What Really Happens When You Commission a Painting

Hey, hello there, friend!

Commissioning a painting isn’t just placing an order. It’s a conversation. It’s collaboration. It’s trust. Over the years I’ve created so many custom pieces, and what fascinates me is that no two are ever alike. Even when someone asks for a similar theme, the outcome is always deeply personal. Nothing is random in a commission. Every detail has intention.

Let me walk you through a few stories.

A Day in Manhattan Beach

Katja found me on Google. She’s from Germany, studied in California years ago, and was back on vacation when she booked a visit to my studio.

She fell in love with one of the paintings I had hanging on the studio wall see photo below, right side). But when she told me about her space at home, we both knew one piece wouldn’t be enough. Her wall was large, and her story deserved more.

So we met a few times. We talked about her life here, what Manhattan Beach meant to her, what time of day she felt most connected to. That’s how the idea was born: morning, sunset, and night. A full day in Manhattan Beach across her wall.

We added her dog. Her surfboard. Personal touches that only she would recognize. Now when she looks at that wall, she doesn’t just see waves. She sees her story from sunrise to moonlight. That’s what a commission becomes. She recently commissioned another piece for a very special occasion too.

A Home That Held 30 Years

Erin reached out because her parents had just moved out of the home they lived in for over 30 years. She wanted to preserve it in a large painting.

She sent me photos and described the road, the light, the trees, the feeling of growing up there. We talked about what details mattered most. It wasn’t just about architecture. It was about memory.

When the painting was finished, it became one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever been part of. A house can be sold. But the meaning of it doesn’t have to disappear.

The Lion

Lisa, a Hermosa Beach local, asked me to paint the head of a lion to honor her husband.

It was symbolic. Strong. Grounded. Protective.

Creating that piece required sensitivity and power at the same time. Later she came back for another meaningful commission, which to me says everything. When someone returns, it means the experience mattered just as much as the final painting.

Love at the Shore

Marcelle has been collecting my work since the beginning of my career.

Later she found the love of her life, and she wanted a painting of the two of them walking toward the sunset in Redondo Beach. We discussed their posture, their clothing, how they naturally stand next to each other. I studied reference photos to capture their energy.

That’s the difference with custom work. It’s not about copying a photo. It’s about translating a feeling into my visual language. Nothing in a commission piece is accidental.

Signature Meets Legacy

The Sea Sprite Hotel commissioned a series of paintings for their space. One in particular combined my signature wave with their historic logo and the hotel building in the background.

It felt aligned. My style, their legacy.

Custom art isn’t just for homes. It can become part of a brand’s identity, part of the experience guests remember when they walk into a space.

When Size Matters

Molly loved my moon and waves series, but she couldn’t find the perfect size. She also wanted warmer, golden tones.

This happens more often than people think. A collector falls in love with a concept, but it needs to fit their space

and their vision. So we created a version specifically for her, adjusted in scale and energy, while still remaining uniquely original.

Sometimes it’s about starting from scratch. Sometimes it’s about evolving an existing idea into something made just for you.

Fenway Under the Lights

Christopher lives in Boston but loves spending time in the South Bay. He asked me to create a large painting so he could remember his favorite concert at Fenway Park.

I’ll be honest, this was outside my comfort zone.Which is exactly why I said yes.

We planned carefully. I researched the stadium, the lighting. I added details from the show he attended so it wouldn’t just be a stadium painting, but his memory of that night.

After that, he ordered a large print of my Hermosa Beach Pier. Then more commissions.

Commissions stretch me as an artist. And I love that.

Nature in the Bedroom

Denise and Randy have been collecting my work for years. When they decided to replace a long-time painting in their bedroom, they reached out.

We created a large, round forest scene. Soft, immersive, almost like you could hear the wind moving through the trees.

That’s what happens when art is made intentionally for a space. It doesn’t just decorate a room. It changes how the room feels.

A Surprise Gift

Jonny wanted to surprise his family after they moved to New Mexico. They are singers, and he had a specific vision in mind.

We reviewed reference photos and talked through composition and symbolism. The final piece felt intimate and celebratory at the same time.

There is something powerful about giving someone a painting that was created specifically for them.

Alright, these are just a few stories among many. What I love most about commissions isn’t only bringing your vision to life. It’s the challenge. The growth. Taking your idea and translating it through my signature style.

It’s collaborative, personal, and exclusive. To be honest, I beleive a commission is the most luxurious experience I offer because it is completely yours.

If you have a wall waiting. If you have a memory that deserves permanence. If you’ve been thinking about it.

Maybe (just maybe ;) this is the moment.

Only a few commission spots are still available. Let’s create something that only you could own.

You can REPLY HERE and tell me what do you have in mind. Let's get this conversation started!

If you want more stores like this, leave it in the comment!

Color Your Life

Drica