If you have ever looked for a custom painting, you may have come across a phrase that sounds slightly formal:
“Art commission.”
But what does it actually mean?
Is an art commission different from a custom painting? Why do artists say “commission an artwork” instead of simply saying “order a painting”?
The simple answer is:
The word “commission” describes the act of formally requesting and engaging an artist to create that artwork.
So when you commission a painting, you are not simply buying something that already exists. You are asking an artist to create something new.
What Does “Commission” Mean in Art?
The word commission means to formally ask someone to create or carry out something for you. The concept is not unique to art. For example, you might commission:
- An architect to design a house
- A designer to create a logo
- A photographer to photograph a wedding
- A furniture maker to build a custom table
- An artist to create a painting
In each case, you have a specific requirement and you engage a professional to create something based on that requirement. In art, the result is called a commissioned artwork.
What Is an Art Commission?
An art commission is a request from a client to an artist to create an original artwork according to an agreed brief. The client may provide:
- A subject
- A photograph
- An idea
- A story
- A preferred style
- A colour palette
- A size
- A material
- A deadline
The artist then creates the artwork. For example:
“I have a photograph from my wedding. Can you create an original painting from it?”
That is an art commission. Or:
“I have a large empty wall in my living room. Can you create an abstract painting in warm neutral colours at 48 × 36 inches?”
That is also an art commission.
Why Don’t We Just Say “Custom Painting”?
You absolutely can. Custom painting is a simpler and more consumer-friendly term. However, commission describes the relationship between the client and artist more precisely. Compare these two phrases:
This usually suggests that the painting already existed and you purchased it.
This suggests that you asked the artist to create the artwork specifically for you.
That distinction is important.
Buying Existing Art vs Commissioning Art
The easiest way to understand the difference is to compare the two processes.
Interactive: buying vs commissioning
For example, if you see a beautiful 24 × 36-inch landscape painting in an online gallery and purchase it, you are buying an existing artwork.
If you ask an artist to create a 36 × 48-inch painting based on your photograph, you are commissioning an artwork.
Tap a label to switch, or wait and it changes by itself.
| Buying Existing Artwork | Commissioning Artwork |
|---|---|
| Artwork already exists | Artwork is created after your request |
| You select from available pieces | You provide a brief or idea |
| Subject is already determined | Subject can be personalised |
| Size is usually fixed | Size can often be customised |
| Artwork is ready or nearly ready | Artist needs time to create it |
| You buy the finished work | You engage the artist to create a new work |
If you would rather choose from what already exists, you can browse the HOA original art collection.
Why Is It Called a “Commission”?
The word has a long history of being used for professional work. Historically, wealthy individuals, institutions, religious organisations, governments, and patrons would ask artists to create specific works. A patron might ask an artist to create:
- A portrait
- A religious painting
- A historical scene
- A mural
- A sculpture
- Artwork for a building
The artist was not simply producing a random work and hoping someone would buy it. Someone had specifically commissioned the artwork.
The same basic concept exists today. The difference is that commissioning art is now accessible to far more people. You do not need to be a royal patron or major collector to commission an artist. You can commission a painting for your home, family, office, wedding, anniversary, business, or personal collection.
What Can You Commission an Artist to Create?
Almost any subject can become the starting point for a commission, depending on the artist’s practice.
Interactive: six things you can commission
1. Portraits.
You can commission:
- Individual portraits
- Couple portraits
- Family portraits
- Children’s portraits
- Wedding portraits
- Pet portraits
A photograph can be used as a reference.
2. Wedding Artwork. A wedding is full of moments that can become meaningful artwork.
You could commission a painting based on:
- Wedding photographs
- The couple
- The wedding venue
- A meaningful moment
- A traditional ceremony
- A destination
- A symbolic scene
A commissioned wedding painting can also make a meaningful anniversary gift.
3. Family Memories. You can turn an important family memory into artwork. For example:
- Childhood home
- Ancestral house
- Family gathering
- Parents’ portrait
- Family holiday
- Favourite place
- A meaningful landscape
The artwork can preserve the memory in a completely different form from a photograph.
4. Pet Portraits. For many people, pets are part of the family. A commissioned painting can transform a favourite pet photograph into an original artwork.
You might choose:
- Realistic portrait
- Watercolour
- Acrylic
- Oil
- Charcoal
- Abstract interpretation
The choice depends on the artist’s style and your preference.
5. Custom Home Artwork. Sometimes you don’t have a particular subject in mind. You simply have a wall. For example: “I have a 6-foot-wide wall above my sofa. I want something contemporary with earthy colours.” That can also become a commission.
You can provide:
- Wall photograph
- Wall dimensions
- Furniture photograph
- Preferred colours
- Interior style
The artist can then develop artwork around the requirements.
6. Corporate and Commercial Artwork. Art commissions are not limited to private homes.
Businesses can commission artwork for:
- Offices
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Reception areas
- Boardrooms
- Hospitals
- Showrooms
- Corporate gifting
- Hospitality spaces
For large projects, the commission may involve multiple artworks, specific dimensions, brand considerations, installation, and project management.
Tap a label to read more, or wait and it moves on by itself.
What Happens During an Art Commission?
A commission usually follows a process.
Interactive: the six steps of a commission
Step 1: The Client Has an Idea. You decide what you want. It might be: “I want a painting of my parents.” or: “I need an abstract painting for my living room.”
Step 2: You Find the Right Artist. This is one of the most important steps. Don’t choose an artist only because their price is attractive. Look at their portfolio, and browse artist profiles on HOA Gallery.
If you want a realistic portrait, choose an artist who demonstrates strong portrait skills. If you want abstract artwork, find an artist whose visual language matches your taste.
Step 3: You Share Your Brief.
You discuss:
- Subject
- Style
- Medium
- Size
- Colours
- Reference photographs
- Composition
- Framing
- Delivery
- Deadline
The clearer the brief, the easier it is for both sides to understand the project.
Step 4: The Artist Provides a Quote.
The price may depend on:
- Size
- Medium
- Complexity
- Number of subjects
- Materials
- Artist experience
- Framing
- Delivery
- Timeline
A small simple commission will generally require a different budget from a large detailed painting.
Step 5: The Commission Is Approved. Once the requirements and price are agreed, the artist begins creating the artwork.
Depending on the artist’s process, this may involve:
- Concept development
- Sketch
- Colour planning
- Underpainting
- Painting
- Finishing
- Framing
Not every artist uses the same process.
Step 6: The Artwork Is Completed. Once the painting is finished, the artist prepares it for delivery.
Depending on the agreement, this may include:
- Final inspection
- Signature
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Framing
- Protective packaging
- Delivery
Tap a step to jump to it, or watch the commission move along by itself.
Is a Commission the Same as a Custom Painting?
In everyday conversation, the two terms are often used interchangeably. Custom painting describes what the customer wants. Art commission describes the process of engaging the artist to create it. For example:
This describes the artwork.
This describes the action you took.
So a custom painting can be a commissioned artwork.
Is Commissioned Art Always Based on a Photograph?
No. A photograph is only one possible starting point. You can commission an artist from:
- A photograph
- A written idea
- A memory
- A sketch
- A location
- A colour palette
- A concept
- A combination of references
For example, you might tell an abstract artist:
“I want artwork inspired by monsoon rain, using deep blue, grey and warm gold.”
You are not asking the artist to copy a photograph. You are giving the artist a creative brief. That is still a commission.
Can You Choose the Size of a Commission?
Often, yes. This is one of the biggest advantages of commissioning artwork. Instead of trying to find an existing painting that happens to fit your wall, you can discuss the required dimensions with the artist. For example:
The appropriate size depends on the artwork, wall, furniture, viewing distance, and artist’s working method.
How Much Does an Art Commission Cost?
There is no universal commission price. The cost can vary significantly depending on the artist and project. Factors may include:
- Artist experience
- Artwork size
- Medium
- Complexity
- Number of people or subjects
- Materials
- Framing
- Delivery
- Deadline
For example, a simple small portrait and a large detailed family painting are both commissions, but they can require very different amounts of time and materials. The best approach is to provide the artist with enough information to receive a project-specific quotation.
Why Does a Commission Cost More Than a Print?
A print reproduces an existing image. A commissioned painting requires an artist to spend time creating a new physical artwork. The cost can therefore include:
- Artist’s creative work
- Planning
- Materials
- Studio time
- Painting
- Finishing
- Framing
- Packaging
- Delivery
You are not simply paying for an image. You are paying for the creation of an original artwork.
What Should You Discuss Before Commissioning?
Before confirming a commission, make sure you understand the points below. Tick them off as you go.
Interactive: your pre-commission checklist
Artwork
Price
Timeline
Changes
Ownership
The ticks are only for you while you read, and are not saved. For copyright, see HOA’s copyright policy.
Clear communication at the beginning can prevent misunderstandings later.
Why Commission Original Art Instead of Buying Ready-Made Art?
Buying an existing artwork gives you the freedom to choose from what is already available. Commissioning gives you a different kind of freedom. You can say:
“I want this subject.”
“I want this size.”
“I want these colours.”
“I want it created for this wall.”
That personal connection is what makes commissioned art special. The artwork can become connected to a specific person, memory, place, event, or moment in your life.
What Does “Commission an Artist” Really Mean?
In simple terms:
So when someone says “I commissioned this painting,” they mean “I asked an artist to create this artwork for me.” That is why the word commission is used. It describes the relationship between the person requesting the artwork and the artist creating it.
Art Commission at HOA Gallery
At HOA Gallery, the idea of commissioning art is simple:
You can start with:
- A photograph
- A subject
- A memory
- A wall
- A preferred size
- A colour palette
- A specific artwork requirement
The commission process can then be discussed around the artwork, size, medium, framing, timeline, and delivery. This makes commissioning useful for buyers who cannot find exactly what they want among ready-made paintings. Instead of searching endlessly for the “perfect” painting, you can ask an artist to create something specifically for you. See how an HOA art commission works.
Final Thoughts
The word commission may sound formal, but the idea is simple. You have an idea. You find an artist. You agree on what should be created. The artist creates an original artwork specifically for you. That’s an art commission.
Whether it is a portrait of your parents, a wedding memory, a painting of your childhood home, a pet portrait, or an abstract artwork designed for your living room, commissioning gives you the opportunity to own something that did not exist before you requested it.
You don’t just choose the artwork. You help begin its creation.
Have an Idea for an Original Painting?
If you have a photograph, memory, subject, or wall that you want transformed into an original artwork, explore the custom painting commission process at HOA Gallery.
Bring the idea. Commission the artist. Own the original.
