A method and apparatus for producing simulated paintings by means of a commercial software programs that enhances a digital representation of a scene or portrait. The enhancement can include various composing steps on the digital representation as well as the adding of electronic brush strokes to the digital representation by a commercial software program. The enhanced digital representation is then transmitted from a first location to a second, remote location by the internet or other transmission system. At the second location, the digitally enhanced representation is printed onto a substrate, such as an artists canvas, and actual paint is applied to that canvas by a skilled person to create the simulated oil painting.