I think it’s the best compliment when someone comes into your home and says, “Wow, this house is so you.” It shows that your personality really radiates through the space. Purchasing made-for-you artwork can bring your spaces to life. Yes, the word custom sometimes scares me because it can be synonymous with pricy. But it doesn’t always have to be. Here are a few examples of custom pieces I’ve commissioned, and what I’ve learned.

Wedding-inspired florals print

If I’m being honest, I never wanted to create a gigantic gallery wall of our wedding photos. (nothing wrong with this, it just wasn’t for me!) Kind of a shame too because wedding photos are such an investment! But, I did want a subtle reminder of the beauty of our wedding day. I found an artist by the name of Jessica on Etsy (JTutkaIllustrations) whose work caught my eye. She created whimsical floral drawings using watercolor paint. Her art reminded me of the free, natural floral arrangements I picked for our wedding. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a photo of our actual arrangements, so I picked one of the inspiration photos that I had sent to the florist. I reached out to Jessica to inquire about creating a large statement piece for me (24x30inches). To keep costs down, she suggested creating a custom print (vs on paper illustration). She would illustrate the floral arrangement on a smaller scale and expand it to meet my requested specifications during the printing process. She quoted $175 for the artwork which including printing cost. I ended up spending a bit more to frame the piece, but all-in-all, I thought this was a great way to get something truly unique for under $300. This piece now fits beautifully over my daughter’s desk in her room.

Photo cred: Florals by Lucy Cuneo Weddings

Photo Turned Modern Art

Speaking of weddings, a dear friend recently eloped in Italy, and her trip looked magical. I knew I wanted to gift her something special, and after considering several mediocre ideas, settled on creating a custom art piece with a local Chicago artist by the name of  Emmy Star Brown. My girlfriend proudly owns a few of Emmy’s art pieces already, so I knew she was a perfect artist for this custom gift. Emmy’s Instagram shows how talented she is at painting murals all over Chicagoland – but what I didn’t know, is that she also creates absolutely brilliant modern art on a smaller scale using photos as inspiration. I asked her to paint something on paper (vs her usual canvas) and gave her the specific dimensions (12×12) so the piece would fit perfectly into the 15×15 acrylic frame I found. I picked this photo of the couple with the amazing skyline of Castello Aragonese Ischia Ponte in the background. Emmy’s art was worth every dollar of $150, and I was thrilled with the results.

Photo: Castello Aragonese Ischia Ponte

Abstract Foliage Using Acrylic and Pencil

Here I go again with more plant-like art. After we completed our kitchen renovation, and I quickly determined that the wall space next to the range hood was too tight for shelving, I decided to create something special for that space. While checking out art on Minted.com, I came across Sarah Mcinroe, and her modern botanicals practically jumped off the screen. You might recognize her art because it’s part of the Samsung Frame collection. She didn’t have any prints that fit my specifications of 17×14, so I asked her to create something just for me. I sent her a video of my space and gave her direction on what colors I wanted to use including the paint color that I used for our mudroom cabinet since the spaces are connected. I also guided her by telling her which pieces in her collection most resonated with me. She was great about keeping me informed as she worked on the pieces, and I even got to make suggestions. Each piece cost $110, and I framed them using nice (but super inexpensive) frames from HomeGoods.

Photo: Paint samples based on SW Mount Etna, the color of our mudroom cabinet

Photo: In progress art – base layer

Photo: The final framed pieces by Sarah McInroe

So, the lessons learned here are: 1. Know where you’re going to put the piece before you start AND know how you’re going to frame it. This will help determine what size to ask for. 2. Find something or someone that inspires you. 3. Look for local artists or find them on Etsy, Pinterest and Instagram. Get a quote upfront, and if you’re ok with the price, go with it. A talented artist is worth their asking price. 4. Let your custom art bring you joy!