Beata Wojcik in Baltimore: Custom Portraiture and Figurative Painting
Beata Wojcik is a commissioned portrait and figurative painter working from a studio in Baltimore who specializes in oil paintings from photographs, creating works sized from small studies to large exhibition pieces for private collectors, institutions, and corporate clients across the Mid-Atlantic region.
What Beata Wojcik actually does
Wojcik accepts commissions for representational oil paintings, primarily portraits and figurative compositions. Her process begins with client photographs or reference materials, which she translates into finished paintings on canvas. Unlike photographers or digital artists, she works in traditional media, building color and form through layered paint application. Commission sizes range from 8-by-10-inch studies to large-scale works exceeding 48 inches on the longest side. The work spans portraiture (single figures and group compositions), figure studies, and occasional landscape or still-life commissions. She does not specialize in abstract work, digital art, or speed-production volume commissions.
Commission scope and pricing
A typical portrait commission begins at $2,500 for a small single-figure study (under 16 inches) and extends to $8,000 to $15,000 for larger detailed works (36 to 48 inches) with multiple figures or complex backgrounds. Pricing depends on size, number of figures, background complexity, and canvas preparation. A consultation with reference photos typically precedes a formal quote; clients should expect to provide high-quality source images and discuss specific stylistic preferences before a contract is drafted. Turnaround time typically ranges from three to five months for a finished commission, depending on queue and scope. A deposit, usually 50 percent, is required to secure a slot; the balance is due upon completion. Revisions during the process are generally limited to one or two rounds, with substantial changes incurring additional fees.
How Wojcik compares to other Baltimore commissioned artists
Baltimore has several active portrait and figurative painters available for commission. Amy Sherald, known for large-scale contemporary portraiture and represented by major galleries, commands significantly higher fees (typically $20,000 and above) and maintains a selective client list. Sherald's work is documentary and conceptual in approach, often addressing identity and presence in ways distinct from traditional commission work. By contrast, Wojcik offers a more accessible entry point for clients seeking representational portraiture without gallery representation markup, with pricing that reflects studio-based practice rather than institutional gallery overhead. Local muralist and figurative painter Ganzeer works primarily in spray paint and large-scale public commissions, not studio portraiture. For clients seeking photorealistic or hyper-detailed portraiture in a different medium, photographers like Duane Michals or digital portrait artists in the area offer speed and lower cost, but lack the tonal depth and material presence of oil paint. Wojcik sits between commercial photography and gallery-represented fine artists: more affordable and accessible than Sherald, more traditional and painterly than digital portraiture services.
Who should commission Wojcik, and who should look elsewhere
Wojcik suits clients who value painted representation, have time for a three- to five-month production cycle, and can articulate specific stylistic or compositional preferences. Ideal commissions include family portraits for display in homes or offices, commemorative figure paintings, and works intended as lasting heirlooms. Corporate clients seeking substantial office art often find her pricing and scope workable. She does not suit clients needing work within weeks, those seeking photographic realism to the point of printing photographs, or those wanting abstract or non-representational approaches. Clients uncomfortable providing detailed reference materials or tolerating the imprecision of painted interpretation (versus photography's literalness) should look elsewhere.
The commission process
A first inquiry typically involves emailing reference photographs, a description of the desired painting, and rough sizing preferences. Wojcik will request a conversation to discuss composition, color palette, and any specific narrative or context the client wants embedded in the work. She may sketch compositional thumbnails or discuss adjustments to the reference material (framing, pose, background elements). Once the client approves the concept, a contract outlines the deposit, timeline, final price, and revision policy. She will then begin preliminary studies and underpainting. The client usually sees progress photographs at one or two checkpoints. Upon completion, the painting is shipped or delivered; framing is the client's responsibility unless negotiated as part of the commission.
Studio location and logistics
Wojcik works from a private studio in Baltimore and does not maintain a walk-in gallery space. All contact is by appointment or email inquiry. She does not have listed public hours; commissions are scheduled by arrangement. Clients typically visit the studio once during the consultation phase and again for final viewing before delivery. For clients outside the Baltimore area, the entire process can proceed via email and phone, with reference photos and progress updates exchanged digitally.
Beata Wojcik represents the traditional commissioned painting practice in Baltimore, offering painted portraiture at a price point and production timeline distinct from both high-end gallery representation and fast-turnaround photography services.
