How to Commission a Portrait: What to Expect from First Contact to Finished Work
Commissioning a portrait is something most people do only once or twice in a lifetime, so it's natural not to know how the process works. The good news is that a well-run commission is a guided, collaborative experience — you are not expected to arrive knowing the answers. This is a walk through what actually happens, from the first conversation to the moment a finished, framed portrait arrives.
How does a portrait commission begin?
It begins with a conversation, not a transaction. The first step is simply talking through who you'd like portrayed and why — a spouse, a parent, a child, someone you've lost, or yourself. This conversation establishes the heart of the piece: who the person is, what they mean to you, and the feeling you hope the portrait will hold. From there, practical questions follow naturally — the size, the medium, and the timeline — but the meaning comes first, because that is what a portrait is ultimately built around.
What kind of reference photos work best?
The strongest portraits come from strong references. Ideally, that means clear, well-lit photographs that show the subject's features honestly — natural light is far better than harsh flash, and a relaxed, characteristic expression is better than a stiff, posed one. More than one image is helpful: a primary photo for the likeness, plus a few others that capture the person's spirit, posture, or the way they typically hold themselves. When older or lower-quality photos are all that exist — as is often the case for memorial portraits — they can still work; the conversation simply becomes more important in filling out the person behind the image.
What happens during the creation of the portrait?
Once the subject, medium, and size are settled, the work begins by hand. Each portrait is drawn or painted entirely by the artist using archival materials on museum-grade paper — graphite, charcoal, sanguine, or watercolor depending on what suits the piece. This stage takes time, because hand-executed work cannot be rushed without showing it. Depending on the arrangement, you may see progress along the way or simply trust the process to a finished reveal. Either way, the portrait is being built decision by decision, mark by mark, toward a single original work.
How long does a commissioned portrait take?
Timelines vary with size, medium, and complexity, and with how many commissions are already in progress, since only a limited number are accepted at a time. A portrait is not a same-week purchase; it is a considered piece of work, and most collectors find the wait is part of what makes the finished result meaningful. A realistic timeline is set and agreed upon at the start, so you always know what to expect.
How is the finished portrait delivered?
The completed work is fixed and protected for longevity, and framing is included so the piece arrives ready to display and built to last. A finished commission is not just an image of someone you love — it is a permanent, one-of-a-kind object made to be kept and, in time, passed down.
What does it cost to commission a portrait?
Private commissions begin at a baseline investment and increase with the size and complexity of the work. Because each piece is bespoke, exact pricing is matched to what you have in mind. Current pricing is shown openly on the commissions page, so you can see where a piece would fall before reaching out.
If you'd like to begin, you can view available work on the portrait commissions page, learn about the step-by-step private commissions process, and read more about the materials behind each piece and why an original portrait endures in the related articles in this series (Are Hand-Drawn Portraits Worth It? and Understanding Fine Art Portrait Media).
Frequently asked questions
Do I need professional photos to commission a portrait?
No. Clear, well-lit photos are ideal, but older or imperfect images can work — especially for memorial portraits, where the conversation about the person matters as much as the reference.
How far in advance should I commission a portrait?
Because only a limited number of commissions are accepted at once and the work takes time, it's best to begin well ahead of any date you have in mind, such as an anniversary or gift occasion.
Is framing included?
Yes. Finished commissions are delivered framed and ready to display.
Is the portrait an original?
Always. Every commission is a single, hand-executed original on archival paper — never a print, never AI.
