Studies of Famous Paintings

Famous paintings: hand-painted studies on canvas

Here you can order hand-painted copies of famous paintings on canvas, which we call studies: about 240 works by eleven painters of the 20th century, from Jackson Pollock and Salvador Dalí to Pablo Picasso, Fernando Botero, Mark Rothko and Edward Hopper, with prices from 94 €. A study is a copy painted with a brush by a painter, in oil or acrylic depending on the work: you recognise the painting at once, but in the details and the way the paint is laid on it differs slightly from the original. Every study is painted to order, and before dispatch we send you a photo of the finished painting.

Reproduction or study: the difference

Some 20th-century painters have techniques that can hardly be repeated in every detail: Pollock’s dripped paint, Rothko’s large blurred fields of colour, the huge formats of many American abstract painters. For their works we offer a study, which differs slightly from the original in the details and the way the paint is laid on, while the finished painting stays clearly recognisable. For the masters of the 19th and early 20th century, such as Van Gogh, Klimt or Monet, the closest copies are in the reproductions of famous paintings.

The painters and the most wanted studies

Studies after Jackson Pollock. The master of the drip, who let paint run and drip onto canvas laid on the floor: Jackson Pollock – Alchemy is the most chosen study in this section, next to Jackson Pollock – Number 1, 1952.

Studies after Salvador Dalí. The Surrealism of soft watches and dreams: Salvador Dalí – The Persistence of Memory, painted in 1931 and now at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and Salvador Dalí – The Ship.

Studies after Pablo Picasso. From Cubism to portraits: Pablo Picasso – Les Demoiselles d’Avignon from 1907, seen as the beginning of Cubism, and Pablo Picasso – Portrait of Dora Maar.

Studies after Fernando Botero. The Colombian painter of full, rounded figures: Fernando Botero – Mona Lisa and Fernando Botero – Christ.

Studies after Mark Rothko. Large rectangles of colour that seem to float: Mark Rothko – Pink, Purple and Blue and Mark Rothko – Orange and Yellow.

Studies after Edward Hopper. The loneliness of the American city: Edward Hopper – Nighthawks from 1942, held by the Art Institute of Chicago, and Edward Hopper – Rooms by the Sea.

Studies after Henri Matisse. The pure colour of the Fauves: Henri Matisse – The Dance (first version) and Henri Matisse – Woman with a Hat, painted in 1905.

Studies after Diego Rivera. The flowers and people of Mexico: Diego Rivera – The Flower Vendor and Diego Rivera – The Flower-Seller.

Studies after Joan Miró. Black lines, pure colours and small figures: Joan Miró – Harlequin’s Carnival and Joan Miró – The Birth of the World.

Studies after Willem de Kooning. The most gestural Abstract Expressionism: Willem de Kooning – Woman I, painted between 1950 and 1952, and Willem de Kooning – Easter Monday.

Franz Kline. Two black-and-white abstracts with broad brushstrokes: Kline 1 and Kline 2.

What size to choose

Every study lists on its own page the sizes we paint it in, usually from about 40 cm to more than 1.5 metres on the long side. A simple rule: the painting should be about two thirds as wide as the furniture below it, so about 140 cm above a 210 cm sofa. The abstract works of Pollock, Rothko and Kline look their best large; the portraits by Picasso and Matisse also work in a medium size. If no size fits, we paint the study to measure: see custom paintings. On request we also prepare a free preview of the painting in your room.

How the study is made and how you receive it

Every study is painted by hand by one of our painters, chosen for the artist’s technique; our painters work in different places, and stretcher and frame are fitted in our workshop in Slovenia. When the painting is finished we send you a photo, and if you would like a small correction to the colours or details, we make it before dispatch. You choose whether it arrives rolled in a tube, stretched on 2.5 cm stretcher bars or framed. Studies in stock are dispatched within 6 working days; use the “In stock” filter to find them. The rest arrive in 15 to 45 working days. We have been selling hand-painted paintings since 2011; some studies we have already delivered are in the gallery of finished studies.

Frequently asked questions

What is a study of a famous painting?

It is a copy painted by hand by a painter, not a print. Each painter lays on the paint with their own hand, so the painting always differs a little from the original in the details. That is why we call it a study.

What is the difference between a reproduction and a study?

A reproduction follows the original as closely as possible; a study is recognisable at a glance but differs slightly in the details and the way the paint is laid on. We offer studies for painters whose techniques can hardly be repeated, such as Pollock or Rothko.

Which painters are the studies after?

Jackson Pollock, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Fernando Botero, Mark Rothko, Edward Hopper, Henri Matisse, Diego Rivera, Joan Miró, Willem de Kooning and Franz Kline.

How much does a hand-painted study cost?

Prices start at 94 €. The price depends on the work and the size.

Is the painting painted in oil?

It depends on the work: some paintings we paint in oil, others in acrylic. Either way it is real paint, laid on the canvas by hand.

Can I order a famous painting that is not in the gallery?

Yes. Write to us at info@svetslik.si with the work you want and the size: we paint the study to order.

How is the painting shipped?

Rolled in a tube, stretched on stretcher bars (2.5 cm) or framed: you choose when you order. Stretcher and frame are fitted in our workshop in Slovenia.

How long does it take, and do I see the painting before dispatch?

Studies in stock are dispatched within 6 working days; the rest arrive in 15 to 45 working days. When the painting is finished we send you a photo and dispatch it after you confirm.