Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Ordering Custom Art (And How to Get It Right)

Commissioning custom artwork isn’t just about picking colors and telling an artist to “make it look cool.” You’re not ordering a pizza. You're initiating a creative transaction — and unless you handle it with clarity, precision, and realistic expectations, you’re going to end up with a piece that misses the mark, costs too much, or takes twice as long as promised.

We’ve seen it all — vague briefs, misaligned expectations, ignored file specs, missed delivery windows, and amateur-hour mistakes that could’ve been avoided with 10 minutes of upfront thinking.

If you’re spending actual money on a commissioned art, you deserve to get what you actually want. Not what the artist guesses you meant.

This isn’t just a list of “5 mistakes.” This is a call-out. A short, technical playbook to make sure your custom art order doesn’t crash and burn.

We’re not going to talk to you like a hobbyist. This is for someone who’s serious about getting a piece that looks good, fits the space, matches the brief, and gets delivered on spec.

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:

• How to write a brief that doesn’t suck (and what details matter)

• Why trusting your gut on style is better than crowd-sourcing opinions

• How to avoid timeline blowouts and last-minute surprises

• The biggest communication gap between buyers and artists (and how to fix it)

• The exact file specs and prep steps pros don’t tell you unless you ask

If you're planning to commission custom wall art, personalized paintings, or original artwork, this guide will save you time, money, and rework.

Now let’s fix the five biggest screw-ups most people make.

Commissioning custom art? Avoid these 5 rookie mistakes. Get clarity, manage timelines, and brief your artist the right way.

Mistake #1: Sending a Vague, Half-Baked Brief and Hoping for the Best

You want custom art that looks exactly how you see it in your head… but you give the artist two sentences, a blurry screenshot, and the words: “Just do your thing, I trust you.”

That’s not trust. That’s laziness. And it’s the fastest way to waste your money.

Here’s What Happens When You’re Not Clear:

• You get the wrong size, wrong composition, and off-color tones that don't match your space.

• The artist either improvises or chases you down for clarification — eating into production time.

• You spend more time in revisions than you would’ve writing the right brief up front.

Be Precise or Be Disappointed

The people who get exactly what they want from commissioned art come in with clarity — not confusion. That doesn’t mean writing a novel. It means giving the artist exactly what they need to do their job.

Here’s what goes into a tight brief:

• Subject: Person, pet, landscape, abstract? Say it outright.

• Color palette: Warm, cool, grayscale? Reference tones, not random adjectives.

• Orientation: Portrait or landscape format?

• Dimensions: Say it in inches or centimeters. Not “big enough for the wall.”

• Reference images: Not optional. Grab screenshots. Upload PDFs. Show past works you like.

• Purpose: Is this for a nursery, a client lobby, or a personal gift? It matters.

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Mistake #2: Hiring an Artist Without Looking at Their Portfolio (This One Burns Everyone)

Let’s say it loud for the people in the back:

If you order a custom art commission without thoroughly reviewing the artist’s portfolio, you’re not commissioning — you’re gambling.

Most people don’t do the basic work. They pick someone off online because “they seem talented” or “their pricing looks fair.” Then they act shocked when the final piece doesn’t match what they had in mind.

That’s on you.

Style Match Is Not Optional

Every artist has a specific hand. You can’t hire someone who paints soft watercolors and expect bold, graphic realism. That’s like hiring a blues guitarist to play metal at your wedding.

Here’s what to look for in an artist portfolio:

• Consistent style — Is it abstract? Photorealistic? Impressionist? Minimalist? Mixed media?

• Color sensibility — Do they work with muted earth tones or vibrant, saturated color?

• Subject matter — Do they handle human faces well? How do they treat movement? Shadows? Backgrounds?

• Medium and technique — Acrylic, oil, watercolor, digital? Know what medium you're buying.

If it’s not in their portfolio, don’t assume they can or will do it for you.

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Mistake #3: Skipping the Agreement and Hoping Everyone “Just Understands”

Want to know the fastest way to ruin your custom art order?

Skip the paperwork. Assume everything’s “clear.” Exchange a few DMs and send a deposit via PayPal without putting a single thing in writing.

Then watch it fall apart when:

• The timeline gets blown out.

• You ask for revisions and the artist says that wasn’t included.

• The final piece arrives in the wrong size, medium, or finish.

• Or worse — the artist disappears halfway through the project.

If It’s Not in Writing, It Doesn’t Exist

Ordering commissioned artwork is a transaction — not a handshake deal. You need an art commission agreement that spells out the terms clearly, in writing, before money changes hands.

Here’s what goes in a basic but effective custom art contract:

• Client name + Artist name

• Scope: What’s being created? (Subject, size, medium, framing, shipping format)

• Delivery format: Physical or digital? High-res? Framed or rolled?

• Timeline: When’s the first sketch due? Final delivery?

• Payment structure: 50% upfront, 50% on approval? Milestone-based?

• Revisions: How many? What type? Is there a cost for extra edits?

• Copyright and usage: Who owns what? Are commercial rights included?

• Cancellation policy: What happens if either side backs out?

You don’t need legalese. You need clarity. Write it clean in a shared doc or email thread — just make sure it’s acknowledged by both sides. That alone solves 90% of the messes people run into.

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Mistake #4: Ordering the Wrong Size — Because You Didn't Measure Anything

Here’s what people do.

They fall in love with a concept, send the commission request, pay the deposit… then realize at delivery that the piece is either way too small to matter or so oversized it eats the entire wall.

That’s what happens when you skip the logistics.

You’re not just ordering a painting — you’re solving a spatial problem. And if you don’t factor in placement, scale, and lighting, you’ll end up with a piece that looks totally out of place, no matter how beautiful it is.

This Isn’t Guesswork — It’s Math

Here’s what needs to happen before you even brief the artist:

• Measure the wall space where the art will hang. Not “eyeball it.” Use a tape measure.

• Leave 4 to 8 inches of clearance on each side if it’s above furniture.

• Factor in ceiling height — tall ceilings make small art look like a postage stamp.

• Think in ratios — art should take up 60–75% of available wall width, especially in living spaces.

• Think about orientation — vertical for narrow spaces, horizontal for wide walls.

If it’s going above a couch or bed, get real with these numbers:

• Couch 84" wide? You want artwork that’s 50" to 60" wide.

• Bed 60" wide? Shoot for something in the 40"–48" range.

No more guessing. No more squinting at blank walls wondering why it looks off.

Medium Matters, Too

Don’t just think about size — think about the medium. A 30x40” canvas in oil paint has a totally different presence than a 30x40” minimalist line drawing on paper.

So when you're specifying dimensions, ask yourself:

• Will this be framed or unframed?

• Rolled canvas or gallery wrap?

• Hanging solo or as part of a set?

Your brief should spell this out. And your artist should confirm that their custom painting dimensions include space for mounting or framing, if needed.

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Mistake #5: Rushing the Artist Like You’re Ordering Takeout

You want quality, originality, attention to detail... and you want it in 3 days?

That’s not how commissioned art works.

Custom art isn’t some mass-produced print sitting on a shelf. It’s a one-off, built from scratch. And the people who push for ultra-fast turnarounds end up with one of two things:

1. Something rushed and sloppy.

2. A refund because the artist bails.

Here's Why Rushing Fails Every Time

Creating custom artwork isn’t just about putting brush to canvas. It’s about:

• Concept development

• Sketch approvals

• Layering and drying (especially in oil or acrylic)

• Revisions (if they’re even included)

• Finishing touches and protective coatings

• Packaging, shipping, or file formatting

If you don’t build in the right commission lead time, you’re stacking problems.

Rule of thumb:

A serious custom art takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on complexity, size, medium, and the artist’s queue.

If you’re ordering something larger or hyper-detailed? You might be looking at 6–10 weeks minimum.

What You Should Ask Before You Commit

Don’t assume. Ask:

• “What’s your current turnaround time for a piece this size?”

• “Do you provide process milestones?”

• “Is there a specific window for revisions?”

• “Are you juggling other commissions right now?”

These are not awkward questions. They’re standard protocol in any art commission timeline conversation.

And if you’re ordering for a birthday, anniversary, or event — spell that out early. You’ll save both sides a headache.

How to Set a Smart Timeline Without Sounding Pushy

You can be time-aware without being unreasonable. Here's the phrasing:

“I’d love to have this in-hand by [specific date]. Can you let me know if that’s realistic based on your process?”

That puts the ball in the artist’s court — no pressure, no assumptions, no ambiguity. It also gives them a chance to quote properly based on actual project duration.

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FAQs

How long does a commissioned art piece usually take?

It depends on the size, medium, and detail level, but most custom art commissions take 2 to 6 weeks. Large-scale pieces, oil-based works, or high-detail portraits can push that to 8–10 weeks. The best answer? Ask the artist for their turnaround time based on your exact request.

What should I include in my art brief?

A real brief isn’t fancy — it’s just clear. You need:

• Subject

• Size (in exact inches or cm)

• Color palette preferences

• Orientation (portrait vs. landscape)

• References (images, links, swatches)

• Framing or finish expectations This is standard for art commission requirements. Put it in writing — no assumptions.

How much should I expect to pay for custom artwork?

Rates vary by artist, medium, and complexity. A small piece may start around $150–$300, while large or high-detail pieces can run $1,000+. The artist’s time, materials, and reputation factor in. Don’t shop custom if you’re pricing against mass-produced prints.

Do I need to sign a contract for a commissioned piece?

Yes — or at least a written agreement with clearly defined commission terms. It should include scope, price, timeline, revision policy, and payment schedule. Verbal deals lead to confusion. Written deals protect both sides.

Who owns the copyright once I buy the artwork?

In most cases, you own the physical piece — but not the copyright. The artist usually retains reproduction rights unless you pay for full commercial usage. If this matters for your use case, clarify it in the agreement up front.

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Ready to Commission a Piece That’s Actually Done Right?

You’ve just read what most buyers learn too late — the 5 biggest mistakes that kill custom art projects before they even begin.

You’ve got the checklist. You’ve got the playbook. Now skip the guessing and get a piece that matches the vision in your head.

If you’re serious about getting custom art done right — with zero ambiguity — go see what we do at Minerva Art Studio.

We don’t do rushed timelines. We don’t wing it. You get real clarity, real communication, and a finished piece you won’t have to apologize for.

→ Commission your piece the right way. Start here.

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