If you have ever wanted a piece of art made just for you, but didn't know where to start, this is the guide. We walk through brief writing, artist selection, pricing, and what to expect from the process.
Commissioning art is one of the most personal transactions in design. You are not buying a product — you are entering a collaboration with a living artist, in service of a feeling you want to live with for years. But if you have never done it before, the process can feel opaque. This guide is meant to make it clear.
There are three big decisions you will make: what to commission, who to commission, and how to pay. We will go through each one.
What to commission. Most first-time buyers start with one of three formats. A digital concept — a finished piece delivered as a high-resolution file you can print and frame. A physical print — the same artwork, professionally produced and shipped. Or an original commission — a one-of-a-kind piece made for you, and you alone. The first is fast and inexpensive. The last is the most personal.
If you are not sure which format fits, ask yourself one question: do I want the artist to be working on a piece that exists only for me? If yes, original. If you would be happy with a print of an existing concept, digital or print. There is no wrong answer.
Who to commission. This is the part most people get stuck on. The good news is that the gestuo platform has done the curation for you. Every artist is personally vetted. The remaining question is style: which artist's work would you want to live with?
Browse portfolios slowly. Save pieces you keep coming back to. The artist whose work you keep saving is the one to commission.
How to pay. gestuo handles this for you. There are three tiers of pricing: £15 to £200 for a digital concept, £40 to £600 for a print, and £150 to £10,000 for an original. The artist sets their own price within these ranges. The total you pay includes a 10% platform fee and 20% UK VAT.
For original commissions, you pay a 30% deposit to start work, and the balance when you approve the final piece. If you are not happy after the included revisions, you can request a refund.
What to expect. Most briefs get a response within 48 hours. From there, the artist will either accept or decline. If accepted, you'll see a concept in 5–10 days for digital, 10–20 for original. You get up to two rounds of revisions. Then we ship or deliver.
If this is your first time, take your time with the brief. The clearer you are about what you want, the better the result. And if you get stuck, write to us at support@gestuo.com — we will help you shape the brief before it goes to the artist.
David Handford
gestuo author