How Does Commissioning an Artist Work? A Step-by-Step Guide
Maybe you’ve found an artist whose work you love, but you can’t quite find the right piece.
You love the style, but need a different size. You have a particular space in your home you’ve been trying to fill. Or maybe you want something more personal—a piece inspired by a place, memory, color palette, or moment in your life.
That’s where commissioning an artist comes in.
If you’ve never commissioned original artwork before, the process can sound a little intimidating. What do you ask for? How much creative direction should you give? How much does commissioned art cost? And what happens if you don’t know exactly what you want?
The good news: you don’t need to have all the answers before reaching out to an artist.
Here’s how the art commission process typically works—and what you can expect if you’re interested in commissioning a custom piece.
What Does It Mean to Commission an Artist?
Commissioning an artist simply means hiring an artist to create an original piece specifically for you.
Unlike purchasing an existing piece of artwork, a commission begins with a conversation. You and the artist determine things like the size, general direction, colors, subject matter, and inspiration before the artist begins creating.
But commissioning artwork doesn't mean you need to design the piece yourself.
In fact, part of the reason you’re choosing a particular artist is because you trust their style and creative perspective.
Think of it as a collaboration: you bring the story or the space, and the artist brings it to life.
Step 1: Find an Artist Whose Style You Already Love
The best commissions usually begin by finding an artist whose existing work already feels like you.
Before reaching out, spend some time looking through their portfolio. Pay attention to the colors, materials, subject matter, textures, and overall feeling of their work.
You shouldn't need to ask an artist to completely change their style to create your commission.
Instead, look for someone whose work makes you think:
I love this. I just want one made for me.
Step 2: Reach Out About Your Idea
You don't need a perfectly formed concept before contacting an artist.
A simple starting point might be:
“I love this piece, but I'm looking for something larger for my living room.”
Or:
“I love the colors in this collection and would like something inspired by them for my home.”
You can also share photographs of the room where the artwork will live, measurements of the wall, colors you’re drawn to, or examples of the artist's previous work that you especially love.
Sometimes the conversation starts with nothing more than a blank wall and an idea.
That's completely okay.
Step 3: Choose the Size
One of the biggest advantages of commissioning artwork is being able to create something specifically for your space.
If you're unsure about size, your artist may be able to help.
Take measurements of the wall and photos of the surrounding furniture. Knowing the width of a sofa, console table, bed, or other nearby furniture can make it much easier to determine the right proportions.
This is especially helpful when you're looking for a statement piece or trying to fill an unusually sized wall.
Instead of trying to make existing artwork fit the room, the artwork can be created for the room.
Step 4: Talk About Color and Inspiration
This is where the commission starts becoming personal.
You might have a very specific color palette in mind—or you might simply know that you want the piece to feel calm, joyful, dramatic, soft, or energetic.
Both are helpful.
Depending on the artist, inspiration could come from:
Colors already in your home
A favorite landscape or place
A photograph
A memory
Another piece from the artist's portfolio
A particular mood or feeling
A meaningful object, phrase, or story
You don't necessarily need to match your artwork perfectly to your furniture or paint colors. Often, pulling in a few subtle connections creates a much more interesting space than trying to make everything match exactly.
Step 5: Review the Price and Timeline
Before work begins, the artist should provide information about the cost of the commission and an estimated timeline.
The price of commissioned artwork can vary considerably depending on the artist, size, materials, framing, complexity, and shipping requirements.
Some artists require a deposit before beginning, with the remaining balance due when the piece is complete. Others may structure payment differently.
This is also the time to discuss shipping, delivery, framing, and any other details so everyone knows what to expect before the project begins.
Step 6: Let the Artist Create
This can sometimes be the hardest—and most exciting—part.
Once you've shared your ideas, it's time to give the artist room to interpret them.
There is a difference between commissioning original art and ordering a reproduction of an exact idea. The small decisions an artist makes along the way are what give the finished piece its personality.
That element of surprise is part of what makes commissioning artwork special.
You aren't simply choosing something from a catalog.
You're watching something that didn't exist before become yours.
Step 7: See Your Finished Piece
And then comes the best part.
The piece that started as a conversation, a photograph of your wall, a color, or an idea is finally finished.
Original artwork already carries the marks and decisions of the person who made it. A commissioned piece adds another layer: it carries a little bit of your story, too.
That might be why commissioned artwork often becomes something people keep for years, move from home to home, and eventually pass down.
What If I Don't Know Exactly What I Want?
You don't have to.
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about commissioning an artist.
You don't need to approach an artist with a complete visual mapped out in your head. Sometimes having too many specifications can actually take away from the reason you chose an artist in the first place.
Start with what you do know.
Maybe it's:
“I want something peaceful above our bed.”
“I love the movement in this piece.”
“These colors remind me of summers at the lake.”
“This wall has been empty for two years and I haven't found anything that feels right.”
That's enough to start a conversation.
Commissioning Original Artwork From Megan Hinds
My commission process begins with getting to know what you're drawn to and where the artwork is going to live.
We can talk about size, color, inspiration, and which pieces from my existing work speak to you. From there, I use those ideas as a starting point while still allowing the piece to develop naturally through my own artistic process.
My goal isn't to create something that simply matches your room.
It's to create something that feels like it has always belonged there.
If you've been looking at a blank wall, saving artwork for inspiration, or wondering whether a custom piece might be right for your home, you don't need to have the entire idea figured out.
The conversation can start there.