How to commission a painting as a gift
Start with what the recipient would recognise. A chipped yellow bowl on a kitchen table can give an artist a clearer starting point than a request for “something nostalgic.”
Decide what stays a surprise
Would the recipient enjoy choosing the palette or would that spoil the gift? For a surprise, describe one visual detail that matters and the decisions the artist can make. For a shared gift, invite the recipient to help write the brief before choosing the surface or scale.
Give each reference a purpose
A photograph of a garden in winter might show the shape of the path, while a summer picture holds the colour you remember. Explain what each contributes. If the painting will hang in a known room, add the available wall dimensions, including space for a frame. The Lab’s available reference and wall options depend on your tier.
Separate the occasion from delivery
Tell the studio both the occasion date and the date the work would need to arrive. Ask about artist availability, drying, framing, packing and transit before making a promise to the recipient. If timing matters more than making a new piece, ask about a finished work.
Save the brief and start the conversation
In the painting Lab you can leave the composition to the artist or choose more of the details yourself. The brief stays in your browser. Download it or save a PDF and email it with the files you want to share. The house finds a suitable artist and discusses timing and price with you.