Tips for finding the right artist to commission a painting
As an artist who loves to paint for purpose and take on commissioned work. I’m here to help de-mystify the process of commissioning a painting. For generations it seems like commissioning art has only been seen as accessible for the elites or very wealthy. Another common misconception is that you have to be a designer to commission art, or know everything about what you want before you reach out to an artist, if you can even find one. In reality, things have changed. With the digital landscape, things have opened up and custom art is more and more accessible. First, it’s likely the artist you work with will hold your hand through the process and will be happy to do so. Also, online platforms like Google, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc have made it significantly easier to find and work with artists with different price ranges and points in their art career from all over the world to create bespoke pieces that can become amazingly personal gifts, unique heirlooms or personalized wall decor to showcase your unique style. Today it’s easier than ever to actually get custom artwork created to capture and preserve memories for generations to come. A big plus, you’re supporting human creativity, none of this generative AI mumbo jumbo. So do it! Work with an artist to create something as extraordinary as you, you deserve it. It’s 2024 already!
Here are a few common misconceptions I’ll break them down for you and provide guidance to help you feel less intimidated by the idea of commissioning custom art
1. It’s too expensive.
It’s true it can be fairly expensive to commission a one-of-a-kind piece, I won’t try to say it’s not, especially now that everyone is capable of taking their own photo memories or buy prints of legendary paintings at a fraction of the cost. But I believe it’s worth the money for the time and skill you’re paying to create a one-of-a-kind, meaningful artwork of high quality craftsmanship. And if you’re still not convinced. I get it, I really do, my mom was the garage sale queen and I grew up living very frugally so it’s hard for me to get over that hump sometimes. Also, as an artist myself I struggle with the idea of paying someone to create something I think I could potentially create myself (although I hardly ever make the time). So if that’s you, you may be surprised to find it’s not always as expensive as you think it will be… you can find artists that have reasonable prices for the effort. I’m talking about a price range of hundreds to thousands of dollars vs. the tens of thousands - millions range you hear in the media. Additionally, I believe there is real value in supporting artisans, whose livelihood and unique creativity wouldn’t be possible without support from art patrons. Without that support, we’d be stuck with generic knockoffs and miss out on so many beautiful new creations and artistic perspectives.
So let’s breakdown what goes into the value of art, because the reality is that it can vary greatly. Overall though, creating a bespoke piece of art does take time and skill and you’re paying a unique craftsman to make something one-of-a-kind, so it’s certainly not a comparable process or price-point to mass produced items. If you have the budget, I think it’s worth the additional value. So what are the main contributing factors that go into pricing of original art: Time, Cost of Materials, Art Medium, Artist’s Reputation, Location.
Time: Sometimes it can take A LOT of time, but it can vary dramatically from artist to artist, by art medium and composition, from roughly 2 hours to 100’s of hours. The time is accounted for in the pricing. Consider this example, if you take $30 an hour (average for newer artists) for 60 hours that equals $1,800 right there, and that doesn’t account for materials or framing or shipping… all fairly costly items that likely get baked into the pricing as well.
Cost of Materials: Artist grade art materials are expensive, around $15-$50 per pigment tube. Hand-made high quality paper? We’re talking around $20-$50 per sheet, and canvas or wood panels can be higher, especially when you’re purchasing artist-grade archival materials. In any case size matters, the bigger your piece the more materials are used so the higher the costs to create. Custom framing is another large cost that needs to be accounted for, depending on the size and materials chosen this can be a costly addition to the price of the piece, because that craftsman also needs to be able to generate a survivable income for their high quality craftsmanship.
Art Medium: The art medium can impact the price. Let’s take Watercolor for example. It can be less costly than Oil, or Acrylic mediums and this is due to a few factors; time to create, amount of materials used, cost of materials and it’s overall archival perception. It is usually is a bit faster to paint, depending on the techniques used because of the fluidity of the medium, the transparency of the paint and overall organic nature that the pigments can bring which simply means you don’t want to move the pigments too much as you lay them down. This also impacts the amount of paint used, it’s usually less as you’re thinning the pigments considerably with water and there’s less waste as you can reactivate watercolor paints and use them for years to come. That said, these factors can certainly vary by the artist tremendously, as some watercolor painters are extremely detailed and take their paintings slowly, but in many cases it usually takes 1/2 the time vs. other mediums. Additionally painting on paper can be a bit less costly than canvas, but then you do have to frame it and consider the archival preservation of watercolor a bit more as it can be more sensitive to exposure to humidity and light. In any case, there are logical reasons why the art medium can impact the price. I personally wouldn’t say that means watercolor is a lesser art medium, it can just be less costly to create overall. The fact is, it can also be a more challenging medium requiring a very different skillset vs. oil and acrylic where you have less control and need more knowledge of pigment differences, layering effects, paper quality and line quality to successfully implement.
Artist’s Reputation: This can be one of the most significant impacts on cost. It’s just a truth that popularity creates demand. If an artist is well known or in great demand, they can justify significantly more for their pieces. The sky is the limit in some cases. Consider the absurdity of the duct-taped banana going for millions of dollars. I personally think this is reprehensible since there was no real skill involved, but the perceived value of the concept and the hype can sometimes drive that value irrationally sky-high. Art as a concept can be worth whatever the perceived value is for the highest bidder, you see this quite often in the stock market or cryptocurrency or NFT’s too. It’s a fascinating feat of psychology isn’t it?
Location: The region you’re shopping in can also impact the price, simply because of the reputation of that place, the people it brings or reputation of the quality of artists living and selling there. Let’s take New York City for example, New York City has a reputation for being one of the centers of the art world, the people who live there can afford more expensive pieces and there are more well known, reputable artists in local galleries. Additionally, there are more art events and marketing investment to support the growth and reputations built there. Art can sell into the millions in large cities like this with greater support for the arts. Another item to consider is if you’re in a tourist location, the price of art in gallaries is likely to be higher vs. local regions that don’t generate tourism because again, more potential buyers generates demand. As an example, I recently went to Key West and there were tons of art galleries catering to retirees, cruisers or people on vacation ready to splurge, who have planned to spend on a unique souvenir or simply have more expendable budgets to afford luxury goods, the prices there ranged from $1,000 - $35,000+.
Overall, knowing these details can help you decide what kind of art to commission and provide insights on what you’re looking for in an artist. Finding an artist that is within your price range, who works in your preferred art medium, and who considers the archival quality of the materials used is KEY. That all said, I believe the value is more than just the material costs and time. Personalized art can be a powerful way to bring joy and peace into your home and that personal intrinsic value really can’t be priced. I have personally created quite a few memorial portraits that honor loved ones lost, that bring comfort and joy in those lonely moments of sorrow. I’ve also created children’s portraits and pet portraits that capture a moment in time and the unique personality the subject matter. In every case, these meaningful artworks have given so much joy and I know they will be cherished for generations. I wouldn’t be able to put a price tag on that, it’s too special. As an commission artist, that’s a big part of why I’m offering commissions. I could just make whatever pleases me, and sell my own personal aesthetic, but it really is so important to me to paint with a purpose of capturing these important cherished memories. I put thoughtful care into ensuring my art is a treasured keepsake. I usually add a few surprises from the creation process as well, and I record all my paintings with time-lapse videos to showcase the process and make it even more personal.
So if you’re considering working with an artist, my recommendation is to define a budget you’re comfortable with and think about it as a long-term investment… your unique art piece will likely be treasured for years and generations to come, especially if there are personal details that have additional meaning for you or your intended recipient. Also, who knows, the artist you commission from could make it big someday and it could end up being worth significantly more over time! You never know. :D
2. I don’t know what details are needed from me to commission a painting.
Well I got you!! Or whatever artist you’re working with, I mean…. :D. You really don’t need to come with many details at first. Whoever you commission a painting from, this is likely not their first rodeo. They are here to help you with inspiration and ideas on how to visualize what you are hoping to create. It’s their job as the artist to guide the aesthetic and support the client in creating the custom piece. All you need to share is the idea, you can then align on the preferred size, preferred art materials and personal preference details. The artist you choose to work with will help you figure out what makes the most sense for your vision, use-case and budget, they may even help inspire you with new ideas! Speaking of, here are some ideas for you:
Portraits:
You could commission a portrait of yourself or a loved one painted for self reflection as you’re starting a new chapter in life.
Perhaps you want to give a painting that’s very meaningful to a new mom, for example, a painting of her with her newborn child. To capture that special moment in a tangible and elevated way vs photography alone.
Or perhaps it’s a family portrait, capturing the whole family at that special moment in time.
Perhaps it’s a portrait of a loved one who has passed away, a memorial to honor their life. It will be a treasured gift for the family, and a source of comfort during times of reflection.
Perhaps you want a painting of your favorite wedding photo or something for the wedding itself showcasing the new couple.
You could even gift a sensual boudoir painting as an anniversary gift!
In every case, it will be a meaningful and treasured heirloom to pass down and well worth the cost.
Pet Portraits:
This could be a vibrant close-up that focuses on capturing the quirky personality of your pet, or an action pose showcasing their adventurous side.
Another option is going medieval, showing your pet in medieval attire, or funky with abstract shapes as the background, or a whimsical or textured background.
You could also have items your pet has loved, their favorite toys or something that reminds you of their personality included in the composition. The options really are endless, because guess what? It’s a completely custom piece of art!
Nostalgic Art: This is probably one of the most popular reasons to purchase a commissioned piece. I personally love nostalgic art, probably about 90% of the work I create has something to do with nostalgia and the options are truly endless.
This could be painting inspired by a photo from your childhood.
Or a cherished place, of your childhood home, your favorite spot in nature or it could be a painting commemorating a recent trip to Europe, that captures the emotions of that place.
You could also combine whimsical with reality, by changing the color palette or use a less realistic painting style to emote a feeling, but still having enough detail for it to be recognizable. I love painting landscapes that strive to capture the emotions and beauty I felt in those places.
Or you could get a painting of your wedding bouquet or the wedding venue to have a treasured keepsake of that beautiful moment.
Another use-case is simply referencing a loved place, for example, I created my State Flower paintings to showcase my home state and my adopted state (the one I currently live in) in a beautiful and meaningful way. I love having meaningful art on my walls like this, and this type of art can really be a conversation piece for friends and family, it becomes an opportunity to share about who you are, what you care about or the places you treasure in your own home.
Abstract Art: Maybe you are redesigning your living space or moving to a new space and you want the perfect unique piece to fit over your couch or fireplace in a specific color palette. Of course there are plenty of print options, but if you really want to get something truly unique… abstract art that is aligned with your color theme or design aesthetic can really make things come together. I love interesting watercolor washes that aren’t completely resolved and draw my eye around the composition, creating interest without being too much to take away the attention from the design as a whole.
3.How do I find the right artist? It’s too hard to find someone, I don’t know them or trust them…
Well, this is the part where you have to do some homework, but I’ll try to help you with a few items to consider as you’re looking for an artist to fill a commission.
Search Online - Search on Google or even TikTok, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, they all have search now. I’d search for local artists using the local keyword in your search, examples: “Artists in Raleigh”, “Watercolor artists in Raleigh, North Carolina”, replace with your city, state, if you want to support local, but that’s not totally necessary, it just depends on your comfort level. You can usually find artists posting their work or painting process on social media platforms, this can tell you a lot about them. Number 1, that they’re real! :D You can get a sense of their skillset and this also gives you a glimpse into the materials they use, and the subject matter and aesthetic they lean into. I check out their online activity to get a sense of who they are, it’s very important as there is so much fraudulent online activity, so looking to see that they’re actively posting and associated with an online profile that looks trustworthy is key. Don’t just cut out the artists with small followings, they could just be getting started online, that doesn’t mean they aren’t skilled artists. You can even check out their LinkedIn to see more details on the artist or do a Google search on their name, if their art is associated with their name online, that will give you some additional insights to confirm they’re trustworthy. From there check and see if they have a website to find more information about them.
Go to art galleries or art market events. Although you’re really cutting down on the potential options here, (i’m not at any art galleries yet! My first show will be next year!!) In any case, this is obviously a great way to find well established, local artists to work with.
Once you’ve found a few options, you can align on the best fit by considering the following:
Consider if their pricing aligns with your budget.
So here we are again talking about pricing. Why? Well, it’s important to align with an artist who’s price-point you feel comfortable with. As an artist, I want my clients to feel comfortable with their purchase, so filtering down to price-points your already comfortable with is very wise and will leave both you and the artist with a better experience.
Consider if you enjoy their artistic aesthetic.
Look at their online gallery, or social pages, this will likely give you a comprehensive understanding of their capability (skill-level) and the aesthetic they naturally lean into as an artist. In looking at their overall aesthetic consider the following, are they ultra-realistic or do they use a more painterly style (loose, confident brushwork), very stylized (illustrative qualities, bold, confident line-work) or minimalist (think simple line-work and considered limited color palettes). Consider their typical color palette, is if vibrant and bold, dark and moody, or calm or whimsical? Most important, do you like what you see?
Pay attention to their knowledge of the art medium you’re looking to purchase and if they use archival materials.
Why consider art medium expertise? You want an artist who’s fairly comfortable working with the medium you’d prefer. Watercolor is very different painting experience vs. acrylic or oil. Some artists don’t work with oil because the paint materials are more toxic for their studio environment, so check their medium expertise.
Why do archival materials matter? Because I want your art to last for generations, and so do you! So, whether it’s an oil painting, watercolor painting, acrylic painting or mixed media, today most artist-grade paints are extremely archival, which is great news! Gone are the days where acrylic or watercolor should be looked down upon as art mediums. However what is key is understanding of the pigment grade, paper quality, canvas and preservative materials used for framing or varnishes.
You’re looking for an artist who states and shows that they use artist-grade pigments.
Papers and canvas should be acid free, preferably 100% cotton, and knowledge of different paper types, weights for different use cases is very important.
Glues for mixed media or in framing processes (perhaps to float a painting) should also be acid free and flexible enough to not crack over time, a PVA glue is usually good to go.
Consideration of preservation in framing and finishes is key as well.
Watercolor paintings should have some protective glass or acrylic cover when framed. For watercolor a varnish is not necessary, but you can also consider sealing with a cold wax medium for protective qualities.
Oil painting should have an archival oil based varnish.
Acrylic painting, varnish is still debatable and depends on intended placement (imo, consideration of where it will hang is key, example, will it be under intense sunlight, or humid environments ).
In every case you want to select an artist who is considering preservation in their materials and practice.
Okay, so there you have it! Is commissioning artwork now de-mystified?? I hope this helps you feel more confident, comfortable and aware of what to consider in your search for an artist to create commissioned work.
If you’re interested in working with me, please check out my commissions page or explore my art gallery to see my aesthetic which has all the information you should need to start working with me!
