Learn About Portraits of Adults, Children, Pets, and Loved Ones
Welcome to Nomi Wagner’s world of custom portrait paintings. With each brushstroke, she brings your cherished memories to life and captures the essence of your loved one forever. See how ordinary snapshots inspire Nomi’s extraordinary paintings. Each of her portraits takes on a life of its own and has a unique story. Read the thoughts of a compassionate portrait artist who has dedicated her life to celebrating your precious moments in stunning paintings. In these blog posts, discover the magic of Nomi’s painting process and the personal stories behind her works of art.
Coping with Pet and Animal Companion Loss
Coping with Pet and Animal Companion Loss: Navigating Grief and Healing | By Shayce Johnston, LMHC, Certified Pet Grief Specialist  The connection between humans and their animal companions is extraordinary. Pets and animal companions [...]
Tips for Taking Better Selfies of Your Family
There’s no substitute for a professionally posed and lighted family portrait. But when the gang’s all together on Thanksgiving, it’s fun to take candid group shots. Wish you could take better group photos and family [...]
Custom Portrait of a Father and Sons
It was the afternoon before Thanksgiving when a father and his sons visited us at the beach. The very proud dad had commissioned me to photograph the three of them for their custom portrait [...]
6 Rescues and 1 Angel
Matty, a rescued dog I’d like you to meet 6 rescued pups and 1 Angel. Her name is Angela … perfect, don’t you think? She lives in Indiana and has lovingly and compassionately rescued [...]
A Beloved Mom’s Christmas Eve Tradition and Yummy Cake
Do you have special holiday traditions? Is there a family recipe you love to make each year or a favorite movie you watch over and over? "Love Actually" is my personal fave! My dear client [...]
Perseverance: The Discipline of Being a Portrait Artist
Nomi paints freehand with her iPad and computer  Do you ever feel like you’re in over your head? I know that I do. But if there is one word that defines me, relative to [...]
Family Reunion at the Jersey Shore
The Burkhardt Family Kevin Burkhardt is an extraordinarily gifted sportscaster with a gorgeous voice like warm honey. He is currently the lead play-by-play voice for the NFL on Fox and lead studio host for [...]
100 Paintings in 100 Days
1998 Sepia Portrait Painting of Our Family from 1947 Photos Hi dear friends, Greetings from our new home in Camarillo, CA. Moving was challenging, but I'm up and running with a brand new website and [...]
New Year’s Greetings from 4 Kool Kats!
Real Party Animals! Hang in there, everyone! Even though these 4 party animals have to stay home again this year, I thought it would be fun to dress them up for New Year’s Eve. [...]
A Portrait Painting of Grandchildren
 Grandchildren Sledging in Scotland—A Case Study 1/24/2021 Hello Nomi, I like what I’ve seen on your website, how your artist’s eye looks at a good photo and transforms it into a wonderful painting. I [...]
Portrait Painting of a Dachshund
Dog Lifts Dumbbell in Zoom Class  While my friend was working out during a Zoom class, her little dog grabbed one of the free weights. Impressive, don’t you think? Odessa is one strong pup! [...]
My Creative Mystery
There's a creative mystery that many artists share. It's definitely this portrait artist's mystery. Often, when I finish a portrait, I’m baffled … Where did this come from? Who painted it?? This magic has been [...]
Two Parrots Walk into a Wine Tasting and a Fight Breaks Out
Painting of Autumn and Boeing, 24x60 inches on canvas I figured that two parrots arguing over a wine glass would be a piece of cake to paint. Silly me, because no commission has ever been [...]
Deeply Grateful
This recent portrait painting of a baby and grandmother lifts my heart every time I look at it. To me it defines love and the blessings of being a grandmother. I am so appreciative to [...]
Puppyfaces by Nomi
 Is your dog ready for its close-up puppyface portrait??? Adorable Pet Portraits in time for Holiday Gifts 8x10 Close-up Studies of Your Furry Friends by a dog-friendly portrait painter! It’s fun and makes your [...]
SURPRISE!!!
Do you like surprises? I do and so do lots of my clients. It’s hard to know what to give the person who has everything. But you can’t miss with a portrait of someone [...]
Turning Sadness into Beauty
Most people don’t know that much of my work is creating timeless portraits of loved ones who have passed away—babies, children, adults, and pets. I am deeply touched when clients wish to transform their devastating [...]
How I Turned Ordinary Thanksgiving Photos into a Wonderful Family Portrait [Case Study]
 Got photos? Do you wish you had a family portrait … but you rarely can get everyone together? Think you don’t have the right photos? Maybe I can help you recreate your memories, as [...]
Autumn in the Wine Country of California
3/30/2015 Painting of Autumn Leaves in a Los Olivos, CA Vineyard Autumn in the wine country of California is absolutely breathtaking. So many beautiful vineyards! Last fall, my husband Gerry and I took a ride [...]