My Still Life Commission Process
Charm Bracelet, 2024, 10x8 inches, private collection
If you’ve explored my website lately, you might have noticed something new. I now have a tab where you can submit a proposal for your very own still life commission. I’m excited about this new offering and wanted to take the time to explain my still life commission process and maybe answer a few questions you might have.
1. Why still life commissions?
If you’ve been following my work for the past several years, you have probably seen some of the commissions I’ve done recently. As a still life painter with a focus on vintage objects, I frequently draw on nostalgia in my work. People often see my paintings and unlock something from their own memory bank. Maybe I’ve painted a toy they had as a kid or a coffee mug their grandmother used religiously. Whatever it may be, it often gets them thinking about their own special artifacts and prompts the question, ‘Do you do commissions?’ Nowadays, I enthusiastically answer yes, and we go from there. There’s this idea among artists that commissions take away from what you really want to be doing, but for me, still life commissions are just as creatively stimulating as my studio work. My goal in painting is to capture the sacredness of an object and transform it into something greater, and I can do that with the right object, regardless of where it came from.
2. What is the right object for a still life commission?
My studio work mostly focuses on vintage objects, heirlooms or items that have a worn-in feeling. Sometimes there are animals or other natural elements added to my compositions, but when it comes to objects, I favor old things. Much of what I paint comes from antique malls or estate auctions. When I do still life commissions, however, I am not so much concerned with the age of the object as I am with its significance. If it’s special to you and shows some level of wear, I’ll probably be inspired to paint it. This is why I ask you to describe your object when you inquire about a commission so I can decide if it’s the right fit for me and my style of work. There is no hard and fast rule, so I really have to judge this on a case-by-case basis.
3. What happens after you submit your still life commission inquiry?
If I look over your inquiry and decide your object is a good fit for me and my work, I will contact you and discuss our next steps. This is the point at which we’d talk about the size of the piece you’re commissioning and agree upon pricing. I price my still life commissions based on the number of objects that will be included, as well as the size of the final work. I have a standardized size chart that I use to calculate the cost. We would also discuss the timeline of your still life commission. I want to be sure I have time to deliver the work to you when you want it if it’s a gift for a particular occasion. Knowing your timeline also helps me develop an appropriate payment schedule, which we will agree upon before work begins. I will also need to determine how to get your object. In most cases, I will want the object in my studio so I can properly light and photograph it. Of course, there are instances when that’s not possible, but ideally I’d like to have it if it’s not too large or fragile for transport. Maybe it needs to be shipped to me, or if you’re local, dropped off or picked up. After we have ironed out all the details, I will send over a contract for you to sign. Once we have the agreement set, I can start work on your still life commission.
4. What happens after the still life commission is complete?
When your still life commission is complete, I will pack and ship it to you, assuming you’re not local. The final payment will be due upon receipt of the completed work. Then, it’s yours to enjoy!
I hope this has answered some of your questions about still life commissions and how they work. I am always available via email to answer other questions you may have if you are seriously considering a commissioned piece. It’s always an honor to be asked to paint your most precious objects and I look forward to seeing what I might paint next!