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You need not be Royalty or a titan of art collecting to commission a painting from an artist.  True, many a fabulous painting was done as a commission for royalty, celebrity or tycoon; J.S. Sargent, for example, had American aristocrats clamoring for a portrait during the 1890's.   Fortunately, you don't need Rockefeller's riches or Geffen's greenbacks to commission your own painting from an artist who's work you are smitten with.  

Here are the steps involved:

1. Find an artist with a style that fits your needs.  Don't expect a classical portrait from an abstract expressionist!

2. Investigate pricing.  Check their website or their galleries to see how much their paintings sell for.  Keep in mind, commissions usually cost a bit more since the artist is working to your specifications.  Therefore, it's smart to plan for an additional 30-50% over the going rate for their gallery work.

3. Contact the artist - go ahead, they won't bite!

- See if the artist accepts commissions.  Some don't because of real or perceived constraints on their time and creativity.  If they don't, that's ok...you're not going to get their best work anyway if they aren't comfortable with the working situation.

- Discuss your ideas about the subject, why it is meaningful to you, what you hope the painting captures or says about the subject.

4. Put the important details in writing.  Nothing fancy or complicated...just spell out the size, subject, medium, timeline, framed or not, shipping and price.

5. Agree to the terms and pay a deposit - yes, a deposit.  Unless you are family or a close friend, you should expect to pay a 30-50%, non-refundable deposit with the balance due upon delivery of the finished painting.  After all, the artist will spend time and money on a work that you are likely the only customer for.

Keys to success:

- Don't be too controlling.  Choose an artist with a style you like and let them apply it to your subject.

- Be flexible on the timeline.  The artist should give you an idea of when they can have the work done.  Remember though, we are working artists with other commissions, events, and upcoming shows to paint for and a rigid timeline can kill creativity.  You want an inspired work of art, not a production-line copy, so allow for some buffer.  Creativity and inspiration are sometimes hard to summon!

- Decide on framing and shipping up front.  These are costly elements and it should be clear what's included in the pricing up front.  

I enjoy painting commission pieces.  It's pure joy painting something so meaningful to a person and capturing its essence for them to cherish for years to come.  Do you have a special subject you would like me to paint?  Give me a call, I'd love to hear all about it!

And remember, when your friends compliment your stunning new painting, just say "Why thank you, I commissioned it directly from the artist".

Here are a few paintings I have done on commission: