Commissioned Art Rooted in Memory, Place and Meaning
A commissioned piece begins with something you want to hold onto: a group of flowers connected to someone you love, a landscape that feels like home, a plant from a family garden or an image made specifically for the place where it will live.
I create original botanical watercolors, landscapes, miniatures and other custom artwork shaped around the stories and details that matter to you.
A piece made for what matters to you
There are so many unique reasons to commission artwork.
Sometimes it marks a marriage, a birth, a loss or an anniversary. Sometimes it gathers plants from different places and moments into one composition. Sometimes, it starts with an empty wall and the feeling that you’d rather fill it with something personal than simply find something that fits.
For any commissioned piece, you don’t have to start with a complete visual plan. You may already know the plants you want included, or the person or place you are thinking about, or maybe just the feeling you hope the finished piece will carry. My role—and one of my favorite parts of doing this work—is to help uncover the little details behind your inspiration, then translate those into a composition that feels deeply personal and completely unique to you.
“Cynthia created a custom piece for me based on a powerful moment in the lives of two of my dear friends. Not only did she paint the landscape beautifully, but what still gets me is how completely she captured the emotion behind it in a way I never could have imagined. I still tear up when I see it, and I’m so grateful I was able to give them such a unique gift!”
— Koree R.
Types of commissions
A commission may begin with a particular subject, a story you want to preserve, the scale of the artwork or even the space where the finished piece will live. From botanical portraits and landscapes to intimate studies and larger custom pieces, each commission is shaped around what feels most meaningful to you.
Botanical Portraits
A botanical portrait brings a meaningful collection of plants together in one original composition. The selections may represent a person, a family, a place, a season, a garden or a group of memories. I can work with plants you already know or help research possibilities based on the story you share.
Botanical portraits are typically created at 12 × 16 inches. Larger and custom-sized compositions are also available.
Landscapes and meaningful places
A landscape commission may begin with a home, garden, view or place that has shaped your life. Rather than reproducing a photograph exactly, I use references to understand the essential character of the place and create a painting that holds its atmosphere.
Landscape commissions are available in several standard sizes, with larger formats available depending on the subject and level of detail.
Miniatures and smaller studies
Miniature commissions offer an intimate way to honor one botanical subject or a small landscape. Their scale makes them especially well suited for a gift, a small space or a first commission.
Miniature commissions are offered at 5 × 7 inches.
Artwork created for a particular space
Sometimes the space itself becomes part of the inspiration. If you already know where the artwork will live, I can create the piece with the dimensions, orientation, surrounding colors and visual weight of the room in mind.
That might mean developing a long, narrow composition for an unusual wall, creating a larger focal point or designing a piece to sit within an existing collection. The goal is not to match the space mechanically, but to create something original that feels as though it belongs there.
Commercial and organizational commissions
I also consider select commissions for brands, hospitality spaces, senior-living communities and other organizations. When artwork will be reproduced on packaging, websites, merchandise or marketing materials, the creative fee and usage rights are scoped separately from a personal original-art commission.
Investment
Size is only one part of the investment. Because my paintings are highly detailed and developed through careful research, drawing and layers of watercolor, even a small piece may require many hours to complete. Pricing reflects the time, complexity and level of detail involved, as well as the finished dimensions.
Miniature commissions at 5 × 7 inches begin at $500. Botanical portraits and standard-size landscapes begin at $1,200. Larger or custom-sized artwork begins at $2,000.
Each commission is priced individually based on its size, complexity and the research involved. After reviewing your inquiry, I’ll recommend an approach and provide an estimate before any work begins.
Commercial reproduction and usage rights are quoted separately.
Timing
Most commissioned pieces take between 4 and 12 weeks to complete, depending on the size and complexity of the artwork and my current studio schedule. Once we’ve connected and talked through what you’re envisioning, I’ll share a proposed schedule for your approval before we begin.
A SMALL, PERSONAL COMMISSION
Lily of the Valley for a Friend
This 5 × 7 painting was created as a birthday gift for a friend. Lily of the valley is both her birth-month flower and her favorite flower, which made it an especially meaningful subject. I added a small hand-lettered inscription to make the piece personal to her. Its intimate scale allowed a simple botanical study to become something created specifically for one person and the story connected to her flower.
5 × 7 original watercolor · Birth flower · Hand-lettered inscription
ARTWORK CREATED FOR A PARTICULAR SPACE
A Clematis for a Gallery Wall
This commission began with one open space in a gallery wall. The client had collected pieces she loved but needed a tall, narrow painting to bring balance to the arrangement. I had recently been thinking about painting a clematis, and its climbing form felt especially well suited to the space. When she shared that she also grows clematis in her own garden, the subject felt like a natural fit. I finished the painting with a golden halo and Steven built a custom frame to complete the piece.
Original watercolor · Custom narrow format · Handcrafted frame
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know exactly what I want before I start?
No. Once I understand why you are interested in the piece, I can help you determine what might work best. You are welcome to share personal photographs or other references, and I can gather additional imagery as needed. I work from multiple references to understand the structure and character of a particular plant or place rather than copying a single photograph.
How involved will I be in the process?
Before the work begins, we will agree on the subject, size and overall direction for the piece. From there, commissioning an original painting requires a certain amount of trust in the artistic process, and I do not take that trust lightly. Because a painting changes considerably as it develops, I do not share progress for approval or offer revisions once the final artwork is underway. I completely understand if you need a more collaborative process, and I’m happy to talk through what to expect before you decide to move forward.
Is framing included?
Yes. If you would like your artwork framed, custom framing can be included in your proposal. Each of my frames is made by my husband, Steven, specifically for the finished piece. If you have a different framing style in mind, I’m also happy to suggest options for sourcing a frame that complements the artwork.
Can I reproduce the artwork on products, packaging or a website?
Personal ownership of an original artwork does not automatically include commercial reproduction rights. If you would like to use the image for a brand, product, publication or other commercial purpose, please mention that in your inquiry so the appropriate usage can be included in the proposal.
Do you ship commissioned artwork?
Yes. Shipping or local pickup is planned as part of the project, and any shipping cost will be included or identified in the proposal.
About Cynthia
Cynthia Oswald is an artist and designer based in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. With a background in fine art, an MFA in Communication Design and more than 20 years of creative experience, she brings careful observation and thoughtful storytelling to each commissioned piece. Her work is shaped by a lifelong connection to nature and an interest in the meaning held by particular plants, landscapes and places.
Cynthia’s artwork has been featured in Where Women Create, UPPERCASE Magazine and exhibitions across the United States.
Begin a Commission
If you have a plant, landscape, place or story you would like to preserve through an original piece of artwork, I would love to hear more. Share what you are envisioning below, even if you have not worked out all of the details. I can help you determine the format, scale and direction that may work best.