Before Lori ever puts a paintbrush to canvas, she starts with an interview, which can be done via email or in person. She asks all kinds of fun questions to figure out your kids' interests, passions and, well, childishness. She inquires about their favorite buildings or landmarks, books or whatever they love. This process adds to the playfulness of her work and helps her capture a particular moment in her subjects' lives since children's personalities change as much as their faces do. In effect, her portrait becomes like a time capsule of your child, an amazing keepsake.

My children's portraits included their homemade puppets, a mustache factory, piles of books and lots of candy. I'm sure when I look at these paintings years from now I will smile, not only at their cherubic little faces, but remembering their obsessions. 

Another unique aspect to Lori's portraits is that, when working with two or more subjects/panels, she creates diptychs or triptychs that can be arranged in any order (The slide show above shows my kids' portraits in both positions). She finishes them with a hard-candy coating which protects them and makes them almost feel more like objects than 2-dimensional paintings.

Lori can paint the portraits without ever meeting in person by using preexisting photographs and an online interview. Or she will get together with the children and snap her own photos. The whole process takes a few weeks to complete and Lori was great about sharing her progress and graciously accepted my comments.

You can see more of Lori Nelson's children's portraits on her website. Prices range from $400 to $500 for a 6x6 panel, $600 to $800.00 for a 12x12 panel and $1,000-$1,200 for an 18x18 panel. She also does other adorable paintings that would make amazing nursery decor. You have to check out these cute Tiny Works.

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