Commissioning a painting is one of the most personal ways to own original art. Instead of browsing galleries for something that’s close enough, you get exactly what you want — a specific place, a beloved animal, a meaningful scene — created by a skilled artist specifically for you.
But if you’ve never done it before, the process can feel mysterious. How do you find the right artist? What do you tell them? How much should it cost? What if you don’t like the result?
I’ve been on the artist side of dozens of commissions — from home portraits and pet paintings to landscapes and wedding gifts. This guide walks you through the entire process from the buyer’s perspective, based on what I’ve seen work well for my clients and what I wish every first-time commissioner knew going in.
Step 1: Know What You Want (Even Roughly)
You don’t need a fully formed vision. Some of the best commissions start with a simple sentence: “I want a painting of my grandmother’s house” or “I’d love a watercolor of my dog” or “We got married at this vineyard and I want to remember it.”
What helps the artist most is knowing these things. The subject — what do you want painted? It could be a place, an animal, a person, a bouquet, a scene from a memory, or something abstract. Reference photos — if you have photos that capture the feeling or specific details you want in the painting, gather them. Multiple angles and lighting conditions are better than a single perfect shot. The mood you’re going for — dreamy and soft? Bright and energetic? Moody and atmospheric? This guides the artist’s approach. Any practical requirements — do you know what size you need? Is there a color palette you’d like the painting to work with? Is this a gift with a specific deadline?
If you only have a vague idea, that’s fine. A good artist will help you develop it.
Step 2: Find the Right Artist
This is the most important decision in the entire process. The right artist for your commission is someone whose existing work already excites you — because their style, skill level, and sensibility will carry through into your painting.
Browse the artist’s portfolio extensively. Look at their existing work and ask yourself: do I love their style? Not “could I tolerate it” — do I genuinely love it? Because the commission won’t look like a different artist’s work. It will look like more of what this artist already does, applied to your specific subject.
Pay attention to medium. A watercolor artist will produce a watercolor painting. An oil painter will produce an oil painting. If you have a preference for a specific medium, make sure the artist works in it. Also consider the artist’s experience level, professionalism, communication style, and whether they have a clear process.
Reviews and testimonials are valuable if available. Social media can give you a sense of the artist’s personality and how they interact with their community.
Step 3: Reach Out and Start the Conversation
Most artists who accept commissions have a process for this — a contact form, an email address, or a commission inquiry page. Use it. Include as much helpful information as you can in your initial message.
A strong initial inquiry includes what you’d like painted, your approximate size and medium preference (or “I’m open to your recommendation”), any reference photos, your rough budget or willingness to hear pricing, your timeline (especially if it’s a gift with a deadline), and a brief note about why this painting matters to you. That last point might seem unnecessary, but it actually helps the artist a lot. Understanding the emotional context of a commission — it’s a wedding gift, it’s a memorial, it’s for a nursery — helps the artist make creative decisions that serve the purpose.
Step 4: Review the Quote and Agree on Terms
The artist will typically respond with their thoughts on your project, suggestions about size, medium, or composition, a price quote, an estimated timeline, and their payment terms (most artists require a 50% deposit upfront, with the remaining 50% due upon completion).
Commission pricing varies enormously based on the artist’s experience, reputation, medium, and the complexity of the piece. For a professional artist working in watercolor or acrylic, a reasonable range for a custom painting might be anywhere from $300 for a small work to several thousand dollars for large or complex pieces.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If the quote is higher than your budget, say so — many artists can adjust the size or complexity to work within a reasonable range. But be respectful of the artist’s pricing. A commission involves not just the hours of painting, but years of training, materials, overhead, and creative problem-solving.
Step 5: Place Your Deposit
Once you’ve agreed on the details and pricing, the artist will typically send an invoice for the deposit. Many artists also provide a simple written agreement or confirmation email outlining the agreed-upon subject, size, medium, price, timeline, and revision policy. This protects both parties and ensures everyone has the same understanding.
Pay the deposit promptly — most artists don’t begin work until the deposit is received, and their schedule may fill up.
Step 6: Trust the Process (and Stay Communicative)
After the deposit, the artist gets to work. Good commission artists will share work-in-progress photos at key stages — typically after the initial sketch or composition is established, midway through the painting process, and when the piece is nearing completion.
These checkpoints are your opportunity to provide feedback. If the composition feels off, the colors aren’t what you expected, or a detail needs adjustment, this is the time to speak up. Artists expect and welcome feedback during the process — it’s much easier to adjust a painting in progress than to rework a finished piece.
That said, trust the artist’s creative judgment. You hired them for their skill and vision. If they suggest a compositional change or a color adjustment that differs from your original idea, give it serious consideration — they may be seeing something you can’t from a photo reference.
Step 7: Approve and Receive Your Painting
When the painting is complete, the artist will send final photos for your approval. Take your time looking at them — on your phone, on your computer, ideally held up near the wall where the painting will hang, if possible.
If you’re happy (and you should be, given the feedback process along the way), confirm your approval. The artist will send the final invoice for the remaining balance. Once payment is received, the painting is packaged and shipped to you — typically within a few business days.
When it arrives, unbox it carefully. Inspect for any shipping damage. If everything looks beautiful — which it should — hang it up and enjoy it. You just added something completely unique to your home.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
Legitimate concerns — a color that looks dramatically different in person than in photos, a detail that was missed despite being discussed, or shipping damage — should be communicated to the artist promptly and directly. Most professional artists will work with you to resolve any issues.
However, it’s important to have realistic expectations. A commission is not a photograph. It’s an artist’s interpretation of your subject, filtered through their unique style and creative sensibility. Small differences between the reference photo and the painting are not just normal — they’re the entire point of hiring an artist instead of ordering a canvas print of a photo.
Ready to Commission Your First Painting?
If this guide has made the process feel less intimidating, I’d love to hear your idea. I paint custom commissions in watercolor, acrylic, gouache, and ink — homes, landscapes, pets, florals, portraits, and more. Starting at $400 for small watercolors.
