If you love buying original art for your home, you may want to commission an artist. It’s quite common to commission a portrait painting, or even a painting of your home. Some people like to own a painting of their favourite place or a happy memory. But sometimes it can be exciting just to have a painting made for you, rather than choosing from existing work.

That’s exactly what Marian and Chris did when they asked me to paint this piece for them. They wanted something larger than my normal work, and they had a particular theme in mind.

Original commission in oils by Johanna McWeeney - the finished piece

What made this process super easy for me was the fact that they were able to describe what they wanted. As an artist it is intimidating trying to interpret an image that’s inside someone else’s head. But because I paint intuitively, I find it much easier when they describe a feeling.

This commission is now finished, and ready to be framed, and when I showed it to Marian and Chris they said:

“Beautiful! Really Beautiful. Gets the sense perfectly.”

Job done.

But it’s not always so easy. I often see artists on social sites complaining that their commissioned work didn’t hit the spot — a situation that’s stressful for the buyer and upsetting for the artist.

And in my experience, it’s a situation you can avoid by having the right conversation to begin with.

So let’s run through 5 easy steps you need to consider when you commission an artist, so you get a painting you’re thrilled to hang in your home.

Step 1: Show me work you already love and tell me why you love it

When Marian and Chris decided on a commission, they spent a while looking through my work. They settled on this painting, Daisy’s Chair, for inspiration.

Daisy’s Chair - an original acrylic painting by Johanna McWeeney

I don’t paint in this style any more. This work, Daisy’s chair, was done from life. And it was painted quickly in acrylics (I now use oils). I had to paint it quickly because Daisy (my dog) doesn’t stay still for long. It’s about 30cm by 40cm, and it sold a while back to a fellow chocolate Labrador owner.

But Marian told me that what they liked most was the mood. It reminded them of cosy evenings with a glass of wine. This gave me the perfect information to work from.

Step 2: Tell me how you’re going to live with the painting

The other thing about Daisy’s Chair was that the colours fitted well with the decor in Marian and Chris’s living room. To the art lover, that might seem like a superficial consideration — but you choose particular colours to decorate your home because you love those colours. So it makes sense that you’d like them in a painting too.

And they wanted something large — something that would fill an empty wall in their living room. We discussed canvas sizes and settled on 150cm by 120cm.

Step 3: Tell me what you’d like me to include in the painting

I had the mood, the colours and an idea. But what else would be in the painting? How could I fill a large canvas with the subject from such a small work?

As we talked, Marian asked me to include a little blonde child, asleep on a chair or couch. She and Chris have three small, blonde-haired children and she thought it would be a nice reminder when they were older that they had once been little angels.

Again this sort of detail gives me an idea of how you’re going to live with the painting long term. I’m not a portrait artist, but I regularly include people in my work. For this painting the child provided the perfect focal point.

The second stage of sketching and starting to paint

Step 4: Talk to me about budget and how you’d like to pay

This painting for Marian and Chris is 150cm by 120cm. A work of this size starts at £2000.

We agree a deposit before I start work. This covers the initial cost of materials and time. This deposit will be non-refundable.

We can then agree payments throughout the process of painting. Either as one lump sum on completion, or in instalments.

I will keep you up to date with progress, and send you good quality images once it is finished. And, if you’re happy with the result, I spend a couple of weeks allowing the paint to dry and applying varnish. The painting then goes to my framer, to be professionally framed.

You will need to send the final payment before the painting is shipped.

Building up the layers of colour and detail

Step 5: Let me know if you have a specific decorative theme the painting needs to go with. This also helps with frame choice

Before we get to the framing, it helps me to know what you like. I can also advise what I think will work. But if, for instance, I think dark wood might complement the painting and you hate dark wood, we’ll find something you do like.

For this painting, we agreed a simple, contemporary tray frame in white or off-white. A tray frame is the sort of frame that the canvas sits inside. It gives a clean, neutral look that doesn’t overpower the painting or the room. And it’s lightweight — an important factor with a painting this size.

I like to include more than one story in a painting

Commission an artist and get an artwork that’s unique to you

Commissioning an artwork should be a fun experience. You’re investing in something totally unique that’s made for you.

I won’t take a commission unless I know I can fill it with joy. Because the reason behind my work is a desire to make life more beautiful.

“Draw me like one of your French girls.”

Next steps:

If you’d like to talk to me about commissioning a unique painting for your home or work place, contact me for a chat.

Commission an Artist - 5 Steps to Commissioning a Unique Painting for Your Home