Commissioning a Piece: What Happens Between "Yes" and "Delivered"

People hear "commission" and picture a long, formal process with contracts and gallerists. The reality is closer to an extended conversation between an artist and a person who wants something specific on their wall. Here's how it actually goes from the first message to the piece arriving at your door.

The first conversation

It starts with a message. Tell me what you're imagining: the room, the wall, the size, the mood. "Big abstract piece for the bedroom, calming, blues and grays" is enough to start. "Pop art version of my kid's favorite cartoon character on a 60×80 canvas, primary colors, lots of texture" is also enough.

If you're not sure, that's fine too. Most commissions start with the buyer knowing the room and the rough vibe, and the rest comes out in the conversation.

References, mood boards, and the room

I usually ask for two things: photos of the wall and surrounding furniture, and any reference images that capture the feel you're after. The photos help me understand scale and color context. The references help me understand mood without you having to write a thousand words.

From there I'll suggest a size, a substrate (canvas, wood, resin'd wood), and a rough approach. We talk it through until both of us are picturing the same piece.

Quote, deposit, and the green light

Once the brief is clear, I send a quote. Pricing scales with size, complexity, and materials. Resin and gold foil add to the price because they add real time (resin needs days to cure between layers).

The standard structure is a 50% deposit to start, 50% on completion before shipping. The deposit covers materials and reserves studio time. Once it lands, the piece moves into the active queue.

Sketch and approval

I usually send a quick sketch or color study before going further. This is the cheapest moment to change direction. "The composition's right but can it be more red" is a one-line message at this stage and a redo later.

Once you approve the sketch, the piece goes into actual production.

Painting

A flat acrylic piece can be done in a few days. A heavily layered mixed media piece with multiple resin pours takes weeks because of curing time between layers. I'll tell you up front roughly how long the piece needs.

During the painting, you'll get progress photos at the milestones we agreed on. Some commissioners want every layer documented. Others just want the final reveal. Both are fine.

Final approval

Before the piece ships, you see the finished work in good light, from multiple angles, ideally on video. This is the last point where significant changes can happen. Tweaks at this stage are sometimes possible. Full redos almost never are, which is why the sketch and progress phases exist.

Once you approve, the second 50% is invoiced.

Packing and shipping

Once payment lands, the piece goes through the standard packing process (glassine, double-walled box, full-value insurance, signature on delivery). International shipping from Barcelona usually arrives within a week.

What if you don't love the final piece

It's a fair question and worth asking up front. The honest answer: this happens very rarely if the brief and sketch phases were clear. When it does, I work with the buyer to figure out a path: minor adjustments, a partial credit toward another piece, or a full reset where possible. The structure protects both sides.

A commission is a relationship, not a transaction. The whole point is to end up with a piece that belongs to your space and only your space.