Maybe you have been looking for the perfect artwork for your home for a while but are struggling to find something the right size or maybe you have an upcoming birthday or anniversary and would like to celebrate with something special?

Commissioning an artwork can be an exciting process and you can end up with a unique painting that holds a special meaning.

Most people who commission a painting for the first time don’t know where to begin so I’d like to help and try to demystify the process .

Here are some tips to help make things a little easier

1 Do your research

The most important thing is to find the right artist. Find an artist whose work you absolutely love, visit art shows and galleries, getting an idea of what appeals to you. Start by collecting digital images of an artist’s paintings you like by making screenshots or a folder in Pinterest.

2 Consider your budget

Think about your budget and where to find artists in that range. At this stage I would note the prices their work usually sells for on their website or gallery so that you know that they are within your budget. Some artists add on 20% for custom pieces to cover the extra work involved , others keep the prices the same .

Contact the artist or their gallery and enquire whether they do commissions - some may be preparing for an exhibition or be at a very busy time of the year. Some artists have a schedule where they take on a limited number of commissions per year.

Most artists will want to have an initial chat to learn more about what you want. This may take place in your home or even by video chat, phone or email. Communication at this stage is so important to avoid problems later on. .

3 Think about what you are looking for in terms of size, style, colours.

It’s important that you and the artist understand each other . You might want the painting to have a certain feeling, but words like “ bold, energetic, calming” can be open to interpretation so it’s a good idea to have visual references. Maybe collect screenshots of particular paintings that you like to illustrate what you are after- this will give the artist an idea of your taste.

After a discussion the artist would usually send a quote and timeframe for the artwork .

Timing could be anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months and longer .

4 Remember to ask questions before you start

What if you aren’t happy with the end result? Will the artist arrange the delivery? Do you want it framed?

5 How much input do you expect?

While you don’t want to impede the artist’s creative process, some artists will be happy to show you images of the artwork as it’s being painted

Some artists allow input as the painting gets near completion and are happy to remove a certain area or add a different colour. Others don’t allow this and will work until they are satisfied with the painting.

Once you decide to go ahead the artist usually asks for a part payment to be made this could be 30% - 50 %. This helps the artist to buy materials - remember custom canvases and artist quality paints can cost 100’s of dollars.

The thing about commissioning an artwork rather than buying a completed piece is that you don’t know what it’s going to look like , this can feel quite risky.

But if you find the right artist and you communicate well and have everything clear beforehand you can end up enjoying the experience .

A commissioned painting can feel so special as you know the artist and have learnt more about how it was created and the end result can feel more personal and meaningful.

See my commissions page here