My most recent commission painting (ie. custom work) was based on this painting: 
This original blue abstract was 20″ x 20″ x 1.5″; my client wanted something similar in a much larger size, 30″ x 52″ x 1.5″ As this was not a standard size, I hand stretched and primed the canvas myself.
Once the raw canvas was stretched, I primed it with several coats of gesso, thinned with water.
Now I was ready to paint. Here is one of the early phases of the commission painting:
I took photos throughout the entire process, providing my client with updates and opportunities to suggest changes. In this next one, I circled areas via PhotoShop to show my client the areas I was going to add further detail.
Here was the finished piece:
Keeping my client engaged throughout the entire process not only reduced the possibility of an unhappy client, but also allowed them to participate in the development/creation of their art–solidifying their emotional investment. Here is what my client had to say about their commission experience: “After seeing Catherine’s work online we commissioned her to create a similar work of art in a different shape and much larger scale. In addition to being uber-talented, Catherine is a joy to work with. She never rushed us in the process, gave us visual progress reports, and welcomed our thoughts and input. The end result was a beautiful piece of art that is the focus of our room. Every time I look at it I am so happy. I would highly recommend Catherine and her work.”
A testimonial like that speaks volumes for you, your work, and your business practices.
To learn more about commissioning a painting, please see this blog post: “Commissioning A Painting–What To Expect.”
To discuss commissioning your own painting, please contact me.