To start the process of commissioning a painting, email me at monaknelson (a) gmail dot com. I work with individual clients as well as corporate, public sector, and religious organizations.
What will your commission consist of?
Standard pricing and options for portraits of pets and children: include an unframed painting on either wood panel or canvas in one of the three following dimensions:
5 in x 7 in = $250
8 in x 10 in = $300
16 in x 20 in = $500
Special pricing and options: include the following (contact me to discuss):
Larger painting = Large walls love large paintings. Price will vary, with canvas sizes going up to 60 in x 48 in (5 x 4 foot). I have done even larger pieces, and enjoy working on them, however. Paintings can be even as large as 8 x 8 foot, with some adjustments to how the canvas and frame are made. If you’re an institutional client or customer with large wall spaces (for example in a high-ceiled living room, lobby area, conference space, or corridor), a large-format painting, if appropriately sized, can command attention and add life and gravitas to your space. Be ambitious.
Framed = price will vary based on painting size and type of frame. Upon commission, my paintings can be hung in an aluminum frame or an aluminum-and-wood frame typically using either walnut, pine, spruce, fir, or mahogany. These frames are each custom-crafted and are priced accordingly, but they beautifully present the paintings and for that reason, I think they are worth it. You can see examples of these frames at this link.
Series = regardless of the size or subject matter, I can also complete a commission for a series. For example, a 2-part (diptych) or 3-part (triptych) set of paintings that are linked by a common composition, subject matter, shape, or dimension. For example, you might want a series of florals or a landscape of a scene during different seasons or daylight hours.
Still unsure about the process? Have the seed of an idea? Know of a person or corporate customer that might be seeking an addition to their collection? Just reach out and let’s discuss.
For each commission, I work with you to understand what you want to do. Do you have specific scene or photo you want to capture in oil? Do you like a specific place or geography or subject matter, but don’t have a specific scene in mind?
To facilitate the commission process, I always recommend that the customer send a few photos or words to give me a sense of what the vision is, and critically, where you hope to present the painting. After I review what you share, we’ll discuss my observations before confirming with you which photo, topic, scene, or place will be the focus of the commission.
Given where you think you will present the painting, we’ll also discuss the dimensions of the painting, the type of backing (usually either wood panel or canvas), and whether you’d like it delivered in a custom-made frame (see below) or unframed.
After I begin the actual painting, I’ll show you my progress at least once more, make adjustments as necessary, and then treat the painting as complete. Paintings are treated as final once I deliver them to you.
Typically, if a commission uses a source photo, the painting might diverge in a few, often subtle, ways. This is normal and what the artistic process is all about. I might, for example, adjust colors, remove an object in the background, or adjust the composition to fit the size and orientation of the canvas. This is the part of the process where you place your faith in me, as the artist, to do my best and craft something that gives you joy. When you release yourself to the artistic process, you’ll often be surprised by how much you like the end result, even if you couldn’t have described beforehand specific details you might want in the piece.
What makes a good source photo for a commission? Here are a few tips to consider, but don’t let the fact that you don’t have a perfect source photo be a hang-up. We can work with what you have.
good lighting
higher resolution
ability to clearly distinguish a foreground focus, person, or object from the background environment
uncluttered background
reasonably close-up (if a portrait or still life) or expansive (if a landscape or scene of activity)
Email me at: monaknelson (a) gmail dot com
CALL: (218) 349 - 4971
