COMMISSIONING ORIGINAL INDIAN ART

Clients who are passionate about collecting Indian art may consider taking the next step to commission an original painting by a leading Indian artist to suit their specific requirements, such as size, color and aesthetic preferences. Unlike buying a pre-existing painting, a commission gives clients the ability to customize a painting to their specific requirements, including size, color and aesthetic preferences.

Is a commissioned painting right for you?
In most cases, clients have a clear vision with specific requirements for size, colors and theme when they decide to commission an original artwork by an Indian artist. Sometimes, they have fallen in love with a painting that has sold, and they would like to commission a similar image with some adaptations. Other times, they want a completely customized painting created by a specific contemporary or traditional Indian artist, tailored to the exact dimensions and color scheme of their space. Commissions also often involve large-scale paintings or other non-standard sizes that the artist does not typically produce.

The process of commissioning an original painting
We will work closely with you throughout the commission process. This generally includes visiting your space to see and measure where the painting will hang, showing you an intermediate ‘work in progress’ sketch of the painting, and regularly communicating with you and the artist until the painting is ready for delivery.

Commissioned paintings typically take about two to three months to complete once the concept and size are finalized, depending on the artist’s schedule and prior commitments.

Tips for commissioning a custom artwork
From the gallery’s perspective, here are our best tips on how to commission Indian artwork smoothly and successfully.

• Always work with an experienced gallerist who will be able understand your vision and communicate to the artist, as well as know the artist’s style, strengths and limitations.
• Understand your likes as well as your dislikes regarding color, theme and other details. An artwork is a long-term investment and the painting will likely be on display in your home for many years — know your preferences so you can confidently make aesthetic decisions.
• Learn about the artist that you will be commissioning and review their portfolio thoroughly, in order to understand what you love most about their work and what you would like to include in your own custom painting.
• Invest time upfront to customize your commission painting. Be careful not to rush this part!
• Do not try to perfectly match the painting to your furniture and decor. Instead, go with something that you truly love — there’s a balance in making sure the painting goes well with your current space, but it should also speak to your heart.
• Trust the artist. Once you have agreed on the brief and intermediate sketch, give the artist space to get into their creative flow and deliver a phenomenal painting.

Browse our recent commissions below, or read our recent blog posts on commissioned Indian art and on behind-the-scenes of a commission by Anuradha Thakur. To schedule a consultation, please reach out to us at info@laasyaart.com.

Sujata Achrekar’s custom portrait of two ‘Brahmin Brahmacharis’ brightens this client’s living room with a vivid blue and red color palette.

Anuradha Thakur’s commissioned large-scale painting brings her signature scenes of tribal Indian life to this client’s dining room, custom-made to the dimensions of the wall. This is a triptych painting consisting of three panels, each installed about one inch apart. The center painting depicts a wedding ceremony, while the side panels depict the by-standers.

This client was seeking a commissioned painting for their dining room, but they did not have a particular theme in mind. We noticed that the family spent time together in this space, so we thought of something that would symbolize what family means to us.

Senaka Senanayake’s series of white lotuses immediately came to mind. His paintings exude positive energy, and the white lotus especially feels sacred, pure and fresh. We also thought his bright color palette would work well in this sunlit room.