If you’ve ever wondered how to commission a painting, this is for you!
Room Details: painting commissioned c/o Erin Donahue Tice // rug // sofa // side table {old but newer version here} // lamp // coffee table
I’m not sure if it was her artwork, wardrobe or home that initially caught my eye, but there is one thing I DO know…Erin Donahue Tice has got taste.
Especially when it comes to her paintings. Which I must add, have taken Instagram by storm.
Erin, an Austin based contemporary and abstract artist, has already graced the glossy pages of Luxe Magazine, House Beautiful and Southern Home Magazine and sourced by many prestigious interior designers alike.
So you can imagine my excitement when she offered to paint a custom piece for our living room.
Now that it’s been framed and hung, I thought I’d share how to commission a painting. Commissioning art can sound a little daunting if you’ve never done it before, but it’s actually quite easy and fun if you are working with an established artist.
Erin also agreed to speak about her incredible career journey and disclose a unique perspective and tips about art.
If you’ve ever wanted to flip your career upside down, you will appreciate her tenacity and gumption for just going for it. And if you are a mom, you will especially revel in how she got started.
How To Commission A Painting
When it comes to how to commission a painting, Erin begins with a custom questionnaire for every client. Things like… what are your preferred colors? Do you want horizontal or vertical? Framing preference, size, inspiration, etc. are all determined upfront.
Since our interior designer, Melissa, is knee deep in designing our living room, I asked her to weigh in with her expertise.
Thanks to Erin’s strategic questions, Melissa was able to narrow down a complimentary color scheme and determine the perfect size and placement.
So you can understand how much thought went into this, Melissa put together the above artwork design visual. I found this suuuuper helpful when envisioning everything together. Perks of working with a designer!
From there, Erin took things and ran with it.
What It’s Like Working With Erin
Very rarely do you come across someone who can master art AND the art of business.
One thing that stands out about Erin is her professionalism. From her streamlined process, to prompt response time, all the way to ensuring you love the final outcome, the entire experience makes you feel at ease and confident. She even sends you a video of your painting, making any tweaks a breeze.
Once shipped safely to our home, I immediately marched my canvas down to DuPage Framing. If you live in the Chicagoland area, I HIGHLY recommend them. They do everything in house, which is especially ideal for fine art.
The result? One of the most spectacular items in our home. It’s the FIRST thing you see when you walk through our door. And there’s just something to be said about a REAL commissioned painting. The one of a kind layering, drips and brush strokes truly elevate your space, resulting an editorial finish.
Erin, it’s been a true honor working with you and having one of your pieces grace our walls. I can’t remember where I read it but someone recently said, “mark my works – Erin will be famous one day!”. Based on her rapid growth and publications in such a short period of time, I believe it!
Now, that I’ve shared my story, I’m excited for Erin to share hers.
Interview With Erin Tice Donahue
Erin, as a mom too, I found your story on how you got started so relatable! Can you share your journey for all the newbies here?
I’m so glad you could relate! I never set out to become an artist; in fact I enjoyed a successful career in PR for over 12 years, working for firms in Chicago and New York, dealing with CEOs of major companies day in and day out.
Although my job in PR took a lot of creativity, it was far from the life of an artist. But after the birth of my second son George (who was born only 20 months after my first son William), I felt the need to take a step back and focus on motherhood. I think this is a common theme for many women – you try to “do it all,” but then at some point you realize you have to “pick a lane.” So at that point in time, I chose to focus on my kids. I truly loved being with them and watching them grow, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t also a really rough time for me personally. George was a very fussy and colicky baby and I fell into a funk, perhaps a mild postpartum depression of sorts (although it was never officially diagnosed).
About eight months in, I decided to do something for myself, to help me find “me” again. I had always admired artists and was actually shopping for some art for my own home, but couldn’t find the look I wanted here in Austin. So I thought, why not try my hand at it myself? I bought a bunch of art supplies, set up shop in our guest house and started painting every chance I got – nap times, after my kids were in bed at night, when my husband was away on business trips. It was so therapeutic and it got my creative energy flowing again.
After about six months of painting for fun (and stress relief!), some girlfriends encouraged me to try to sell my work. I was hesitant at first, but then decided to go for it. I guess you can say the rest is history. I’ve been very blessed to turn a therapeutic hobby into a full-fledged business over the past two years.
You’ve had some truly incredible accolades! Features in Luxe Magazine, House Beautiful, named a tastemaker by India Amory and many more. Is there a special moment you remember that solidified you are on to something?
There have been many moments along the way! But pretty early on, I was contacted on Instagram by a gallery I really admired in Dallas, The Collective. They were interested in repping my work and I sent them some options via email. My husband and I decided to make a weekend of it and drove 3 pieces up to Dallas to deliver my work. It was definitely a “pinch me” moment to hand over my creations to this gallery I had so admired from afar! Another pinch me moment came this fall when a national magazine came to my home to shoot a spread on me for an upcoming Spring issue. I’m still in shock about it!
How does one mix modern abstract art with a more traditional style? Can this be done?
It’s all about pulling the color scheme together! My home is very traditional, but it has some “edge” to it as well. I used modern art (both my own as well as other artists) in almost every room in the house to allow for tension. If you have a traditional floral wallpaper in your dining room, for instance, why not try a shocking piece of contemporary art that ties in one or more colors in the wallpaper? I like to keep the eye guessing, and the “mix” is one of the easiest and foolproof ways to do that. Brown furniture CAN co-exist with abstract art. It actually makes the whole space feel instantly fresher and more relaxed. If you don’t want to take the plunge with a large centerpiece/statement piece, try incorporating smaller abstract paper pieces in your traditional space.
What is the difference between art from let’s say “Home Goods” versus a true painting by an artist, like you! Is there really a difference? What does it add to a room?
Well, the major difference is that the pieces you can buy at Home Goods or other home decor stores are typically “prints” and not “originals.” Prints (or giclees) simply mean that an artist somewhere did paint an original piece, but then copies were made to be able to sell many of the same piece to the masses. An original work of art means that there is only ONE piece that exists in the world like it. That an artist painted that ONE canvas or paper by hand. You can usually tell the difference by touching the painting – original pieces will typically have texture and prints will not.
There’s nothing wrong with purchasing prints if that’s what your budget allows, however, I’d encourage people to set aside an annual budget to invest in one original piece per year. There are MANY of affordable and accessible original pieces of artwork out there if you just search instagram or some of the online art collectives like Well + Wonder and Liza Pruitt. Not only are you investing in artwork that could be worth A LOT one day, but you are helping support artists who pour their blood, sweat and tears into creating work to share with the world. It’s a great way to discover artists and at the same time invest in original work.
Why would someone get a piece commissioned?
Commissioning art is a way to work hand-in-hand with an artist to curate the perfect piece for your specific space. If you love an artist’s work but don’t see the right color scheme or size available in his or her inventory, you can request a commission, which means the artist will create a piece to your specifications. There’s still an amount of trust that goes into the process, where your vision for the piece and the artist’s vision and style, must meet in the middle. Every artist works a bit differently, but for my commission process, I make sure to discuss color schemes and any “must haves” up front to ensure we’re aligned. I actually have a questionnaire my client fills out before I start painting and request fabric and wallpaper samples or images if available. I also like to walk the space, or conduct a FaceTime consultation if the person isn’t local. Finally, I request that the client sends me 3-4 examples of my previous work that “speaks” to them…this way I have a better understanding of the style of piece they envision.
What if you commission a piece but want some changes?
My aim is to ensure the client is happy with his or her final piece. With that in mind, I build in two rounds of “revisions” to the process so that the client has a chance to request changes before a final product is varnished and completed. For example, a client can request that the blue be “dialed back,” or that there is more of an emphasis on charcoal marks within the piece. It’s little things like that that ensure the client’s vision comes to life, but still allows me, the artist, to stay true to my unique style. I find it’s a collaborative process to work in this way.
On average, how long does it take to paint one canvas from start to finish? How many hours would you say it takes to make one piece from soup to nuts.
That is such a hard question because every painting is unique! I am lucky to have a home studio, so there’s a lot of back and forth on my paintings. I’ll start the base layers, let them dry and pop back inside to have lunch, then back out to the studio a couple hours later for another round of painting. Sometimes I only come back to a piece once or twice a week, which can stretch out the entire process. The varnishing process is also complex and takes a long time. It’s hard to quantify in hours how long a piece can take because it certainly depends on two key factors: 1) How big the canvas is, 2) If I’m in the “zone” while painting and it’s flowing naturally. In general, my pieces have anywhere from 8-12 layers each, so it’s a detailed process that does take time and energy. I usually can finish one large painting in a typical week if I’m able to focus and dedicate my time each day.
What is the biggest misconception out there about paintings? Is there something that may surprise people they don’t know?
That abstract art is easy and it’s just a bunch of random marks on a canvas! That couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s true that abstract work is much more free-flowing, and subjective in terms of how the viewer sees it, it doesn’t mean it takes any less time, energy, thought or talent. Abstract is actually very tricky because it’s all about balance, composition, color theory and capturing emotion.
Does anyone famous or well known own one of your pieces?
There are a few well-known national interior designers and a local Austin “celebrity” who have invested in my pieces this year, as well as a very popular fashion influencer who happens to have over 1 million followers and a huge national following. It would be my dream to work with more nationally-recognized designers as I view them as celebrities!
If someone is on a budget, how could they get a piece of your art for less?
I try to release paper collections throughout the year that start below $200. Paper pieces are an ideal way to begin an art collection if you’re on a budget but still want to invest in original artwork. You can get them framed by your local framer or find a simple, clean gallery frame at West Elm or Target to showcase the piece. I also create smaller canvas works from time to time that sell for less than $1,000. You can sign up for my VIP newsletter to stay updated on my latest collections.
For more of Erin’s work, follow her on Instagram and visit her site!
SPECIAL NOTE: only one commission spot remains until the fall, as Erin and her family are welcoming a baby in June! SO RUN. In the meantime, you can find Erin’s new original work launching on her site, as well as with Liza Pruitt. And be sure to keep a look out on Well and Wonder this spring.
You may also enjoy: Debunking ALL the myths about framing and How To Make An Interior Design Mood Board.
Photos by Chicago Andrea Creative
