A commission is not the same as buying a painting off the wall. You are asking an artist to make something that does not exist yet, for your room, at your size, in your colours. Done well it fits a space nothing else could. Done for the wrong reason it just adds waiting to a decision you could have finished in an afternoon.
This is our guide to commissioning an original from one of our Vancouver artists: what to send us, how long it takes, how approvals work, what drives the price, and when a ready-made original is the smarter call. At VanArtHub every piece, commissioned or in stock, is an original signed by the artist, never a print or a reproduction.
What to send us before an artist starts
The more specific you are up front, the closer the first draft lands. We ask for five things, and none of them need to be perfect. A rough answer is far better than a blank.
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Wall and size. The width and height of the wall, the furniture below it, and the size of canvas you are picturing. If you are unsure, tell us the space and we will suggest a size.
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Palette. The colours you want and the ones you do not. A photo of the room does most of this work.
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Reference images. Any paintings, places, or moods you like. Two or three saved pictures tell an artist more than a paragraph.
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Budget. A real number or a range. This is not rude to say, it decides size and medium, so it saves everyone time.
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Deadline. The date you need it on the wall, if there is one, plus a note if it is a gift or an event.
Send that to us and we match you to the artist whose current work already looks like what you described. We do not ask a landscape painter to attempt a portrait. Matching the right artist to the brief is the single biggest thing that decides whether a commission goes well, and at VanArtHub we handle that match so you are never chasing an artist directly.
How the timeline works, step by step
A typical commission at VanArtHub runs about 3 to 6 weeks from the approved brief to the piece leaving our Vancouver studio. Larger or more detailed work sits at the longer end. Here is the shape of it.
| Stage |
What happens |
Typical time |
| 1. Brief and match |
You send size, palette, references, budget, and deadline. We match you to the right artist and confirm the price. |
2 to 4 days |
| 2. Deposit and start |
You approve the quote and pay a deposit. The artist blocks in the composition. |
Same week |
| 3. First look |
The artist sends a photo of the early stage or a small colour study for your feedback. |
Week 1 to 2 |
| 4. Painting and revisions |
The work is painted. You get progress photos and can ask for changes while paint is still workable. |
Week 2 to 5 |
| 5. Final approval |
You approve the finished piece from clear photos before it ships. Balance is paid. |
1 to 3 days |
| 6. Ship |
Signed, with a Certificate of Authenticity, packed and shipped free and fully insured. |
Canada 3 to 7, USA 5 to 10 business days |
Treat these as planning figures. If you have a hard date, tell us at stage one and we will only take the commission if the artist can meet it comfortably.
How approvals and revisions work
You are never handed a surprise at the end. The progress photos exist to catch anything early, when a change is easy. Most commissions include a round or two of revisions on colour balance, the amount of detail, or a section that reads too busy. Small adjustments while the paint is still wet are normal.
There are limits, and we would rather be straight about them. Once a piece is fully dry, a large change often means repainting an area, which takes time. And an artist will not copy another living artist's work or force their own style into something it is not. If the direction drifts that far, a different artist is the better match, and we will say so.
What drives the price
Commission pricing follows the same logic as our in-stock originals. Size and medium do most of the work, the artist's market does the rest. A commission is not automatically pricier than a stock piece of the same size, though tight deadlines and heavy detail can add to it.
| Factor |
Effect on price |
| Canvas size |
The biggest single factor. A statement piece over a sofa costs several times a small nook painting. |
| Medium and materials |
Oil, acrylic, mixed media, and the quality of the canvas all shift the cost. |
| Detail and layers |
Highly detailed or heavily layered work takes more studio hours. |
| Artist |
An established artist's time is priced higher than an emerging one's. |
| Deadline |
A rushed date can add a fee if it means reshuffling the studio schedule. |
Across the store, originals run from about $72 for small works to several thousand for large canvases. Commissions sit inside that same range. We confirm the exact figure before any artist lifts a brush, so there is no moving number later.
When a ready-made original is the better call
We will talk you out of a commission when it does not suit you, because a disappointed buyer helps nobody. Choose a ready-made original if you want to see the exact piece before you pay, if your date is inside two weeks, or if you are still figuring out what you like. Browse the Vancouver wall art collection and you may find the thing you were about to describe already painted and ready to ship. A commission is worth the wait when you have a clear picture, an odd size, or a specific palette that nothing in stock quite hits. Every commission is still covered by the protections on our buy with confidence page.
Key things to remember
- Send five things up front: wall size, palette, reference images, a real budget, and your deadline.
- A commission at VanArtHub usually takes about 3 to 6 weeks from approved brief to shipping.
- You approve the direction through progress photos, so revisions happen early while paint is still workable.
- Size and medium set the price, not the fact that it is custom, and we confirm the figure before work starts.
- If you need it fast or want to see it first, a ready-made original is often the smarter choice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a commissioned painting take?
A commission at VanArtHub usually takes about 3 to 6 weeks from the approved brief to the piece leaving our Vancouver studio, plus shipping of 3 to 7 business days in Canada and 5 to 10 in the USA. Larger or more detailed work sits at the longer end. Tell us your deadline first and we only accept it if the artist can meet it.
What information do I need to send to commission a painting?
Send five things: the wall and canvas size, the colours you want, two or three reference images or moods, a real budget or range, and your deadline. None of it needs to be perfect. A rough answer beats a blank one, and it lets us match you to the artist whose current style already fits your brief.
How much does a commissioned painting cost?
Commissions sit in the same range as our in-stock originals, from about $72 for small works to several thousand for large canvases. Size and medium drive the price, with the artist's market and any detail or rush adding to it. We confirm the exact figure before the artist starts, so the number does not move later.
Can I ask for changes while the painting is being made?
Yes. You get progress photos during the work, and most commissions include a round or two of revisions on colour, detail, or balance while the paint is still workable. Small changes early are normal. Once a piece is fully dry and finished, a large change may mean repainting an area, which takes extra time.
What if I do not like the finished commission?
You approve the finished piece from clear photos before it ships, so there is no surprise at the end. After it arrives it is still covered by our 14-day trial: live with it, and if it is wrong send it back within 14 days for a full refund with return shipping paid. The full policy is on our buy with confidence page.
Should I commission a painting or buy one that already exists?
Buy a ready-made original if you want to see the exact piece first, need it within two weeks, or are still deciding what you like. Commission one when you have a clear picture, an unusual size, or a specific palette that nothing in stock hits. Both are original, signed, and shipped free and insured with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Ready to plan yours? Start on our collaborate with artists page, browse ready-to-ship pieces in the Vancouver wall art collection, or return to the Canadian art hub for the full buying guide. If a portrait is what you have in mind, see our guide to Canadian portrait paintings.
