Five Questions to Ask Before Commissioning a Portrait

Commissioning a portrait is not like buying a print. It involves a relationship — a conversation between what you want, what your photographs can provide, and what the artist can make from both. Before beginning, there are five questions worth sitting with.

1. Who is this for?

The answer changes everything. A painting for yourself is different from a painting as a gift. A painting intended to hang above a fireplace in a formal sitting room is different from one intended for a bedroom. Understanding who the painting is for — and what it needs to do — is the foundation of a successful commission.

2. What do you want to feel when you look at it?

Not what you want it to look like. What you want to feel. Warmth? Solemnity? Pride? Intimacy? These emotional qualities drive decisions about style, palette, and composition far more than any reference image can.

3. Do you have the right photographs?

As we discuss elsewhere in this journal, the photograph is the starting point for a painting — not the destination. But some photographs are more useful than others. Natural light, a genuine expression, and reasonable resolution are the basics. Think about what images exist that show your subject as they truly are.

4. What size feels right for the space?

Size is often underestimated. A painting that is too small for its wall disappears. A painting that is too large overwhelms. If you are unsure, we are happy to discuss proportions and make recommendations based on the dimensions of the intended space.

5. Are you ready to be patient?

A quality oil commission takes time. Six weeks at minimum; twelve weeks or more for larger or more complex works. This is not a delay — it is the work. If you need something quickly, we will tell you honestly whether it is possible. If patience is available, the result will be worth it every time.