How to Commission a Painting for a Specific Space

Sometimes you look at a wall and know exactly what it needs – but nothing you find quite fits. The size is wrong, or the colour, or the mood. This is when commissioning a painting starts to make sense: working directly with an artist to create something made for your exact space, rather than adapting your space around something that was made for no space in particular.

Knowing how to commission a painting makes the process straightforward. It’s less complicated than most people expect – and the result is something that fits in a way that nothing bought off the shelf ever quite will.

What a commission actually is

A commission is a request – you ask an artist to create a specific work for you, usually with some parameters: a size, a colour palette, a mood, a subject, or some combination of these. The artist then creates the piece with those parameters in mind, while bringing their own skill, style, and creative judgement to it.

A commission is not a custom decoration order. You are not asking an artist to execute your vision pixel by pixel. You are asking them to create something within a framework you define – which means the result will be genuinely theirs, shaped by your needs. That combination is what makes commissioned work different from both buying a finished piece and designing something yourself.

Step 1 – Know your space before you approach an artist

Before you contact any artist, spend some time with the space the piece will live in. The more clearly you can describe it, the better the artist can respond to it.

Have answers ready for:

The exact dimensions of the wall – height and width available for the piece
The direction the room faces – north or south light, morning or afternoon sun
The dominant colours in the room – walls, furniture, flooring
The feeling you want the piece to create – energising, calming, contemplative, warm
Any subjects or themes you are drawn to – or want to avoid

Photographs of the space are invaluable – ideally taken in the light the room typically has, with the wall clearly visible. Most artists will ask for them, and they make every subsequent conversation more precise.

Step 2 – Find the right artist

The most important factor in a successful commission is choosing an artist whose existing work you genuinely respond to. You are not commissioning a new style – you are commissioning work in the artist’s existing style, applied to your specific brief. If you love their work as it is, the commission is likely to give you something you love. If you are hoping the commission will produce something different from what they usually make, you will likely be disappointed.

Commission an artist whose existing work you genuinely love. You are not asking for a new style – you are asking for their style, applied to your space.

Look at a body of work, not just one piece. See how they handle colour, scale, and mood across different works. Ask yourself whether the way they paint fits the feeling you want in your space.

Step 3 – The first conversation

When you approach an artist about a commission, be clear and specific from the start. Artists appreciate clients who know what they want – even if that knowledge is imprecise, it gives them something to work with.

In your first message or conversation, cover:

The size you need
The space it is for and the general feeling you want
Any specific requirements – colour palette, subject, mood
Your timeline – when you need the piece by
Your budget – at least a range, so the artist can tell you what is realistic

A good artist will ask questions in return – about the space, about what you like and don’t like in their existing work, about how much creative freedom you want to give them. The quality of this conversation tells you a lot about whether the collaboration will work.

Step 4 – Agree the terms before work begins

Before any work starts, agree clearly on the following:

Price. The full price for the commission, including any surface or framing costs. Commissions are typically priced higher than similar finished works, because the artist is setting aside time specifically for your project.
Deposit. Most artists require a deposit – usually 30-50% – before starting work. This is standard practice and protects both parties.
Timeline. When will the work be complete? Build in some flexibility – creative work rarely runs exactly on schedule.
Progress updates. Will the artist share progress photographs at any point? This is worth agreeing upfront, even if you decide you prefer to see the finished piece without previews.
Revisions. What happens if the finished piece is significantly different from what was discussed? Clarify in advance what is and isn’t within scope for adjustment.
Shipping. Who covers shipping costs, and how will the piece be packaged and insured in transit?

Step 5 – Trust the artist

Once the terms are agreed and work begins, the most important thing you can do is step back and let the artist work. The more you micro-manage the process – requesting constant updates, asking for changes mid-work, second-guessing decisions – the harder you make it for the artist to produce their best work.

The brief you gave at the start was the foundation. Now the artist is building on it. What they produce will be shaped by your needs, but it will also be genuinely theirs – which is exactly what makes a commission worth having in the first place.

Interested in commissioning a work through Marea Gallery?

If you have seen work by a Marea Gallery artist that interests you, or if you are looking for an artist whose style fits a specific space, get in touch. We are happy to connect you directly with artists from our exhibitions and to support the commission process.

Browse current and past exhibitions at mareagallery.com/exhibitions, or contact us at info@mareagallery.com to discuss what you are looking for.