Landscape Commissions
Jenny Lake. Every time I look at this painting, I’m reminded of the amazing trip my family and i took to jackson hole, wyoming. This was my college graduation trip, and i told my parents that i wanted to go to the midwest and do all the outdoorsy things like white water rafting and horse back riding. one day we went hiking in the grand teton national park, and that is where a snapped the reference photo for this painting. I didn’t paint this until several years later, but now it hangs in my living room as a meaningful art piece attached to very Special memories.
Why are commissions special?
Commissioned paintings are a great way to tell your story with your home decor. Having a painting of a place you’ve actually been to, and maybe even took the reference photo for, adds such significance to the piece. Landscape paintings in general are very calm and peaceful in my opinion, and using these to preserve memories of a favorite place or vacation only adds to the beauty. I know I’m a sentimental person, but I love surrounding myself with personal, customized, and handmade things. They bring me joy every day when I see them. Commissioned paintings are just one way to personalize your home, and I love getting to be a part of that process for other people.
The painting process
Out of all the art that I create, landscape commissions are unique in several ways. They are generally some of my largest paintings, and also some of the most detailed. I try to include everything that I can from the reference photo, but sometimes I will eliminate unnecessary things, like the side of a structure that is blocking the view of the scenery behind it. These paintings also have several layers. I start with the underpainting, which is usually varying shades of the same color. Then I will block in sections of color, and lastly I will add all of the details. For all of these reasons, landscape paintings are pretty time consuming. A larger painting can take several months to finish.
Things to consider
Before you commission a painting, there are a few things to think about. It is important to measure your available wall space and figure out what size painting would look best there. You can also use masking tape and paper to test out different dimensions on the wall. The color scheme of your room is also important to consider. For example, if you have navy blue curtains, you might not want to hang a painting right next to them that is primarily aqua blue. The two blues will clash, and then, if you’re like me, it will bug you until you buy new curtains. If you do not have a specific reference photo in mind but would still like to commission a unique painting, you could simply think about the type of landscape you want painted (beach, mountains, forest) and over all feeling you want the painting to evoke.
How to get started
If you would like learn more about how to commission a painting, feel free to reach out to me via email, or click here to receive a custom quote for your specific commission inquiry. Also, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter (at the bottom of this page) to be the first to know when commission slots are open!