How much does a custom painting cost? 2026 pricing guide — works by Keili Major

One of the most common questions asked of any contemporary artist is also the simplest: how much does a custom painting cost? Yet most custom-art pages reply with a vague “starting at, contact for a quote”.

This guide does the opposite. Below you’ll find the real price list for Keili Major, an Estonian-Italian artist with a studio in Garessio (Italian Alps), broken down by technique and size — from €120 for a small pencil drawing to €1,450+ for a large realistic oil painting. Plus three concrete examples of recent works (with prices), an overview of what’s included, and answers to the most recurring questions.

The goal: cut the quote anxiety. Anyone considering a commissioned artwork should be able to gauge the order of magnitude before starting the conversation.

The 5 factors that determine the price

The cost of a commissioned painting isn’t arbitrary. Five variables define it:

The technique. A pencil drawing requires fewer hours than an oil painting. Finger painting — applying oil paint directly with the fingers, Keili’s main technique — has its own rhythm. Traditional realistic oil has another: each layer has to dry before the next, sometimes up to two weeks if the medium is heavy. The price reflects real working hours, not abstraction.

The dimensions. A 30×40 cm piece can be completed in a few days; a 95×95 cm piece can take a month, between subject study, first layers, details, and drying time. Larger format means more paint, more canvas, more time.

The complexity of the subject. A face is simpler than a group portrait of five. A still life with one subject is faster than a narrative composition with articulated light and shadow. A three-colour palette is different from a ten-colour palette.

Delivery timing. Standard commissions have a 4-12 week lead time (drying included). For specific dates — anniversaries, holidays — a fast track is possible with a small surcharge, since it means reorganising the queue.

Frame and shipping. Paintings arrive signed but unframed: the frame is a personal choice depending on the room, and is best decided after delivery. Insured shipping in Italy starts at €20.

The price list: three techniques × four sizes

Prices are listed as “starting from”. Standard subjects start here; complex ones (groups, multiple animals, dense landscapes) go up accordingly.

Finger painting (main technique)

Realistic oil (water-mixable, no toxic solvents)

Pencil drawing

Three real examples (with prices)

To make the numbers concrete — three recent works by Keili, all visible in person at La Fabbrica del Cotone in Garessio or online in the portfolio.

“Tanaro” — €1,350 · finger painting · 95×95 cm · 2026

Keili’s first painting dedicated to Garessio. It started from a photograph taken near Santa Maria Maddalena after an extraordinary 2026 snowfall — the river water in deep blue and icy turquoise. “There’s something special about water in winter,” says the artist. A commission of this size and complexity (snowy landscape, water reflections, mountains) starts around €950 in XL finger painting and goes up depending on detail.

“Tree with lantern” — €180 · finger painting · 25×30 cm · 2025

A small painting of an autumn ginkgo biloba in a neighbour’s garden, with a lantern hanging from the branch. Compact format, intimate atmosphere. Works well as a gift idea: a signed original under €200, with all the uniqueness of a one-of-a-kind piece.

“Artichokes” — €640 · finger painting · 60×60 cm · 2023

Flowering artichokes — purple blooms emerging from rough protective leaves. An interesting commission because the subject seems banal but actually has many small plays of light. Medium format, medium-complex subject.

What’s included in the price

When a piece leaves the studio for the client, it includes:

• The original painting, signed front and back
• A certificate of authenticity hand-signed, with title, year, size, technique — useful for insurance, inheritance, secondary market
• Process photos during work, on request
• A free quote before starting
• A proper electronic invoice (registered VAT number)
• Professional packaging for pickup or shipping

What’s extra (on request)

• Frame — separate quote depending on style
• Insured shipping — from €20 in Italy, abroad on dedicated quote
• Fast track under 4 weeks — surcharge depends on subject and current queue
• Gift packaging — free

Most frequent questions

How long does a commissioned painting take?

It depends on the technique. A medium finger painting: 3-6 weeks. A realistic oil: 6-12 weeks (layers must dry separately). A pencil drawing: 1-2 weeks. For specific dates (Christmas, anniversaries) Keili confirms upfront whether the deadline is realistic.

Can I see sketches before paying the full amount?

Yes. After the quote and before painting begins, 1-2 preparatory sketches are sent — pencil or digital — to align on composition, framing, and palette. Painting only starts after client approval.

How does payment work?

For pieces under €500: 50% deposit at start + balance on delivery. For pieces over €500: three instalments (40% at start, 30% on sketch approval, 30% on delivery). Bank transfer, cash (within the €5,000 Italian limit), international transfer for non-EU clients.

What if the final result isn’t quite right?

The process includes sketches and process photos during work, so unpleasant surprises are very rare. Small adjustments (tones, shadow intensity) are revised free. In rare cases of deeper aesthetic mismatch not surfaced in sketches, the deposit is refunded and the piece stays in the studio.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes, via shipping companies specialised in art transport. Costs depend on destination and size — quoted case by case.

What do you need to start?

A reference photograph (even low quality — it gets reworked), an idea of the size (a useful tip is to stick a paper of the planned dimensions on the wall where the piece will hang), and a rough budget. The quote is free and no-commitment.

Starting a commission

Three ways to begin:

• Keili Major’s Custom Art — past work gallery + quote form
• How the process works — 7 steps from brief to delivery
• Direct WhatsApp to Keili — for those who prefer talking directly
• La Fabbrica del Cotone, Garessio — the permanent exhibition is free to visit during the restaurant’s opening hours

Keili Major is an Estonian-Italian visual artist based in Garessio (Italian Alps). She works in finger painting on oil canvas and water-mixable realistic oil. She also teaches private painting lessons for adults and children, from beginner to advanced.