pet works best.
- 02
Choose your size
Select the stretched linen size and portrait option that fits the moment and your space.
- 03
I paint it
The portrait is individually hand-painted in oil, built up over several sessions until it's ready.
- 04
Your painting arrives
The finished original is carefully packaged and shipped to your door.
The difference
This isn't a filter. It's a real painting.
Every portrait is an original piece of art, painted by hand and made for one person.
- Painted by hand, in real oil paint
- An original, one-of-a-kind physical artwork
- Visible brushwork and painterly texture
- Created specifically for you and your photograph
- A keepsake that lives in your home, not on a screen
About the artist
Hi, I'm Helmuts.
I'm an artist from Latvia.
I came to painting because I fell in love with the process of making something slowly, carefully, and by hand. There is something deeply satisfying about starting with an empty surface and, stroke by stroke, watching something begin to exist.
I believe we need beautiful things in our lives. Not because everything has to be perfect or impressive, but because beauty has a way of making us stop, look, and appreciate what is already there.
That's what I want my paintings to do.
I want to make art that feels honest. Art made with care rather than rushed for the sake of making more. Art that is meant to be lived with — something you can look at every day and still find something in it years later.
I also want the experience of commissioning a painting to be a good one. Personal, exciting, and a little bit special. You should feel that there is a real person on the other side of the order who genuinely cares about what they're making for you.
I don't know where H. SAMS will take me, but I know what I want it to stand for:
the good, the true, and the beautiful.
That's what I'm trying to put into every painting.
— Helmuts Sams
For photographers
Are you a photographer? Give your clients another way to preserve their favorite photograph.
When a session ends, the story doesn't have to. Refer your clients to H. SAMS and earn a commission on every completed portrait order.
- Your client receives a discount using your referral code
- You receive a commission on every completed order
- No upfront cost
- No additional work required
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Everything you might want to know before commissioning a portrait. If something isn't covered, just ask.
Choose a size, upload your photograph, and tell me a little about what you'd like. You'll see the full price including shipping before you pay. After payment I start painting — you'll receive updates at each step until the portrait ships.
A clear, well-lit photo works best — sharp, in focus, with faces easy to see. Photos with good natural light and higher resolution help me capture likeness. If you're unsure, order anyway and I can work with most photographs.
Most portraits take 2–4 weeks to paint, depending on size, subject count and complexity. This is an estimate — more complex work may take longer. You'll be told an estimated time before you order.
Currently Small (20 × 20 cm · 7.9 × 7.9 in), painted on a high-quality rigid panel, and Medium (30 × 40 cm · 11.8 × 15.7 in) and Large (40 × 50 cm · 15.7 × 19.7 in), both on stretched linen. Other sizes can usually be arranged on request — for a custom size, email hello@hsams.art directly.
Yes. Small is for one person, Medium holds up to two people, and Large holds up to three. Larger compositions with more subjects can be arranged on request.
Absolutely — pet portraits are one of the most popular requests. Dogs, cats and other companions all work beautifully in oil.
Yes. Many portraits are ordered as gifts. The painting can be shipped directly to the recipient, and I can keep the details discreet if you'd like to surprise someone.
I currently ship across Europe, and can arrange international shipping on request. Shipping cost and estimated delivery time are shown at checkout.
Each painting is carefully wrapped for protection and shipped in secure packaging so it arrives in perfect condition. A decorative frame is not included, but you can add a hand-finished wooden frame at checkout if you'd like one.
Your satisfaction matters. If something isn't right once the painting is finished, get in touch and we'll find a fair solution together.
Yes. I share progress as the portrait is being painted, so there's room to request adjustments before it's finished and shipped.
Give a photograph a second life.
Share the photograph. Keep the painting.