I love painting custom artwork — here’s why it’s the best

UNIQUE ART FOR UNIQUE FOLKS

I love painting commissions — portraits, homes, meaningful places, plants — because custom artwork is always so much more personal. When I paint illustrations just for me, they’re super personal to me and hopefully others can connect to it on a deeper level. But when I make custom artwork for a client to be specific for them, it’s guaranteed to be a meaningful piece of art that they’ll cherish. 

Painting commissions wasn’t always fun for me. A few years ago I vented about these growing pains here. I used to find them stressful because I had a hard time managing deadlines and adding more work into my already full workload. It was hard for me to collaborate creatively with others. It was only after I became a full time artist that I could make adequate time for custom artwork and actually start to enjoy it. Now I love it because I’m able to appreciate the process and the outcomes. 

Because my attitude has changed so drastically, I wanted to write this article to discuss why I love painting commissions and encourage other artists to start offering this service too. 

Creative freedom is a gift

One of the big reasons I started to fall in love with painting commissions is that my clients often give me creative freedom, which makes the whole process super fun.

Usually a client will come to me with a general idea, and before I get to sketching we work out all the kinks and specifics. Who will be in the portrait is the biggest concern for clients. As for the background, sometimes they have a special location or theme that’s necessary to include. Other than that, people normally leave it up to me to decide on general layout, color, and special touches. That way I have some flexibility to stretch my creative muscles and they get to be pleasantly surprised with their piece. 

I want to sidenote for the artists in the room: attracting clients who allow me creative freedom didn’t happen for me until I developed an art style. When folks know what to expect style wise from you, they can trust that whatever you come up with will be something they’ll love because they love everything you make — because they love your style. Consistent visuals leads to clients who trust you, which leads to them allowing you creative freedom! If you want to learn more about art style, check out my blog post on it here. 

Booking custom artwork brings stability

Painting commissions has also afforded me stability in my business. Being an artist or entrepreneur means I don’t earn money based on hours or biweekly paychecks. Some months I make a lot of money. Others I don’t. Print sales go up and down with the holidays, and some items I sell like calendars and cards are seasonal.

But when I book out my custom artwork slots for months in advance, I can count on that income to be steady. It makes budgeting, planning, and bookkeeping a lot easier. The steady rhythm of clients means I can feel safe regardless of the ebbs and flows of other parts of my business.

Personalized art is cherished

Custom artwork is absolutely treasured. The biggest reason I’ve fallen in love with commissions is how sentimental the pieces are for people. I’ve learned this from personal experience. 

My sister hired me this summer to paint a picture of our family cabin. We have property that’s been in our family for four generations now and we’ve hand-built a cabin on it. Naturally it’s our prized possession, and our only real family heirloom. Every year we build upon it more and it’s always an evolving structure. That’s why it felt so special to me to be able to illustrate this place for my sister. I know how much she cherished it because I cherished it too. 

Capturing a meaningful place or face in a piece of custom artwork is priceless. It’s your own one-of-a-kind token to remind you of what you love. Knowing I can provide that feeling for others really makes me sure that I’m doing something good with my talent and time. 

Tools make communication easy

Communicating with clients is easier than ever. This used to be a source of stress for me, but not anymore. Finding clients is easy on the internet and at art shows. Arranging a schedule that works for everyone can be done quickly on a calendar app on your phone or through text. Payment can be processed easily with Cashapp, Square, or on your website. 

I used to think all of this had to be done through email or a “professional” means. But really I’ve learned that most people prefer a casual DM conversation because they’re already on Instagram or TikTok or Pinterest when they think about getting a painting done from you. The simplicity that comes with all these online tools is a huge win. Plus, my clients are always super chill and easy to talk to. 

Special requests stretch your skills

My skills are stretched through painting commissions and making custom artwork. My clients sometimes want me to draw subject matter I never would have ventured into by myself. Specific places, types of people, and certain plants I’ve painted only because they were requested in a commission. I even painted my first cat as part of a portrait! 

As any artist knows, it’s required to always be developing your skills through practice, repetition, and trying new things. And for this I have to thank my clients, who are always giving me cool things to draw and the motivation to get it done. 

All artists can do commissions

Custom artwork has become such a source of pleasure and a regular part of my business these days! I encourage all artists to take a relaxed approach to commissions because if you handle it right, it’ll be a source of joy instead a source of overwhelm. 

If you’d like a custom portrait from me, feel free to DM me on Instagram @carolynwhittico or email me at carolynwhittico@acupofcloudy.com. You can read more about the official commission process on my FAQ page here.