How I work with people on custom pieces
I get asked about commissions pretty often, so here's how the process actually works. It usually starts with one of two things: you know what you want, or you know where it's going to live.
How it usually goes
Every commission is a little different depending on the client, but the general flow looks like this.
1. Tell me what you're imagining. First thing I want to know is the size and the medium. Are you thinking photography? Watercolor? Acrylic? A lot of the time people don't know the exact size or the options yet, but they know the wall it's going to hang on. That's totally fine.
2. We figure out the size together. If you send me a photo of the wall, or even just the dimensions, I'll mock up what different sizes would actually look like in your space. This is usually the part where people realize they want the piece bigger than they originally thought.
3. We talk colors using a mood board. Color is the trickiest thing to nail down over text because it's so subjective. My version of royal blue is probably different from yours. So I'll ask you to send a Pinterest board or a mood board with colors you're drawn to. That gives us a real starting point instead of guessing.
4. I sketch out concepts. Once I know the size, medium, and color direction, I'll come back to you with one or two concepts. We refine from there until it feels right.
5. I paint it. I'll send progress photos along the way so there are no surprises at the end.
The whole thing is collaborative. I'm not going to deliver a piece you don't love. If something isn't working, we talk about it and adjust before I commit anything to canvas.
What it costs
Commissions start around $200 and go up from there depending on size, materials, and complexity. Larger pieces, multiple canvases, or mixed media will shift the price. I always send a full quote after our first conversation so you know exactly what you're committing to before any work begins.
If you've been thinking about a custom piece for a specific space, send me a note.