Commissioned Artwork: bespoke wall art
What does ‘commissioned artwork’ or ‘commissioning an artist’ mean?
When you commission an artist to make a bespoke painting for your home, or for a corporate environment, it gives you the opportunity to acquire a custom-made artwork that fits perfectly into your space.
Would you love to have a painting made especially for you?
Get in touch and let’s discuss the size of the wall art you want, your budget, and agree the time frame for the work to be completed. Colour schemes may well be discussed and consideration given to the space where you want the painting to hang. Alternatively, you may want to give Michelle free rein, within your budget.
When you commission Michelle to make an abstract painting for you, she will make sure to keep you informed about the process to the degree that you desire. A deposit is required upfront, with the balance paid on completion.
A Selection Of Previous Commissioned Art Work
The Moment Blooms
Taking a line from a Danna Faulds poem as inspiration for this commission, which was to paint a 100 x 100cm picture that gives a sense of feminine strength, beauty and a connection to the earth.
“Thank you thank you so much for all you have brought with your beautiful work.
I am beyond delighted – The Moment Blooms is the perfect title!”
- Jan
Acetabulum: commercial site-specific art commission
Acetabulum, which means ‘hip socket’ in Latin, is a site-specific artwork commissioned by a Brighton yoga studio. It was made to cover a hole or hatch between rooms, and so had to be on sturdy board that could be screwed to the wall. Michelle had free rein on the design. She chose a palette of turquoises, pastel blues and greens to help create a tranquil environment. The idea of showing an abstracted hip socket evolved out of the painting process.
Acetabulum, 2012, acrylic on board, 103cm x 136cm
Site specific commission for a Brighton yoga studio
Prabashvara: art commission for Satipanya Retreat Centre
The brief for this painting, commissioned by Satipanya Retreat Centre, was to create an image that alluded to the five colours emanating from the historical Buddha at the time of his awakening, and to depict the Dhamma (‘teachings’) spreading across the globe.
Prabashvara (‘essence of light’) is said to be, as Michelle understands it, the term for the Buddha’s aura and the denotation for these five particular colours mixed together. She thought this was a good visual metaphor for the Dhamma spreading across the world - changing but always containing the same essence.
This is how she interpreted this brief, ‘you have the five colours, as portrayed on Buddhist flags which are the colours associated with the Buddha’s aura at enlightenment. The bottom half of the painting is orange to represent the Theravada (‘School of the Elders’), which is the tradition in which Satipanya is rooted. The five colours lie individually at the heart of the painting. The top section is a mix of all the colours, which represents Prabashvara and the various ways the Dhamma has spread and been interpreted and spread over time’.
Prabashvara, 70cm x 70cm, acrylic on canvas, site-specific commission for a Satipanya Retreat Centre.
Equipoise: site-specific art commission for a UK home
A site-specific commission where Michelle worked with the client to choose the size and colours of the commissioned painting, which would hang opposite another painting of mine, Rima.
The brief was to make a black and red oil painting in keeping with the style of the Semblance series.
Equipoise, 2017, oil on canvas, 110cm x 110cm
Equipoise and Rima in situ
Rapture: art commission for a local collector
Rapture was commissioned by a local collector who wanted something colourful and sensual. A budget and painting dimensions were agreed. The colours and design of the painting were left up to the artist
Rapture, oil on canvas, 42cm x 60cm, private commission for a collector
Rapture in situ
Stage set for Vessel
The Sue MacLaine Company needed a mobile stage set for the show ‘Vessel’ in order to take it to the Edinburgh Festival. Sue asked Michelle to paint this, following the guidance of the set designer and her team, who supplied materials and prepared the area.
Stage set for Vessel by Sue Maclaine Company, performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019, designed by Ben Pacey, painted by Michelle Cobbin