To wonder how much to pay for a commissioned painting?

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 2025-09-05T21:52:44+00:00

My sister is painting us a watercolor picture. She's amazing. She told us not to pay but I want to recognize her work, talent and time. We didn't live in the UK and I've never bought art before so I'm not sure how much would be reasonable? It's not a huge paying. Maybe A3 size. And she's getting us a tube to transport it

Ineffable23 · 05/09/2025 22:57

I think with these things it's very hard to recognise it with a sufficient monetary value for the time and skill involved without it being really quite a lot of money.

However, if she doesn't sell them she may well be pleased with quite a modest sum.

I think I'd be wondering about a generous gift in return - a lovely cashmere jumper, or a delicious meal out, or both or something else she'd really enjoy.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 05/09/2025 22:57

You could have look at similar work in galleries and reduce by about 50% for lack of frame and commission.

I would say if she's said she doesn't want money, though, she may be hurt you're not accepting it as a gift. It might be nicer to put some good quality paints and papers (watercolour paper is a fortune for good stuff) in a nice basket, but you know her and will have a better sense of what's appropriate.

ResusciAnnie · 05/09/2025 23:00

Hmm hard to say. I’ve commissioned 2 portraits and paid £500 each. Other people would charge £100, others £1000. Agree that you’ll have to pay a LOT to cover living wage for the amount of hours it takes. And I imagine that would be awkward to receive for a family member who said not to pay.

crackofdoom · 05/09/2025 23:05

Honestly, how long is a piece of string 🤷‍♀️

An A3 watercolour at the amateur art exhibition down the road is anything from £40- 150. From a "proper" artist represented by a selling gallery... well, a lot more, depending on name, desirability, quality....

I'm guessing if she regularly sold/ exhibited her work you'd have a figure to go on, so she's an amateur?

If it was me, I would give her a nice gift card, to a value that I could easily afford. This could say as much about your family dynamics as the value of the painting. For example if she's struggling and you're well off give her more, less if vice versa...

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 05/09/2025 23:21

She is an amateur, not to be biased but I definitely think she could sell/exhibit her work, she just doesn't have the confidence. She has a very unique style.

I was thinking a monetary gift might be better as we are visiting the UK (where she lives) from the US and so we won't have a lot of chances to ship or space to bring much with us.....

But yea I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I feel like I need to acknowledge her skill and time! I guess giving money is 'easier'.

Also complicating matters is that we will be in England to see my parents and she will be coming across from N.Ireland so a large gift won't work for her to take back on the flight

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 05/09/2025 23:23

I had been thinking £125.....

I've been away from the UK for 10 yrs so I do tend to think in dollars now so the help for a ballpark estimate is really helpful.

Have to think about the exchange rate too once I get there.

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 05/09/2025 23:23

Double post

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 05/09/2025 23:24

Don't know why it double posted. She really likes some of the jerky from over here which can be pricey so will throw a couple of bags of that in my case.

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SnowflakeSmasher86 · 06/09/2025 00:03

£125 is a weird amount! That seems very much like you’ve considered what the painting is worth, rather than “here is a token amount”.

If she’s offered it as a gift, accept that gracefully. Then maybe once she’s back home, send her a glorious bunch of flowers and maybe take her out for dinner while she’s with you if you have time alone. Time spent with her sister who lives abroad will most likely be much more precious to her than money.

If you insist on money, I’d go for a flat £100 or £250, as those are ‘nominal’ amounts rather than something which actually reflects the value of the art.

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 06/09/2025 00:09

@SnowflakeSmasher86

I see what you mean. I was thinking $150 which is about £110 and I was trying to 'round up' I suppose. I don't want to be cheap though. This is a surprise gift for my husband for our 10th anniversary.

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thestudio · 06/09/2025 00:12

A commissioned portrait by an emerging artist in the UK who is getting shown in group shows but hasn't yet had a solo show in a commercial gallery would be around £2-3K.

By emerging artist I mean someone who is trying to make a place for themselves in the current contemporary art scene.

You might well find very competent 'working' artists who are a bit older but not represented, not in the fashionable 'emerging' scene, maybe live outside London and work in art education or similar, who would charge a bit less than that - but I don't think it would ever go below £1K unless to a real friend, which you of course are.

So I would tell her that you know the going rate is over a grand and sometimes a lot more, and that you'd pay that if you could because you think her work is stunning, but that you hope she'll accept X amount just so you can feel that you've acknowledged her talent and generosity.

LoafofSellotape · 06/09/2025 00:16

She's your sister ,she said don't pay her so don't. Take her for meal when you see her or do something nice together.

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 06/09/2025 00:51

@thestudio

Oh my goodness! Yes unfortunately I can't pay a grand. I didn't realize it could be so much. I definitely don't want to be cheeky and take advantage of her

She said it will be good to add to her portfolio

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 06/09/2025 00:52

@LoafofSellotape

Maybe I'll ask her what she would prefer, cash or nice meal out.

I'm not sure how to treat just her to a meal to be fair because we are visiting family and we will all be there together. And I have five siblings so we can't really foot the bill for everyone. And I'm not sure if I could just single her out to take her out for a meal with her and her husband. But maybe could give a gift card so that she and her husband could enjoy a nice meal together

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SophiaLaBe · 06/09/2025 01:06

What about a voucher for somewhere like The White Company. They have a shop in Belfast and she could treat herself to something for the house or a cosy pair of PJs.

MrsSkylerWhite · 06/09/2025 01:09

Commissioned an A3 size painting of our deceased pet for my husband. £300. Worth every penny, just lovely.

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 06/09/2025 01:16

@MrsSkylerWhite

I'm kind of thinking that's the type of price I should really be paying. This sounds silly but I don't earn, I'm a SAHM and it's supposed to be a surprise for my husband and I'm not sure how to tell him, so I've commissioned this painting, we need to pay £300 as I think he will have sticker shock. He has even less clue than me what these things are worth. But I really want to recognize her worth. Not just because she's my sister but she's genuinely very talented

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 06/09/2025 01:16

@MrsSkylerWhite

I'm kind of thinking that's the type of price I should really be paying. This sounds silly but I don't earn, I'm a SAHM and it's supposed to be a surprise for my husband and I'm not sure how to tell him, so I've commissioned this painting, we need to pay £300 as I think he will have sticker shock. He has even less clue than me what these things are worth. But I really want to recognize her worth. Not just because she's my sister but she's genuinely very talented

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Geneticsbunny · 06/09/2025 01:36

£500 seems reasonable for that size painting.

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 06/09/2025 02:16

@Geneticsbunny

If I could afford that I would. And I realize that's on me for not doing my research first

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CanOfMangoTango · 06/09/2025 02:26

Good art is expensive. As it should be tbh.

But your sister wants to give it you as a gift, which is lovely. I wouldn't want to "cheapen" the gesture by giving her money tbh.

But taking her out for dinner or a trip or something would be a nice thing to do. I am sure she will get a lot of pleasure from knowing you and your DH love the painting. And you can talk about it to your friends and relatives and encourage her to perhaps put some up for sale at a decent price.

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HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 06/09/2025 02:53

@CanOfMangoTango

I think I'm a bit unsure as I reached out to her and asked her to do it and said I'd pay her and she said not to. So it's not like she made the first move.

She did make a similar painting for my sister but that was a gift on her part and I'm not looking to make everything 'fair'

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Heyhiitsme · 06/09/2025 06:31

I don’t think you should try and frame it as payment at all. £125 doesn’t acknowledge the time/skill and it’s possible if she lacks confidence already she’ll take it as ‘this is what someone thinks my painting is worth.’

If I were in your shoes, I think I’d put £100 in an envelope and make it clear you can’t afford to pay what you feel the picture would sell for (as agreed), but here’s a little token of appreciation/to go towards supplies/a thank you.

thestudio · 06/09/2025 10:49

I've changed my mind - I agree you should just take her for a meal too, and don't mention amounts at all, just say you want to show how grateful you are.

It's completely different when it's a gift which is essentially what it is here.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 06/09/2025 10:55

I am a decent artist ( strangers ask if they can buy some of the things they jave seen in local publications etc). I don’t sell things, as it is my pleasure to do them. If I like the person, I might give them what they admired, I have painted pictures specifically for people I know.

In her position, I would like a voucher with a good artist material online shop. You can never have too many brushes, or too much ‘stuff’, but it is nice to choose your own.

if someone gave me a bunch of flowers or an article of clothing I would accept it politely, but I would much prefer the voucher.