Commissioning original art, whether a portrait, a landscape, or an abstract piece built around personal meaning, is considerably more accessible than many first-timers assume, genuinely possible across a wide range of budgets, not solely the territory of significant collectors. This guide walks through the complete process, expanding on the portrait-specific guidance covered in our dedicated commissioning article.
Step 1: Finding the Right Artist
Browse a substantial body of any prospective artist’s previous work, not just their best examples, looking specifically for pieces similar in subject, style, and scale to what you’re envisioning, across platforms like Etsy and Saatchi Art, which both offer extensive searchable artist portfolios.
Step 2: Initial Contact and Scope Discussion
Reach out with a clear initial description of what you’re envisioning, subject, approximate size, rough budget range, and timeline expectations, allowing the artist to confirm genuine availability and fit before investing time in detailed proposal discussion.
| Commission Stage | What Happens | Typical Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Initial inquiry | Scope, budget, and availability discussion | Days to one week |
| Proposal and quote | Artist provides specific pricing and approach | One to two weeks |
| Deposit and brief finalisation | Detailed brief, reference materials, deposit payment | One to two weeks |
| Sketch/draft stage | Initial composition shared for approval | Two to four weeks, varies by medium |
| Final work completion | Full piece completed, often requiring drying time for paint | Four to twelve weeks total, medium dependent |
Step 3: Providing a Genuinely Useful Brief
Share specific reference images, examples of the artist’s previous style you’re drawn to, and clear written description of mood, colour preference, and any must-include elements, while genuinely trusting the artist’s expertise on execution rather than attempting to direct every technical decision.
Step 4: Understanding Payment Structure
Most professional commission arrangements involve a deposit, often 30-50% upfront, with the balance due on completion or delivery; be wary of artists requesting full payment before any work begins, and equally wary of being asked to pay nothing until delivery, which is genuinely unfair to the artist’s time investment.
Step 5: Managing the Review and Revision Process
Most established commission processes include a draft or sketch approval stage before final execution begins, the appropriate point for any significant directional feedback; requesting major changes after a piece is substantially complete is both genuinely unfair to the artist and likely to incur additional cost.
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Archival Print Paper — Digital Commission Printing
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Independent Artist Commission — Etsy Artist Network
Browse and commission original work from independent artists across Etsy’s extensive portfolio network.
Shop on Etsy
Saatchi Art Artist Commission Service
Commission original work through Saatchi Art’s curated network of represented professional artists.
Shop Saatchi Art✕ What to Avoid
- Choosing an artist based on price alone without reviewing a substantial body of their actual previous work
- Requesting major directional changes after a piece is substantially complete rather than at the appropriate draft stage
- Paying full amount upfront before any work begins, or conversely refusing any deposit, both genuinely problematic arrangements
- Providing vague briefs with no genuine reference material, leaving too much ambiguity for the artist to interpret
- Underestimating realistic timelines, particularly for oil painting or other slower traditional media