How to Commission a Painting
I get asked the question all the time, “How do I commission a painting?” As an artist, it’s easy to forget that people have no idea where to start when it comes to buying a personalized piece of art. Therefore I’m going to share with you a step-by-step guide on how to commission your dream artwork.
1. Consultation
The very first thing I do is have a chat with my client to see what type of painting they are interested in. Do they like my pebble work or my ocean paintings? I also will ask questions about the size of the painting they are hoping to buy, as well as their budget.
My paintings are priced on size and level of detail. The pebble paintings in particular take a huge amount of time to create. Some can take weeks to produce and it’s important not to rush this. Some areas take five layers of paint to get that glossy three-dimensional feeling. So, I need to allow this time in the budget.
To make things easier, I offer my clients the option of paying for their painting in installments. Lots of people love this idea because they can pay money off whenever they have it. There is no pressure on timelines. It’s up to the client how long they want to take. Sometimes this happens over several months. Once the painting is paid for in full it can be delivered or collected depending on what suits everyone.
2. Design
Once we have established the basics, I then get to work on your design. I encourage people to send me their own collection of pebbles, even if it’s just one or two. These can be from a day out at the beach or from the other side of the world. This can make the painting even more personal and unique. I add these together with some of my own collections and take photos. (I always return the pebbles after the shoot) I wet the stones and half submerge them in water. Sometimes I completely cover them in water and allow the sun to catch them. It’s important to take photos in the sunshine because you get lots more contrast, warmth, and depth. I’ve even used a hairdryer to agitate the water to achieve that ripple effect you see in the ocean. I discovered this during the first lockdown when I knew it was time to do something completely different. It was so much fun inventing!
3. Confirmation
When I have edited a selection of my favorite photos, I share these with my client, and they make the final decision on which one I should paint from. This is why a commissioned painting is so special because it is completely personal to you. Once you have made your decision, I can then get started on creating your bespoke painting.
4. Creation
When purchasing a commissioned painting, it is really important to know what medium the artist is using. A few years ago, I discovered a medium called golden open acrylic. It’s a slow-drying water-based acrylic that acts as an oil and gives more time to blend, but without any of those toxic smells, you get from oil paint. Using acrylic also means people can have the artwork immediately as they do not need to wait for months for the work to dry properly.
5. Reveal
During the creation of the painting, I share progress photos and “sneak peeks” with my clients, so they can see how their painting is coming along. I try not to show the entire painting until it’s finished so that they can experience the “wow factor” of the reveal. (unless they really want to see it of course). So far this has worked amazingly and my clients have said how lovely it is to get a surprise at the end.
6. Framing
When framing a painting, I try to use the same type of frames for all my work. I recommend using really simple elegant frames that have a line around the canvas. These come in white, black, and natural wood. I like to get these as flush with the canvas as I can. This gives a modern and stylish finish that will never go out of date. I use The Copper House Gallery for all of my framings. I find the quality exceptional!
