Paintings & PortraitsHollywood Glamour & Pin-Up
Original paintings in acrylic on canvas — hand-painted in France in the style of the golden age of Hollywood. Commissions open.
These are original acrylic paintings by Sébastien Rieu, a French artist from Bordeaux. Inspired by the great pin-up painters of the 1940s and 50s — particularly Gil Elvgren, his declared master — these works celebrate the elegance, character and beauty of women with a brush rather than a lens.
Every painting here was done from life or from photographic references — some are tributes to famous faces, others are portraits of unknown women who caught his eye on a café terrace or at the easel. All are available for commission in the same style.
The Gallery
Acrylic on canvas · Commissionable · All sizes available
Brigitte Bardot
Born 1934. The French icon — actress, model, and living symbol of 1960s glamour.
Brigitte Bardot (II)
A second study of the icon — capturing her legendary gaze from a different angle.
Kim Novak
Born 1933. Golden age Hollywood — Vertigo, Picnic. A face made for paint.
Claudia Cardinale
Born 1938. International star of the 60s — Once Upon a Time in the West.
Mireille Darc
(1938–2017) French actress — partner of Alain Delon. Great elegance, great character.
Mireille Darc (II)
Scene from Les Bons Vivants — her comic talent captured at its best.
Dita Von Teese
Born 1972. Burlesque artist, retro-glamour icon, the modern pin-up in the flesh.
Zombie Pin-up
A parody of a Gil Elvgren pin-up — my master in painting. Horror meets glamour.
Unknown Model
I genuinely can’t remember who modelled for this one. She was beautiful, whoever she was.
Cubist Pin-up
A Spanish beauty, painted in a Cubist style. Picasso would have approved.
The Waitress
She worked at Columbus Café. Now she appears in lottery adverts. Life is strange.
Elodie
My best painting. I’m not entirely sure why. It just is.
Le Magnifique
Jacqueline Bisset (British, born 1944) and Belmondo in the cult 1973 spy comedy.
Aurélie
A model I’ve painted several times. Each time it’s different. Each time it’s her.
Japanese Tourist
I saw her in Bordeaux. She didn’t know I was painting her. She’ll never see this.
About These Paintings
I paint in the tradition of the great American pin-up illustrators — particularly Gil Elvgren (1914–1980), who I consider my master in this medium. Elvgren painted women with warmth, dignity and a light touch of humour. The best pin-up paintings are not lewd — they’re celebrations.
My method is acrylic on canvas — faster-drying than oil, which allows for quicker commissions without sacrificing depth of colour. I work from photographic references, either from life (I sketch women at café terraces in Paris and Bordeaux) or commissioned from your photos.
All the paintings in this gallery are originals — they exist as physical works. Reproductions and prints are available. New commissions in this style are open — see the options below.
| Commission Type | Medium | Typical Size | Starting Price | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pin-up portrait painting | Acrylic on canvas | 30×40cm / 40×60cm | From £110 | 3–4 weeks |
| Glamour painting (couple / scene) | Acrylic on canvas | 60×80cm | From £200 | 4–6 weeks |
| Caricature / ink drawing | Indian ink + watercolour | A4 / A3 | From £24 | 5–7 working days |
| All commissions | Sketch approval included | — | — | Posted anywhere in the UK |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you paint a pin-up portrait of someone from a photo?
Yes — I paint acrylic pin-up portraits on canvas from your photos, in the style of the classic Hollywood glamour painters. You send a reference photo, I sketch the composition, you approve it, and I complete the painting. From £110.
What is a pin-up portrait and how is it different from a regular painting?
A pin-up portrait is painted in the style of the 1940s–60s — warm colours, soft idealised lighting, a hint of character and playfulness. Less literal than realism, more intimate than caricature. I work in acrylic on canvas in this style.
How long does a pin-up painting take?
Acrylic paintings take 3–4 weeks from order to delivery. Acrylic dries quickly unlike oil, which speeds up the process. The painting is delivered rolled in a protective tube, or stretched on a canvas frame ready to hang.
Can you paint a pin-up portrait as a birthday or anniversary gift?
Yes — pin-up portraits make extraordinary gifts. I’ve painted them for birthdays, anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. The subject doesn’t need to know until you reveal it. Allow 4–5 weeks for the complete process to be safe.
Do you also do caricatures and drawings, not just paintings?
Yes — caricatures and portraits in Indian ink with watercolour wash are my main medium, from £24. The acrylic paintings on canvas are a separate and more involved commission, from £110. Both are made entirely by hand.
Commission a Painting or Portrait
A hand-painted original by a French artist — in the golden age pin-up tradition. Sketch approval before the final version. Delivered anywhere in the UK.
🎨 Caricature or Drawing — From £24 🖼️ Painting on Canvas — From £110