Commissions

In her studio, with a completed commissioned painting for a Colorado collector leaning behind her, Maia turns her attention to a nearly finished commission for a Seattle collector.

Some artists shy away from custom work because they feel it limits their creativity, but I think it’s sometimes quite the opposite. I like to think of a commission piece as a collaborative effort between the artist and the collector. It’s an exercise in communication, and it’s so satisfying to be able to give people exactly what they want or need. After all, it’s an investment that they will hopefully have for the rest of their lives.

I’m often asked to paint a similar motif in a different size or format, and it’s fun to do so. Each piece is unique because I start out with a blank canvas and a brush and never try to copy a work I’ve already done, but rather to capture the same spirit or feeling. I suppose it’s a bit like the way I cook — never measure things, but that doesn’t mean I can’t recreate my favorite dishes, and the resulting subtle differences keep things interesting.

As someone who often walks into a room and mentally rearranges things, I’m not the least bit offended if a client does the same. I often have customers who see a piece that I’ve done, but want a different sky, a water element, or some other change to the composition. It’s fun to revisit a motif and make changes — just look at Monet’s Water Lilies! Again, it’s a bit like cooking… “this is great, but what if you added some lemon zest, or chipotle?” The collaborative element can feed creativity!

One of my favorite things to do is to create pieces that have personal meaning to my collectors. I love to create art that commemorates a trip to Europe, a honeymoon, or a cherished place. These pieces are special to me because they’re so special to the people who commission them. I can easily work from a photograph (even a poor one) and will include some example photos of how I do this. I tweak things, playing with color and composition and staying true to my style, but it’s fun to see the photo and the painting side by side. Please don’t hesitate to contact me about such work.

Inquire About a Commission

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Commissions Gladly Accepted

For over three decades, commissioned paintings have been at the heart of my business. A commission is a collaboration—an opportunity for a collector who loves the energy, color, and movement of my work to have a one-of-a-kind painting created specifically for their space and from their vision.

How It Begins

Every commission starts with a conversation. We talk about the space where the painting will live—its light, its scale, its feeling. We discuss the subjects and themes that resonate with you: a landscape that holds a memory, a place you love, a color palette that speaks to you. My goal is to understand not just what you want to see, but how you want to feel when you walk into the room.

Finding the Right Scale

Scale matters enormously in fine art. A painting should become a unifying focal point in its environment—never too large nor too small for the space. I offer visual mockups and room-fit guidance so you can see how different sizes will look in your room before we commit. You can send a photograph of your space and I will show you how the painting will sit at various scales, helping us arrive at exactly the right presence.

The Painting Process

Once we agree on subject, palette, and size, I begin working. I remain the artist and the maker of the work—every commission is painted in my distinctive style with my full creative commitment. At the same time, this is a collaborative process. If you would like to see the painting as it develops and share your responses, I welcome that dialogue. Some collectors prefer to be surprised; others enjoy being part of the journey. Either approach works beautifully.

Investment

My base price for oil paintings is $3 per square inch. Commissioned paintings are generally priced approximately 15% higher—a nominal fee for the extra time and special effort involved in the collaborative process with the collector. I am happy to discuss pricing during our initial conversation so there are no surprises. Every commissioned work is a unique oil painting, created with the same archival materials and attention I bring to all of my work.

What You Receive

A finished commission is a painting made for you—scaled to your space, rooted in subjects and colors you love, and painted with the full depth and luminosity that define my work. Many of my collectors describe the experience as deeply personal, and the resulting paintings often become the most meaningful pieces in their collections.

If you are interested in commissioning a painting, I would love to hear from you. Please reach out through the website or contact us directly to begin the conversation.

— Maia Leisz