What to Commission
Bespoke Art Ideas for Custom Artwork
Commissioning bespoke art is an experience both creative and collaborative. In working with an artist to create a gallery level piece, there is a collaborative exchange between the artist’s talent and the buyer’s vision.
Many go into the commissioning experience with a firm idea of the subject, whether it be an elegant abstract to match the home décor, a well developed scene incorporating many elements, or a landscape of a favorite location. The possibilities for co-creating something both beautiful and personal are without limit.
In working with our diverse set of fine artists, here are a few great commission ideas and what to consider in engaging an artist with bespoke art ideas.
Teal Canvas is a concierge fine art company that connects the art collector/designer with a fine artist that matches their style, size, palette and budget. We then take the collector/designer through the commission process to ensure a smooth and exciting experience. The end result is the perfect piece for your space.
Abstracts
The Oxford Dictionary defines abstract art as, “art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.” Abstract art is transportive, its infinite varieties lend well to commissioning. Says ARTDEX, “the entire point of abstract art — that reality is, in fact, subjective. Anyone can make of it what they will because we are all different at the core”.
Abstracts pulls the décor of a room together, setting an immediate tone to the space. Think soft and neutral. Think vibrant, electric. Think textural.
Abstract art is the meeting of feeling and style. What colors move you or would create a brilliant feel in a room? What style do you prefer? How do all of the elements in the work form a cohesive piece? Los Angeles based artist Bethany Robert’s piece above so elegantly plays with color, composition, and lines to present a painting that instantly elevates the space curated by interior design firm Stalburg Design.
Commissioning an abstrat art piece allows for an exchange in terms of palette, texture, size and feel.
Portraiture
A portrait is a way to preserve a person’s legacy or capture their essence, living or as a remembrance. Whether a black and white sketch or a realistic oil painting such as Gavin Glakas’ above, the portrait is a way to note an identity on canvas.
If in the same geography, many portrait artists encourage a live sitting. However, as many portrait artists and their buyers are separated by distance, a detailed photograph with good lighting and positioning give the artist a starting point.
Will the portrait just show the face or a portion of the body? What will the face show, seriousness or whimsy, gravity or elation? It is also worth considering the setting of the subject, from a more muted, monochromatic background, to an intentional setting like a favorite place. There is much to consider when completing a portrait beyond just the subject. Set, setting, and tone are all vital.
As quoted in the BBC, Alison Smith notes, “Whereas in the past it was really a mark of rank or status or celebrity, I think now portraiture is more about identity.”
Landscape/Cityscape
A landscape commission helps transport the buyer, bringing any location close to home. From a childhood home, to a vast cityscape, a lovely mountain scene to a vacation destination (the above painting by Rodger Schultz brought together numerous photographs of the buyer’s vacation destination, Kiawah Island, South Carolina) a landscape piece delivers the sites, scents, and sounds of a location.
When thinking about a landscape, a photograph may be the best starting point. Think about the colors and the surrounding scene. Even details like the weather are important to discuss. Will the landscape be photorealistic or based on the artist’s stylistic interpretation?
Landscapes/Cityscapes/Seascapes have given us much of the world’s best art. The essence of the world as captured on canvas.
Still Life
The painting of an object can hold so much more than the object itself. It can tell a story. The movement in the static.
Whether a table of fruit (along with a ball or two) as painted by Vittorio Ottaviani, a vase with flowers, or a Campbell soup can, commissioning a still-life painting can be multifold, from celebrating one’s passions to instilling a certain emotive feeling in a room. Getty notes, “They can evoke a mood, demonstrate an artist’s skill, and remind you of life’s hidden and temporary beauty.”
Again, you may want to present a photograph of your desired subject, or you may trust the artist’s imagination. Much like landscapes, colors, orientation, and realism will all play a part in creating the bespoke still life.
Animals
Our dog, Mushu, rules our home. Much like a human portrait, a pet portrait will follow the same guidelines. A photograph will many times be required so the artist can represent your four-legged friend in the very best way.
Again, think about color, setting, and realism. Take Mike Laiuppa‘s piece above. The buyers cherished both their dog and their surroundings, making this animal portrait perfect for their wall.
Life
Whether a wedding or a graduation, a memorial or celebration (artist Wil Swink‘s celebration of a daughter), art is a wonderful way to take a creative snapshot of a moment in time. These make for both perfect gifts and beautiful self-commissions.
Historical figures
From an actor to an athlete, a musician to a painter, there are those in our lives that fill us with inspiration, with meaning. This, like most commission pieces, comes with a great deal of flexibility. Who are those in history, whether current or historical, that you would like to see on your walls. How will this inspire you, challenge you daily?
Style is important. For example, Cabell Molina’s painting of Malala Yousafzai, as exampled above, is easily recognizable. However, her style is so wonderfully unique.
Signature Painting Style
There are times when an artist has an absolute signature style, a way of painting or a subject that is definitively unique. This does not inhibit the commission experience. The elegance of commissioning is the ability to give as much or as little voice in discussing the wants of the piece.
Take Xenia Gray‘s well-recognized works. The subject matter is highly emotional, and the paintings are daring and beautiful. However, given this, a commissioning buyer may have influence in size and color, in subject and movement, while allowing Xenia to paint in her creative freedom. The art piece remains influenced by the buyer’s vision, while holding the value of the artist’s painterly voice.
Ultimately, commissioning bespoke art is to create a piece, in union with the artist, that speaks to your highly individual taste. The uniquely intimate relationship made when collaborating with the artist, culminating in a piece of art that you display with a true sense of ownership, is an experience as human as it is magical.