The other day, we received a message from a friend who wanted to commission a painting but thought it could be too expensive. After sharing our commission prices, they were surprised to know how affordable it actually was!

There are many reasons why someone might commission a painting rather than purchase an existing artwork. A commissioned piece allows you to collaborate with an artist to create something personal, meaningful, and tailored to your specific needs.

Common reasons people choose to commission a painting include:

• A family portrait or pet portrait
  
• Commemorating a wedding, anniversary, retirement, or other milestones
  
• Capturing a meaningful place, such as a childhood home or favorite travel destination
  
• Creating artwork that matches a specific space, size, or color palette
  
• Having a unique idea or vision for a painting you want created
  
• Creating artwork inspired by a famous painting or artistic style
• Giving a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special

Knowing what to expect and the right questions to ask will help ensure a successful and rewarding art commission experience.

Here's what we'll cover:

• What is an Art Commission?
  
• How the Art Commission Process Works
  
• What You Should Know on Commissioning a Painting
• Choosing the Right Artist for Your Commission
• Can I Collaborate With the Artist Directly?
• When to Commission a Painting
• How Much Will a Commission Cost Me?
• Key Components on Commissioning Art Online
• How Long Do Art Commissions Usually Take?
• Will My Art Arrive Safely?
• Final Thoughts

What is an Art Commission?

If you aren’t familiar with the reference, an art commission is the process of working with an artist to create a unique artwork based on your ideas and the artist's specific style. The commission is typically facilitated by gallery experts who are adept at identifying and exploring your needs and matching them with the ideal artist.

Once considered a luxury only accessible to the most sophisticated buyers and collectors, many galleries have transformed and streamlined the process by which you can acquire commissioned art. The services allow you to navigate the art commission experience with confidence that the final creative product will exceed expectations.

How the Art Commission Process Works

Many people are surprised by how straightforward the art commissioning process can be. While every gallery and artist may work a little differently, the general process is often similar.

A typical art commission involves:

• Sharing your idea and goals for the project
• Providing reference images, inspiration, or details about the subject matter
• Working with gallery advisors to identify a chosen artist whose style matches your vision
• Reviewing sketches or early concepts during the approval process
• Receiving progress updates as the artist creates the piece
• Approving the final artwork before delivery

The process is designed to help both you and the artist communicate clearly while still allowing room for creativity. Many clients find that collaborating with an artist is one of the most rewarding aspects of commissioning custom artwork.

What You Should Know on Commissioning a Painting

There are several important things to keep in mind in order to ensure that you are comfortable with the process from start to finish. In the first phase of the project, the goal is to answer several questions, including what is your vision for the art commission? This is your opportunity to tell the story behind your ideas.

We recommend that you work with a gallery with an established art commission system in place. This protects your time and investment while still honoring the creative process for the artist.

PRO TIP: If you’re struggling to identify your general artistic preferences, researching different types of art and helpful guides may be useful.

Choosing the Right Artist for Your Commission

A professional gallery assists you in finding the right match for your creative vision, but ultimately you call the shots, assuming the artist you prefer is available and willing to work on the commission. In-house art experts provide you the tools to help you discover the best available artist for your desired piece.

Rather than searching for someone who can simply recreate a photograph, look closely at the artist's existing work and preferred style. Because every artist brings their own creative perspective to a project, choosing someone whose work already resonates with you often lead to the best outcome.

Industry experts recommend exploring the websites, galleries, and Instagram accounts of the artists whose work has caught your eye. 

PRO TIP: If your commission includes people and faces, look at how the artist already paints faces. Your commission will probably look similar, so find a style you love, and for example, if they are stylized faces, don’t expect realism and vice versa.

Can I Collaborate With the Artist Directly?

While you probably won’t talk to them on a daily basis, a facilitated meeting and conversation between you and the artist is important to share your vision and confirm the details. This is usually arranged by the gallery and may be done either by phone or through a video call which includes your gallery advisor.

Your gallery advisor will make sure your vision is clearly communicated and will follow up with the artist to keep the project on track so that you stay well informed.

PRO TIP: If you are commissioning images of family members or pets, then higher-quality reference photos will help the artist most effectively capture their likeness. If you hope to recreate images of a place, providing many photos of the location is helpful. This is especially valuable to give the artist options of angles and lighting.

When to Commission a Painting

A commissioned painting can mark life's biggest milestones, celebrate meaningful relationships, or preserve memories that deserve to be remembered for years to come. From weddings and birthdays to beloved family homes and pets, there are many reasons people choose custom artwork.

Below are examples of great moments in life when an art commission feels right.

To Recognize an Occasion

Some events in our life are so meaningful and once-in-a-lifetime that we choose to find ways to commemorate them. A commissioned artwork delivers the capacity to relive those experiences every time you see them on your wall. They may include:

Weddings and Anniversaries

We recently worked with a client Irina whose daughter had just gotten married and she wanted to commission a special gift for the couple. The painting “Nara Park Wedding” was based on a wedding photo in which the bride waded into the water in her dress. Irina wanted them to have a nice piece of artwork for the new home they shared together.

Retirements

Our client Alan approached us about doing an art commission as a gift for his friend and coworker Sam, whose career in construction spanned 45 years. Together with other employees, they chipped in to commission what turned out to be an incredible piece, which was a perfect tribute to Sam’s many years of work in the industry. Alan knew that Sam was a fan of colorful art, and in searching for the perfect artist to visually reflect upon Sam’s career, he found Jesse Aldana, whose portfolio of work includes bold and bright hues.

The final piece, aptly entitled “The Roads Traveled” portrayed Sam standing and looking back on a winding road that reflected elements from previous jobs and life milestones. The hill that Sam is standing on in the piece has a palm tree, since he had recently purchased land in Belize, representing both his distinguished past while anticipating the joy of retirement in his future.

Birthdays and Holidays

A commissioned painting can make birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations even more memorable. Unlike many traditional gifts, custom artwork is deeply personal and can reflect shared memories, meaningful places, cherished pets, or interests that are special to the recipient.

Because commissioned artwork is created specifically with someone in mind, it often becomes a treasured keepsake that can be enjoyed and displayed for years to come. Many of these paintings eventually become part of a family's story, passed down and appreciated by future generations.

Professional Milestones

UGallery was pleased to be able to assist our client Steve who was seeking to acknowledge his wife’s life work as a teacher. Through the one-of-a-kind commissioned painting, artist Jesse Aldana skillfully crafted a portrait of Steve’s wife and her work as a teacher. In the painting, she is shown to “catch” and share the light of the sun with her pupils. Jesse’s artwork reflects a clever and powerful metaphor for the way in which she illuminates her student’s worlds through her sharing of knowledge.

To “Revisit” a Treasured Place

Often a place or location can have such a powerful reminiscent effect that we want to revisit it in our memory for a lifetime. These may include:

A Familiar Landscape That Represents a Favorite Vacation Retreat

Perhaps it is your favorite beach, or a mountain retreat you visited with your parents often as a child. Recapturing that sense of place and the warm emotions it fuels can be perfectly accomplished through a commissioned painting.

A Family Home That Evokes Childhood Memories, or a Much Loved Current Home

Some of the more famous paintings of homes are based on real-life houses. That same familiarity that creates a sense of happiness in recalling our favorite places from the past can be applied to a place that we call home. “John's House” by artist Kent Sullivan is a piece commissioned by our client John who had recently purchased an older home that sits on a large piece of property in New Jersey. Consistent with the characteristics of the home, John wanted a more traditional style of painting. Although the photos he shared were taken in winter, he asked Kent to fill it in with more greenery. He also sent photos of some of the flowers that bloom around the house which Kent was able to incorporate.

John’s family was sincerely pleased with the final piece, which they proudly display on the mantel of their beloved new home. According to John, “Kent captured our home perfectly with amazing attention to detail.”

To Capture the Image of Loved Ones

Not only do personalized works of art have immeasurable value to the owners, but they are also treasured keepsakes that are certain to be cherished for generations to come. Artists can utilize an image to create wonderful representations of the ones we love, such as in the form of:

A Family or Individual Portrait

A painted family portrait offers a unique opportunity to capture the impression of the people we love in a way that bears a deeper reflection of their characteristics and qualities. This may include loved ones who have passed, for which an experienced artist can work with you to respectfully memorialize a beloved family member.

A Pet Portrait

Given our intense love for our animals, and the brief yet joyous time they are part of our worlds, a painted portrait is a wonderful way to capture their image. You can acquire art that is a true reflection of their personality and spirit to enjoy in the present as well as for posterity.

To Fill a Blank Wall in Your Home

Are you looking for a painting in a particular size, style or color scheme? Perhaps nothing in your favorite artist’s portfolio fits your required specifications for your wall space. Commissioning art that meets your unique needs provides the perfect solution to these types of design dilemmas.

UGallery client Elyse was faced with just this type of quandary when attempting to find the right pieces for her small urban apartment living room. While Elyse had identified some favorite pieces from UGallery’s collection, they weren’t quite the right size for the wall space. Artist Melissa Gannon created a trio of wall hangings to fit Elyse’s living room. The collaboration resulted in “Autumn Mingle,” -- three framed watercolor and acrylic ink paintings on paper that feature birds among vibrant fall leaves, which now adorns her wall and perfectly complements her design decor.

How Much Will a Commission Cost Me?

One of the most common questions clients ask is how much a commissioned painting costs. The total cost of a commission can vary depending on several factors:

• artwork size
• materials and medium
• subject complexity
• timeline requirements
• the artist's experience and sales history

It is important to agree on a price before the artist begins work on your piece. Typically, deposits are required upfront. For instance, at UGallery, we charge a 50% non-refundable deposit. Then, you will later be invoiced for the remaining balance once the work is completed.

Key Components on Commissioning Art Online

An agreement to commission art should include the relevant terms in writing such as:

• Name of the artist who will be creating the commissioned piece
• Agreed upon size and composition of the piece
• The price based on requested specifications
• Terms of payment, including what you are expected to pay as a deposit and when you will be invoiced for the balance
• Estimated timeline for completion of the artwork
• General guidance regarding the scope of the project (usually covered during the welcome call)

How Long Do Art Commissions Usually Take?

At UGallery, it usually takes 6 to 8 weeks. However, it will still heavily depend on the artist you're working with. The timeline for a commission artwork project often depends on various factors such as:

• the size of the artwork
  
• the artist’s schedule
  
• materials needed
  
• the level of detail involved
  

For example, some custom paintings, such as those which capture a memory or an original portrait will often take a little longer than simply recreating an existing piece in a different size. It is important to note that if you love the artist’s work, it is almost always worth the wait.

PRO TIP: You can request that the gallery share photos throughout the progression of the piece. Don’t hesitate to provide feedback if the early version is going in a direction you didn’t anticipate.

Will My Art Arrive Safely?

Ask the gallery about their shipping process. Your final artwork should be packaged in a custom-built box to ensure safe delivery, and be fully insured before making its journey to your doorstep. For reference, here is an example of a typical UGallery artwork being prepared for shipment.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, the process for commissioning an original artwork should always be an enjoyable experience, which is what we also aim here at UGallery.

“We try to make the process both approachable and fun,” Samantha shares. “It’s so wonderful watching a painting come to life after speaking with the artist about what the client has in mind. Our ultimate goal is for everyone to be happy throughout the entire commission.”

Looking to procure custom art? You can inquire about working with a UGallery artist by contacting us on our website.