COMMISSION CASE STUDY: FOUR RECENT PAINTINGS

While commissions here at Laasya Art vary widely in scope, each project is a collaborative effort between the gallerist, the client and the artist — and therefore each is a unique and exciting challenge to achieve that particular vision.

For collectors assessing whether or not a commission is the right choice for them, clients have found it very beneficial to review the gallery’s past commission projects. So, in this blog, we take a look at four recent commissions by Seema Kohli, Anuradha Thakur, Nilofer Suleman and Jagannath Paul detailing the process from the client’s brief to the completed painting.

After going through a challenging time during Covid, this client sought a commission by artist Seema Kohli with the painting’s theme centered “on rebirth, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes,” as she felt she emerged from the difficult experience stronger. Inspired by the client’s story, Seema chose to depict Gajalakshmi, who emerged from the churning of the oceans of milk. Lakshmi, holding the Saptrashmi (the rainbow), represents hope and bestows the power to ascend to higher levels of consciousness. After the painting was finished, we also added a 4 inch gold frame to highlight the rich color palette.

Having already decided on artist Anuradha Thakur, these clients were most drawn to the dynamic energy in compositions with women dancing in a circle, in the Garba style. In addition to opting for a 5 x 4 foot vertical format to complement the narrow space where the painting would hang, it was important that the commission complement the existing shades of blue and gray throughout the home. As the clients had a bookcase painted in the color “Seaworthy,” Anuradha introduced this specific hue into the painting to connect to the existing decor, along with a saturated “rani” pink to offset it. The clients loved the painting and said that it enlivened the home.

The client approached Laasya Art specifically with Nilofer Suleman in mind, as she adored the artist’s old world charm and sepia tones. We eventually settled on a series of three paintings, each with a different concept. The first painting would be a scene at a photography studio, the second at a tailor, and the third at ‘Bade Miyan’, a popular street food joint in Mumbai, which Nilofer suggested and happened to be the client’s favorite restaurant in her hometown. In addition to “old world” elements such as hanging lanterns and miniature-style patterns, Nilofer also incorporated text in English and Urdu.

The client envisioned a bold, ‘clean’ painting that would be a conversation starter, as well as make an impression on the living room’s 25 foot high walls. He wanted the painting to feature elements of Bengali culture, a perfect fit for artist Jagannath Paul who also grew up in West Bengal. We ultimately decided to go with a single pair of faces for its high visual impact as well as to best highlight the details in the background, such as key landmarks in Kolkata and legendary figures like Rabindranath Tagore and Subhash Chandra Bose. The final painting measured 9 x 9 feet, comprising 4 paintings each measuring 4.5 x 4.5 feet.

We hope these ​​examples of commissioning a painting have been helpful. If you would like to further explore commissioning your own custom painting by a leading Indian artist, please check out our online resources, or get in touch with us at +1 650-770-9088 or info@laasyaart.com.

— Sonia Nayyar Patwardhan