How to Talk to an Artist About a Commission

A commission goes wrong for one reason more than any other: the buyer never said out loud what they actually wanted. The artist guessed, the guess missed, and now everyone is uncomfortable. The good news is that a clear first conversation fixes almost all of this, and it takes about fifteen minutes.

We handle commissions often, so we have watched the same short list of details make or break the result. Here is what to say, what to ask, and where to hold back.

Bring five things to the first conversation

You do not need to know art terms. You need to know your room and your limits. Come with these ready and the artist can start almost right away.

• Wall size. Measure the wall and the furniture below it. Tell us the width and height in inches or centimeters, and note anything the piece has to fit between, like a light switch or a window.
• Budget. Give a real number or a range. This is not rude. It tells the artist what size and medium are possible, and it saves you both from a design you cannot buy.
• Palette. Name the colors already in the room. A photo of the sofa, the rug, and the wall paint tells us more than the word "warm" ever could.
• Reference images. Two or three paintings you love, and one you dislike. The dislike is often the most useful thing you send.
• Deadline. If it is a gift or tied to a move, say the date. If there is no deadline, say that too, because it changes how the artist plans the work.

What is fair to ask for

You are paying for original work, so you get a say in it. It is completely fair to ask for a sketch or a small color study before the artist starts the full painting. It is fair to agree on one or two rounds of revisions on that early sketch, while the idea is still on paper and easy to change. It is fair to ask about the surface, the medium, whether the edges are painted, and whether the piece arrives ready to hang.

Ask how you will see progress. Most artists send a photo or two along the way. Ask what happens if you are not happy at the end. At VanArtHub every original ships with a 14-day trial, so you can live with a finished commission on your own wall and send it back within 14 days for a full refund if it does not fit the room, and we pay the return shipping.

What is not fair to ask

Here is the honest part. Once the artist is painting on canvas, asking for a different composition is not a revision, it is a new commission. Endless changes are not fair either. Two rounds on a sketch is normal. Ten is not, and no artist can work well under it.

Do not ask an artist to copy another living artist's painting. Do not ask for the price of a print when you are buying a one-of-a-kind object that took real hours by a real hand. And try not to art-direct every brushstroke. You picked this artist for their hand, so the smartest thing you can do is trust it. The looseness or the texture you cannot fully control is usually the part you will love most a year later.

Plan for four weeks

A commissioned original is not an overnight thing. For most pieces we quote roughly four weeks from an approved sketch to a finished, dry, packed painting. Oil needs time to dry before it can travel. A larger or more detailed canvas sits at the longer end of that range.

Stage	Rough time
First conversation and quote	1 to 3 days
Sketch or color study, plus your revisions	3 to 7 days
Painting the approved work	2 to 4 weeks
Drying, signing, and packing	3 to 10 days
Shipping (Canada 3 to 7, USA 5 to 10 business days)	within that window

If you need the piece by a fixed date, tell the artist at the start, not halfway through. A rushed painting shows it.

Key takeaways

• Come to the first talk with wall size, budget, palette, reference images, and a deadline.
• Ask for a sketch and one or two rounds of changes on it before the canvas work begins.
• Changing the whole composition after painting starts is a new commission, not a revision.
• Expect roughly four weeks from approved sketch to a packed, dry painting.
• Trust the artist's hand. The parts you cannot fully control are usually the best parts.

If you know what you want on your wall, a good commission is one of the most rewarding ways to buy art. Start by reading how our process works on the guide to commissioning a Canadian painting, then see the ways we collaborate with artists on custom work. If you would rather buy something already finished, browse our Vancouver wall art collection and picture it in the space first.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a commissioned painting take?

Most commissions take about four weeks from an approved sketch to a finished, dry, and packed painting. Larger or more detailed canvases sit at the longer end. Oil paint needs drying time before it can ship safely, so tell the artist any fixed deadline at the very first conversation rather than partway through.

Can I ask for changes during a commission?

Yes, at the right stage. It is normal to request one or two rounds of changes on the early sketch or color study, while the idea is still easy to adjust. Once the artist is painting on canvas, a new composition counts as a new commission, not a revision. Agree on the number of revision rounds up front.

What should I tell the artist before they start?

Bring five things: your wall size with the furniture measurements, a real budget or range, the colors already in your room, two or three reference images of art you like and one you dislike, and any deadline. Photos of the actual space help far more than describing a mood in words.

What if I do not like the finished commission?

Every original from VanArtHub ships with a 14-day trial. You can live with the finished piece on your own wall and, if it does not suit the room, send it back within 14 days for a full refund with return shipping paid by us. A clear first conversation makes this rare, but the option is there.