About Works Statement Exhibitions Commission

Commission a Painting

Your story,
on canvas

Commission a bespoke portrait or conceptual painting. Emmanuel works closely with each client — listening first, then building an image that is singular, considered, and entirely yours.

Currently accepting commissions · 8–12 week turnaround

Every commission begins with a conversation, not a brief.

A commissioned painting is not simply a reproduction of a photograph. It is a translation — from the living, feeling person into paint, light, and considered composition. Emmanuel brings the same attention to a commission as to any work in his solo exhibitions.

The process is unhurried and collaborative. You will be involved at every stage: from the initial discussion of mood and reference, through the compositional sketch, to the final approval before varnishing and delivery.

Commissions range from intimate portrait studies to large-scale conceptual works. Each is made in oil on canvas, with the same botanical backgrounds, rich textiles, and layered luminosity that define the body of work.

  • Turnaround Time

    8–12 weeks from deposit to delivery. Rush commissions (6 weeks) available on request — subject to availability and a surcharge.

  • Medium & Support

    Oil on linen or cotton canvas. Stretched and ready to hang. Certificate of authenticity and care instructions included with every work.

  • Payment Terms

    50% deposit on confirmation to secure your slot. Balance due on completion, before shipping. Deposits are non-refundable after work commences.

  • Shipping & Collection

    Professional art shipping worldwide, fully insured. Local collection from the Accra studio available by appointment. Crating and customs documentation provided.

  • Satisfaction

    One round of revisions included at the sketch stage and one at near-completion. Emmanuel's goal is a painting you will live with for a lifetime.


How It Works

The commission
process

01

Inquiry

Submit the form below — your vision, size preference, and any reference images. Emmanuel responds personally within 48 hours.

Day 1

02

Consultation

A short call or email exchange to discuss your vision in depth — mood, palette, scale, and what you want the painting to hold.

Week 1

03

Sketch & Deposit

A compositional sketch for your approval. Once confirmed, a 50% deposit secures your place in the studio schedule.

Weeks 1–2

04

Studio Work

Emmanuel builds the painting in layers over several weeks. A progress image is shared at the midpoint for your review and input.

Weeks 2–10

05

Delivery

Final approval, balance payment, then professional crating and shipping — fully insured, with tracking — to anywhere in the world.

Weeks 10–12


Investment

Pricing &
Packages

Portrait Study

Intimate

16 × 20 in — 24 × 30 in

$1,800 USD

Starting price · Single figure

  • Single figure, head and shoulders or half-length
  • Oil on canvas, stretched and ready to hang
  • Certificate of authenticity
  • One round of revisions at sketch stage
  • Worldwide shipping included
  • 6–8 week turnaround
Enquire Now

Large Scale

Statement

48 × 60 in and above

$6,500 USD

Starting price · Custom dimensions available

  • Large-scale or multi-figure compositions
  • Custom dimensions and aspect ratios
  • Full background environment design in consultation
  • Oil on heavyweight linen, premium stretcher bars
  • Full documentation, provenance and exhibition history
  • Ongoing correspondence throughout the studio process
  • Framing consultation and recommendations
  • 10–14 week turnaround
Enquire Now

All prices are starting points. Final pricing depends on complexity, number of figures, and size. Send an inquiry for an exact quote — no obligation.


Begin your
commission

Fill in the form with as much detail as you have. Emmanuel reads every inquiry personally and responds within 48 hours. There is no obligation — the first conversation is simply a conversation.

Studio located in Accra, Ghana — visits by appointment

Your information will only be used to respond to your inquiry. Emmanuel does not share client details with third parties.

Inquiry received

Thank you for reaching out. Emmanuel will read your message personally and reply within 48 hours. In the meantime, feel free to browse the full collection.


Frequently
Asked

A photograph is the most common starting point, but it is not the only one. Emmanuel can work from multiple images, from video stills, or — in some cases — from life, if you are based in or travelling to Accra. The more visual reference you can provide, the more the painting can be tailored to your specific vision.
Yes. The background is a core part of the commission conversation. You can request a specific botanical motif, a pattern or textile reference, a domestic interior, or give Emmanuel full creative freedom to design an environment that suits the figure. Most collectors choose the latter — the backgrounds are often what draws people to the work in the first place.
The Signature and Statement packages include two formal review points — one at the compositional sketch stage and one at near-completion. Emmanuel takes your feedback seriously at each stage. If the painting is significantly diverging from what was agreed, adjustments are made before the work progresses further. Communication is the most important thing — any concern should be raised early.
Emmanuel can work with a variety of source material, including paintings, illustrations, or even a detailed written description of a person or scene. He does not copy other artists' work, but he can use an image as a compositional or mood reference while creating an entirely original painting in his own hand.
Paintings are professionally rolled or crated depending on size, shipped via a specialist art courier with full insurance to the declared value of the work. Customs documentation, including CITES certificates where applicable, is prepared on your behalf. Delivery times vary by destination — typically 7–21 days after dispatch.
Emmanuel's primary subject is the adult figure, particularly Black women. He considers commissions involving children or other subjects on a case-by-case basis. Please mention in your inquiry if this applies and he will let you know whether it falls within his current practice.
Absolutely. Many commissions are gifts — for anniversaries, milestone birthdays, or to mark a significant life event. Emmanuel is experienced in working from photographs alone, without the subject's knowledge. All correspondence and invoicing can be handled discreetly.

From Collectors

What clients
say

"I commissioned a portrait of my mother for her 60th birthday. Emmanuel asked me questions I hadn't thought to answer about her — how she holds herself, what her stillness feels like — and the painting captured exactly that. It is the most considered gift I have ever given."

KA

Kwame A.

Accra, Ghana

"The process was as beautiful as the result. Emmanuel communicated at every stage, shared progress photographs, and was genuinely interested in getting it right rather than getting it done. The painting arrived perfectly packed and is now the centrepiece of our sitting room."

SO

Sade O.

London, United Kingdom

"I came to Emmanuel with very little — a single photograph and a feeling I wanted the painting to have. He translated both into something I could not have imagined. The background he designed is extraordinary. I have since commissioned a second work."

NM

Nadia M.

Paris, France