Commissions
The Process Explained
Featured Commission
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Featured Commission . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
Veda in Starlight
Mixed media: watercolour, pencil crayon, faux gold foil.
25 hours. 9 x 12 inches. 2025.
Thank you for your interest in hiring me for a commission!
On this page, you will find a step-by-step breakdown of my commissions process.
The Commission Process in Six Steps
To hire me for a commission, I have created this outline for what steps to expect in the commission hiring, creation and delivery process.
Step One:
First, consider what you would like your commission subject to be.
Would you like a reimagining of a special day, such as a wedding or engagement?
A portrait of a beloved family member to admire, like after a child's recent birth?
A memorial for a dear pet to cherish so they can be with you from across the rainbow bridge?
An epic scene of an original character brought to life, bursting with action?
Or perhaps there’s something else you want me to help you bring forth into existence…
Once you have decided on the subject, you can move on to step two.
Step Two:
Secondly, consider the media you want your commission created in.
Currently, I offer certain media only:
Option One:
Traditional pieces all made in various mixed media, including watercolour, gouache, pencil crayons, alcohol markers, fine liners, and wax pastels.
Option Two:
Digital pieces made in Procreate that capture my mixed-media style with computer graphics.
Whether you choose traditional or digital, you will find that my style takes artistic liberties and may not recreate your references one-for-one.
Still, I strive to ensure that when you see the final piece, you instantly know that your person, furbaby, or special memory was recreated with love and care and resembles them almost exactly as you remember them.
Option One: Traditional Mixed Media
Watercolour is a versatile medium that can achieve remarkable realism when needed, or beautiful textured backgrounds that give your piece magnificent life. In combination with pencil crayons, I can achieve a high level of detail that you otherwise might not see in watercolour alone.
Illustration using alcohol markers, gouache, pencil crayons, wax pastels, and oil pastels; avoids a realist aesthetic while capitalizing on imaginative charm. Illustration is great for capturing how you felt in the moment, allowing you to look back in time in a way that photos or even realism can't.
Often, our memories lose their crisp details, but we can always remember the emotions that affect us for life. With the mixed-media illustration in this option, you can create a one-of-a-kind piece of art that helps you remember cherished life moments in a way that reflects their spirit and soul.
A major con of this option, however, is the time required. This option often involves intense focus and dedication to tedious replication. The trade-off of selecting this option is that you can expect a slower turnaround. However, good things take time, so you can rest assured the wait will be well worth it.
Option Two: Digital Paintings
Digital painting is a powerful and flexible medium that brings together the best of many worlds: the precision of drawing, the expressive energy of paint, and the adaptability of modern tools.
Unlike traditional materials, which can only be layered so many times before the paper begins to buckle or the pigments start to muddy, digital painting gives me the freedom to build luminous colour, intricate line work, and delicate texture without limitation.
The final artwork can be delivered in multiple file formats, printed in various sizes*, and even reprinted* in the future if you ever want duplicates for loved ones. This makes digital commissions an excellent choice for gifts, memorial pieces, and personal keepsakes alike.
While digital painting offers many strengths, there are considerations to keep in mind. Digital art does not produce a single, tangible original in the way watercolour or mixed-media pieces do; its “original” exists as a digital file, and the physical versions require printing. And while my digital paintings can take much less time than a traditional piece, the artistic labour itself remains intensive; the convenience comes from flexibility, not from shortcuts.
The emotional weight of digital art is every bit as real, but the process is different, and clients who love the sensory romance of traditional art should be mindful that digital pieces feel smoother and cleaner by nature.
If you value vivid colours, refined detail, creative storytelling, or the ability to print your piece in multiple forms, a digital painting may be the ideal choice for you.
Note:
All digital paintings can be printed during the commission process or at a later date.
All costs associated with printing and shipping physical prints to the client’s chosen shipping address remain the client's sole responsibility.
Once you have chosen your desired medium, then you can proceed to step three.
Step Three:
Step three is all about communication.
Once you’ve emailed me with your interest in a commission, our partnership begins!
Over email, we can discuss your desires and needs for your commission. I will ask you clarifying questions, request references, give opinions, and describe options. Sometimes, I may request to schedule a video call with you if I think a face-to-face discussion may help me better understand your vision.
After that, I get to work on planning your digital mock-up. This mock-up may go through a series of back-and-forths until we both agree on the plan. Once the mock-up is finalized, the 50% “good faith” deposit will be expected for any work to proceed. Based on the digital mock-up, I can provide an estimate of the time required to create your commission and the associated costs.
While the consultation before the digital mock-up is 100% free, the time spent on the creation of your mock-up will be considered in the final cost of production.
Once step three is complete, physical production begins in the next step, step four.
Step Four:
Step four requires patience.
During this step, most communication is quiet while I focus on creating your one-of-a-kind commission.
Because art often goes through an “ugly phase” in its creation, I prefer to shield my clients from in-progress updates unless necessary. I will only show you progress photos if I need your opinion on something or wish to suggest a change to the plan.
During this step, enjoy the journey and look forward to the weeks ahead when your commission is completed.
Which leads us to step five…
Step Five:
Step five marks the point when the commission process is almost complete.
At this step, I will reach out to show you the finished piece via video call. From here, you may request changes, and I will do my best to provide them. All remediation is charged at a per-hour rate.
Once the client deemed the piece officially finished, I proceeded to get professional scans done if the piece is in traditional media, and to send you a watermarked image if it is digital.
At this point, final costs will be calculated, and you will receive your final invoice. Additionally, the final estimated cost (50% +/-) will be requested. Only after the final payment has been processed will your commission be shipped. Tracking information for your shipped piece and an estimated arrival time will be provided as soon as possible.
The next step is the final step, step six.
Step Six:
Step six brings us to the very end of the commission process.
All that remains is for you to receive your commissioned piece in the mail or via email, and if you wish, to also leave me a review!
I also encourage all my clients to share their commissions on social media and, if possible, tag me in their posts.
