How To Commission Artwork
The heart wants what it wants. Sometimes, what it wants has sold or doesn’t fit the desired space. Or maybe the perfect piece by that particular artist doesn’t even exist yet! It’s a tough dilemma, but luckily one that’s easily remedied. We’ve demystified the commission process. Read on to discover how to commission a custom-made artwork.
Sally Browne is a queen of commissions! With an awe-inspiring portfolio of commissioned paintings, Sally is happy to commission an artwork tailored to what you’re after.
Step 1: Ask the Artist
Click the ‘Ask About A Commission’ button on an artist’s profile to enquire. This is your chance to say what you want; perhaps you have a size, style, or colour preference, or you’d like the work to feature something or someone you love. The more information you give the artist, the easier it is to make a piece that meets your expectations!
Step 2: Get a Quote
The artist will then generate a quote and estimate the timeframe to create your custom artwork. Usually, if an artist replicates a piece already sold, the price will be similar. However, you should expect a different price if you’re after a larger or more complex work.
Ben Tankard’s Unpopular Penguin series is—ironically—one of our most popular commission choices. Photo by Jack E Phillips.
Step 3: Pay the Deposit
Once you’re happy with the quote provided, you can seal the deal by putting down a 30% non-refundable deposit. This deposit covers the artist’s cost of materials and time in the initial stages of the commission. Once paid, the artist will begin creating your piece! A trouble-free and popular way of putting down a deposit is to purchase a gift voucher for 30% of the final quote.
Liliana Gigovic gets stuck into her next commissioned piece! We can’t wait to see how this one turns out.
Step 4: Track the Progress & Make Changes
As the piece approaches completion, the artist will share progress photos so you can advise on any changes you’d like to make. This is your chance to speak up and ensure your vision is coming to life. Sometimes changes aren’t necessary, but occasionally you might want to make minor amendments to colour or texture. The artist will take your changes on board, and the final piece will soon be ready to ship and display.
Kirsty McIntyre shows us the process of creating a portrait from a reference photo.
Step 5: Completion, Final Payment & Shipping
Finally, your artwork is finished and ready to be shipped! At this point, you’ll pay the outstanding amount, and the painting will be sent to you via courier. On arrival, hang the piece in its final destination, sit back and marvel at its beauty. If it’s not ‘the one’, rest easy! You can still send it back, free of hassle, with our 7-day returns policy, less your initial deposit to cover the artist’s time to create the artwork.
Click the image above to explore a curation of our most sought-after commission artists.
Commission an artist to create your dream piece today! From first homes to cherished pets and family portraits, the possibilities are endless.
I would like to commission a piece by Phil Herbison. We have been communicating about it. Total price is $500.
Please let me know next steps.
Hi Courtney,
Please send your enquiry to help@bluethumb.com.au where we can assist you further 🙂
Thanks!
Grace