How to Commission an Original Painting: The Process, Step by Step

A commission is an original painting made specifically for you — for a particular wall, a particular space, a specific intention. The process moves through five stages: brief and initial conversation, size and palette agreement, deposit and start, progress review (usually one check-in with photographs), and final approval and delivery. Expect 6–12 weeks from start to delivery for a mid-size work. The result is a painting that fits your space and carries your intention, made by the same hand and process as all other studio work.

What a commission is (and what it is not)

A commissioned painting is not a made-to-order reproduction of a reference image. It is an original work, made in the same manner as all other paintings in the studio, oriented toward a specific outcome you have described.

What you are paying for is the artist's full attention to your brief — the dimensions, the palette, the mood, the subject if applicable — applied through the same process that produces the studio works. The painting is yours from the first brushstroke; the certificate of authenticity records you as the first owner.

A commission is not the right choice if you want an exact copy of an existing painting (that is a reproduction, which I do not make) or if you need a specific photographic likeness in a style that does not correspond to the studio's aesthetic.

Step-by-step: how the process works

1. Initial contact and brief. Reach out via the commissions page with a description of what you have in mind. Include the intended space (room type, approximate wall dimensions), a size preference, any color constraints from the room, and the mood or subject you are after. Reference images are helpful — not necessarily other paintings, but interiors, photographs, materials, anything that communicates the feeling. The initial conversation is free and non-binding.

2. Proposal and agreement. Based on your brief, I will propose a canvas size, palette direction, and approach, and provide a price and estimated timeline. If we are aligned, I will send a commission agreement outlining the scope, price, timeline, and the approval process.

3. Deposit and start. A deposit (typically 50%) confirms the commission and reserves studio time. Work begins within the agreed timeframe.

4. Progress review. For most commissions, I share one or two progress photographs at key stages — once the composition is established, and once the painting is substantially complete. This is the appropriate moment for feedback on direction, palette, or significant changes. Once the painting is finished, I will not rework it significantly, which is why the in-progress review matters.

5. Final approval and delivery. When the work is complete and you have approved it, the remaining balance is due. The painting is professionally packaged, documented with a certificate of authenticity, and shipped to your address.

How to write a good brief

The most useful brief is honest rather than technically precise. You do not need to know the correct art terminology. What helps:

• The room where the painting will hang and a rough sense of the wall size

• Colors that are already present in the room (walls, sofa, floor, main textiles)

• Any colors that are definitely wrong for the space

• The mood you want the painting to contribute — calm, warm, energetic, contemplative

• Any subject preference, even loosely stated ("something with water," "a figure," "nothing representational")

• Reference images, even if they are not paintings — photographs, interior shots, materials you like

The brief does not need to be definitive. Part of the initial conversation is narrowing and clarifying. Over-specified briefs can constrain the work in ways that reduce its quality; a direction, a mood, and some constraints is usually enough to begin.

Timeline and deposits

A mid-size commission (70–100 cm / 28–39 in in the larger dimension) typically takes 6–10 weeks. A large commission (100–130 cm / 39–51 in) takes 8–14 weeks. These timelines account for the actual painting process — multiple sessions, drying time between layers — and not just working hours.

[[NEEDS: confirm exact deposit terms and any seasonal lead times from current commission intake]]

Commissions accepted in limited numbers at any given time to ensure quality. If the commission queue is full, I will confirm an estimated start date and place you on the waitlist.

Shipping a finished commission

Commissioned works are packaged and shipped the same way as studio works: professionally, insured, and tracked. For large canvases that ship rolled, stretcher bars can be provided with the work. Detailed re-stretching instructions are included.

For the US and international destinations: all shipments are fully documented for customs, with accurate declared value and required customs forms. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are the buyer's responsibility.

Commissioning work from this studio

Current commission work includes figurative pieces (figures in water, figures in light), marine and coastal compositions, and atmospheric works in the warm-minimalist register. If you have something specific in mind that does not clearly fit these categories, reach out anyway — the brief conversation will clarify whether the studio is the right fit.

Begin a commission enquiry. For reference, pricing logic for original paintings is explained here. To see recent studio work, browse the gallery.

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