Donald Drake Fine Art Gallery
Donald Drake Fine Art Gallery
Portraits: Procedures and Pricing
Portraits that Capture More Than a Likeness-They Capture a Life
Where Legacy Meets Leadership
Whether for your family, firm, business, or academic institution, Don’s portraits honor the people whose integrity and influence continue to inspire. Each painting reflects not only a striking likeness, but the strength of character that endures long after the sitting is done.
If you’ve ever imagined a portrait of someone you love—or a leader, attorney, or educator whose life deserves to be remembered—don’t stop here. Scroll to the bottom of the page to learn how the process works and review pricing. And don’t miss the brief video, where you’ll see Don in action—capturing likeness and presence with extraordinary precision and heart.
Don Drake
About the Artist
If You’ve Ever Felt Weathered—But Still Standing
If you’ve ever felt weathered by life—but still standing—you’ll understand what draws me to paint.
I’m drawn to the spaces where endurance and beauty meet—the places and people shaped by time, tested by storms, and still standing with quiet grace. There’s something sacred in what endures. A house that’s held its ground against decades of wind and sea, a landscape that remembers every season, a face that carries its years honestly—these are reminders that strength isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s just steady.
Painting for me is an act of noticing that steadiness. It’s a way of saying, “This matters. This has meaning.” Every brushstroke is both prayer and response—an acknowledgment of what’s been weathered, and a testament to what remains.
In every piece, I hope to offer something more than an image. I want to offer a moment of peace, a reminder of resilience, a glimpse of quiet strength.
I make paintings to help people feel grounded in their own endurance—to remember that what has been tested can also be transformed, and that beauty often lives right at the edge of what we’ve survived.
Creating what will one day hang on your wall
From a young age, I’ve been drawn to the challenge of capturing a likeness—of studying a face and bringing it to life with brush and color. My classical training at Boston University and American University emphasized the mastery of the human figure, but even then, I knew it was never just about anatomy. It was about soul.
I remember the exact moment I found my direction. While standing in line at a grocery store, I saw Aaron Shikler’s portrait of President Ronald Reagan on the cover of a magazine. Something shifted. I knew then—this is what I was meant to do: paint portraits that honor and endure.
Since that day, portraiture has been my focus and my passion.
My goal is never just to achieve a technical likeness. I strive to uncover what lies beneath the surface—the essence of a person, their history, their quiet strength or vibrant energy. I believe a true portrait reveals the eternal.
To get there, I immerse myself in the subject’s world. I welcome stories from family, input from colleagues, and insight from those who know the subject best. These voices help shape a portrait that is not only accurate, but meaningful—something that captures a life, not just a face.
I want my portraits to inspire, to compel, to remind us of the power of a single life fully lived.
“We had such an incredible experience using Don to paint a portrait for my brother-in-law and his wife for a wedding gift."
"He captured every little detail from the joy on their faces to their playful demeanor in the picture. When we gifted it to them the look on their faces was priceless!!! They were so thrilled for such a meaningful piece of art that they will be able to share for many years to come. We are incredibly blessed and grateful for Don's hard work and amazing talent on this portrait. We are also incredibly impressed with the turnaround time as well. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Don!!!”-Jason and Lisa
“You excel at pastel portraits”
-Marvin S Sadik: Director Emeritus, National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC
Commissioning a Portrait
Welcome to Portrait Procedures and Pricing
Thank you for considering Don to paint your next portrait.
"I approach every portrait with a simple belief: a true likeness is not enough. What matters is capturing the presence, the quiet humanity, and the story that makes someone irreplaceable. A great portrait should feel alive long after the sitting is over—something future generations can look at and say, “That’s who they really were.”
My work is shaped by a lifelong study of masters like Velázquez, Rembrandt, and John Singer Sargent—artists who knew how to paint not just faces, but inner life. From them I learned that light, gesture, and subtle expression can hold memory, dignity, and love.
When someone commissions a portrait, they are trusting me with something precious. My goal is to give them more than an image—I want to give them a lasting presence, something that will be cherished, remembered, and passed down. A painting that becomes part of a family’s story." -Don
Procedures:
You may have many questions. I have attempted to address most of the frequently asked questions below. I prefer to paint portraits from life whenever feasible. However, demanding schedules and active children often make that ideal challenging. Consequently, I also work from photographs. Whenever possible, I create my own reference material. However, that is not always feasible. I can paint portraits from materials provided by clients.
Portrait Painting Price Schedule
Pastel Portraits
Head and Shoulders
20x16
1000
Head and Hands
24x20
2000
Full Length
To be Determined
4000
Oil Portraits
Head and Shoulders
20x16
2500
Head and Shoulders (larger)
24x20
3000
Head and Hands (smaller)
30x24
4000
Head and Hands (larger)
40x30
5000
Full Length
Size to be determined
10,000
Frequently Asked Questions
Pastels are painted on sanded pastel paper
Portraits painted in oils are on linen canvas
Prices do not include frames
Prices are for a single person. Two people are twice the price
Portraits can be painted from a client's photograph
Please feel free to call or email with any questions on commissioning a portrait: 207-838-7191. [email protected]
COLLECTOR REVIEWS
Words from those who’ve welcomed Don's art into their lives.
"The color contrasts are just gorgeous! It looks so real. Like you could step into the picture and stand behind her admiring God as He moves. Just beautiful and breathtaking."
— jody s.
“This is remarkable talent, Don. To not only capture the physical resemblance of the people, but to do it and fill the scene with the emotion of the moment as well. All the work you have done to master your craft clearly shows is evident in each piece.”
— Bonny S.
"I absolutely love your beautiful work and felt so fortunate you allowed me to purchase the original-the whole process was an absolute pleasure.”
— ealeanor U.
“We had such an incredible experience using Don to paint a portrait for my brother-in-law and his wife for a wedding gift. He captured every little detail from the joy on their faces to their playful demeanor in the picture. When we gifted it to them the look on their faces was priceless!!! They were so thrilled for such a meaningful piece of art that they will be able to share for many years to come. We are incredibly blessed and grateful for Don's hard work and amazing talent on this portrait. We are also incredibly impressed with the turnaround time as well. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts Don!!!.”
— Jason and lisa s.
VIP INSIDER
Become a VIP Insider. Whether painted in the studio or on location, each piece is part of a small, carefully made collection. My VIP INSIDER's list is where new work is first shared—with those who value it most.
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NAVIGATION
