My first art commission began with a WhatsApp message. My friend, Sarah from Shaw Services, a mobile toilet manufacturing company, was busy building the company’s next display for Newbury’s Showman’s Show in 2023. She fancied adding some original art, so she pinged me a message.
Read more: My 1st Art Commission Was For A ToiletMy art commission brief:
After a brief exchange, we scheduled a video call the following evening so she could share more details. My brief was very simple… In fact, you could call it the briefest of briefs. “Create me an A1 piece of artwork in your style to be displayed in our next portaloo exhibition in mid-October. But please, can you avoid skeletons?” How wonderful.
I asked her which of my paintings she liked for a rough idea of subject matter – these were Reverse Landscape and The Azores. And just like that, I’d agreed to my first art commission.
The official art commission
I saw my grandma the next day and told her about my first commission… Her reaction was, “Eh? You’re painting a picture to go in a toilet? What’re you doing that for?” I laughed and told her it sounded weirdly fun. Her eyes replied with a baffled stare that read, “You’re bananas”.
And then, I got to work.
My process for creating an art commission is very similar to my usual process – it just has more of a deadline. I’ll think, sketch, snack, and repeat. Simples.
After covering an A3 page with different ideas, I’ll circle the ones I like and see which ones I can mash together. Then, after a good night’s sleep, I’ll see which idea is at the forefront of my mind. And that’s the winner. Easy peasy.
I knew I wanted to create a colourful Monstera plant. So, I began by preparing a pinky-purple background with an acrylic wash and salt. Then, after leaving it to dry, I sketched the main body of the plant. My plan was to merge realism with surrealism and, if possible, incorporate a little Japanese marbling (a technique I’d recently tried).
So, I followed my gut and here’s what happened. 👇
Final considerations
From the day of my briefing to the final execution, the only request that changed was the size of the artwork – in theory, a fairly big problem. However, because two pieces of artwork were required, we decided they would be supplied as prints (one for the female cubicle and one for the male cubicle).
Interested in creating an art commission with me?
Ping me a message using this form, and I’ll add your name to my waiting list. Or, subscribe to my Arty Updates and be among the first to hear when I’m next opening my diary for art commissions.
That’s all for now ✌️
Your paint-pal
Hi there; I’m Rebecca, a British artist and copywriter, and I’ll never be ‘ready enough’ to write a bio in the third person. I’ve been practising my crafts ever since the day I picked up my first pair of scissors in primary school and glued my fringe to a collage. Tasteful, eh?
When I’m neither painting nor writing, you’ll find me gardening, snowboarding, baking cinnamon buns or practising Muay Thai.
Frequently asked questions
What is art commission?
An art commission is a bespoke piece of artwork created in return for money. This will usually be displayed in the buyer’s personal collection.
How much do you charge for art commission?
As a basic rule, when charging for an art commission, an artist should set themselves an hourly wage depending on their experience and then add the cost of materials used. E.g. For 10 hours of work (at an hourly wage of £25) plus materials that cost £20, a painting would cost £270. However, all artists are different; some commissions can be more expensive based on an artist’s reputation.
How do I ask for an art commission?
To commission an artist, start by finding someone whose artistic style you appreciate, then create a connection via a gallery or send them a message if you have an email address. Ask them politely if they’re currently taking commissions, and go from there.
