How to Commission
Custom Art

Buying from the catalog is the simplest path. You see a painting you connect with, you buy it, it arrives. But catalog pieces have fixed dimensions, fixed palettes, and fixed compositions. If your wall needs a 36x72-inch horizontal in warm gold and deep navy — and nothing in the catalog matches — a commission is the answer. If you love the texture and energy of Maui but your room calls for cooler tones, a commission lets you keep the spirit and adjust the palette. If you have a very specific space — an arched alcove, a double-height entryway, a wall that demands something no one has painted yet — a commission is the only way to get exactly the right piece.

Beyond size and color, commissions offer something catalog purchases cannot: participation. You are not just receiving art — you are part of its creation. You provide the brief. You see progress photos. You give feedback during early stages. You watch a painting become yours from blank canvas to final layer. Many collectors find the collaborative process deeply satisfying, and the resulting piece carries a personal meaning that an anonymous catalog purchase cannot match. It was not just painted — it was painted for you.

The best commissions start with a clear — but not over-determined — brief. Lei-Kol needs to understand the parameters: the room, the wall, the mood you want the painting to create, the existing furniture and color scheme, the lighting conditions, and any absolute dealbreakers (no red, must have gold, needs to feel calm). She also needs creative freedom within those parameters. The worst commissions are the ones where a client micromanages every color and stroke — that is not painting, it is paint-by-numbers, and it rarely produces good art. Trust the artist you hired. If you have chosen Lei-Kol, it is because you respond to her visual language. Give her the boundaries and then let her speak within them.

Reference images help enormously. Photos of the room, ideally taken in natural light and showing the wall where the painting will hang. Screenshots of any Lei-Kol catalog pieces you are drawn to — even if you do not want an exact copy, they communicate what texture density, color intensity, and compositional style appeal to you. Color samples: paint chips, fabric swatches, a photo of a sunset you loved. Anything that helps translate your idea into something visual. Words alone cannot describe a color; “warm blue” means different things to different people. A photo of the specific blue you mean eliminates ambiguity.

The quality of the brief determines the quality of the result. Here is what serious commissioners provide:

• Room dimensions and wall measurements — width, height, and any architectural features (windows, doorways, molding) that affect the display wall.
• Photos of the room — taken in natural daylight, showing the wall where the painting will hang and the surrounding space so Lei-Kol can understand lighting and context.
• Preferred palette description — specific colors you love and colors you absolutely do not want. References to nature, art, or objects (not just color names) are most effective.
• Catalog references — which existing Lei-Kol paintings you respond to and why. “The texture density of Maui but cooler tones like Waterfalls” is an extremely useful brief.
• Mood and feeling — the emotional quality you want the painting to bring into the room. Calm, energizing, contemplative, dramatic. Abstract art communicates through feeling more than subject.
• Budget range — being upfront about budget helps Lei-Kol recommend the right size and complexity for your project without wasted back-and-forth.

Commission pricing follows the same structure as catalog pricing and depends primarily on size and complexity. As a general guide: small pieces under 30 inches on the longest side range from $999 to $1,499. Medium pieces from 30 to 48 inches range from $1,500 to $2,500. Large statement pieces 48 inches and above range from $2,500 to $3,500 and beyond for oversized or multi-panel projects. These ranges assume a complexity level comparable to existing catalog work. Pieces requiring unusual materials, extreme texture density, or very tight deadlines may carry a premium.

The 50% deposit is non-refundable once work has begun — this is standard for custom commissions across all creative fields, from furniture to fashion to fine art. The deposit covers materials, reserves studio time, and compensates the artist for work invested even if you ultimately cancel. If you cancel before work begins (within 72 hours of deposit), the deposit is fully refundable. If after reviewing the completed piece you are genuinely unsatisfied — and we have followed the process outlined here, with multiple progress checkpoints where adjustments were offered — Lei-Kol will work with you on a resolution. This has never happened, for what it is worth. The collaborative nature of the process, with checkpoints built in, means there are no surprises at the finish line.

You own the physical painting. It is yours to display, keep, gift, or resell. Lei-Kol retains the copyright to the image — meaning she can include photographs of the commissioned work in her portfolio, on her website, and in promotional materials. She will not produce prints, editions, or reproductions of the commissioned image. The painting remains a one-of-a-kind original. This is stated in writing in the commission agreement and on your Certificate of Authenticity.

If you prefer the commission to remain entirely private — no portfolio inclusion, no social media posts, no catalog reference — this can be arranged by mutual agreement. Full privacy typically carries a small premium, reflecting the artist's lost portfolio value. Discuss this during the consultation if it matters to you.