Art
You’re scrolling through an artist’s portfolio, and something stops you. The way they handle light, or the looseness of a brushstroke. You kick off a conversation, and a few weeks later, you’re looking at a portrait of your family through the eyes of an artist for the first time. The family portrait has evolved, and the homes that tell the story of the people who live there tend to have original art on the walls. But even more specifically, commissioned art that was made for them, by an artist who knew exactly who they were making it for.
What Do You Mean I Can Commission a Portrait?
If you’ve done a family photo session, you’re familiar with the coordinated outfits, hour of golden light, and folder of photos you have to get around to printing and hanging. Those photographs may be beautiful, but they probably don’t capture who your family truly is. That’s where a commission comes in.
Commissioning art is a creative experience that gives you the chance to work alongside an artist to create a wholly unique artwork. It starts simply—find an artist whose work speaks to you, start a dialogue, and share a few reference photos. From there, the artist takes what you’ve given them and runs with it. The best commissions are collaborations. You’re part of the process, and you’re trusting someone to see your family in a way you might not have imagined yourself.
Pick A Medium, Any Medium
The freedom to create a unique keepsake is part of the fun of commissioning art. You can choose virtually any medium, but here are a few curator-recommended places to start.
A portrait completed by Saatchi Art artist Darren Thompson
Painting
Long before the family photo session existed, there was the family portrait painting. A traditional oil on canvas, passed down through generations. Painting is the original way families preserved their likeness, and it’s still one of the most compelling. But as the medium evolved, the range of what’s possible has expanded dramatically.
The brief can be as specific or as open as you want. Paint us the way we feel on a Sunday morning. My family has hiked this trail every summer for fifteen years—put us there. Here’s what we look like, here’s what we love—do something with that. The portrait doesn’t have to be your family standing still. It can be your family in the middle of the life you actually live, or in a scene straight out of your imagination.
Sculpture
A figurative bust or a more abstract interpretation of form, sculpture may be the most unexpected choice, which is exactly what makes it worth considering. Sculpture is the medium of permanence—it holds your family’s story in physical form. While it may take longer to craft than other mediums, you’ll get an artwork that becomes an heirloom.
A surreal photography commission completed by Saatchi Art artist Christoffer Relander
Photography
Commercial portrait photography and fine art photography are not the same thing, and this distinction will help you find a photographer who can craft a one-of-a-kind image.
A commercial portrait session is often pre-packaged. It yields many photos that look the same across families. A fine art photographic commission starts from an entirely different brief: make an image with a distinct point of view about your family. The photographer brings that vision to every decision, and the result is typically a limited-edition archival print, signed and numbered.
Commission a Portait
Eight weeks from now, you could have a portrait on the wall that makes people stop and ask about it. If you’re not sure where to start, try speaking with Saatchi Art’s Art Advisory. It’s a free, personalized service that helps you find the right artist and guides you from the first conversation to finished work.