Custom Fine Art
Custom commissions are always made by hand, specially for you. They make for exquisite gifts, and are a truly beautiful way to preserve your favorite memories or enhance your most precious moments.
For clients local to the Greater San Diego area, the artist would also be delighted to be present as a consultant for framing and installation for no additional charge.
Please see FAQs below for additional information.
Watercolor / Gouache Commissions
Painted on 100% cotton watercolor paper with paint made in the USA, and brought to life with archival ink pens, these one-of-a-kind works of art will make your home more beautiful for a lifetime.
5x7
$350
18x24
$940
7x10
$465
18x30
$970
11x14
$585
10x30
$940
16x20
$600
22x30
$1730
Digital Media Commissions
Drawn by hand using state-of-the-art software, and custom printed in on archival giclee paper with light texture, these one-of-a-kind works of art look just as good and will last as long as as traditional paintings.
5x7
$233
12x12
$464
8x10
$236
18x24
$621
11x14
$355
24x36
$661
10x20
$472
30x40
$1030
FAQs
Watercolor / Gouache & Ink
What watercolor materials do you use?
All of my custom commissions are created on cold-pressed heavyweight (300gsm or higher) watercolor paper or specially-treated canvas with Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbien Artist's Gouache, and Micron ink pens. Everything I use is of archival quality to ensure your watercolor illustrations will last for years to come.
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Will my art be reproduced?
Nope! I always guarantee that my clients' commissions will never be reproduced or made into additional prints. Your custom work of art is special, and I want you to feel special by knowing you have the only version in existence.
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How do I know what size I need?
First, find the place in your home or friend's home where the custom illustration will be displayed. Your commission will want to fit comfortably against that wall with at least a 2-inch mat all the way around, and a minimum of a 1 or 2-inch frame all the way around. Larger sized pieces of art will also require additional mat and frame thickness to balance the scale of the artwork itself.
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Do you make even bigger or smaller watercolors?
It all depends on the size. I can make custom illustrations much smaller than 7x10, but the absolute largest I can make is 22x30. I would recommend any of my standard sizes, but please contact me regarding custom sizes and we can work something out.
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Does your art come pre-matted?
Nope! All custom commissions, as well as prints come just as they are. Thankfully, most standard commission sizes fit perfectly in ready-made frames if you put a 2-inch mat all the way around, so you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on custom framing!
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How long will my commission take?
From the time of payment, commissions can take up to 6 weeks to complete. Time of year can also impact the timeline of custom pieces, as orders can get backed up around holidays. If you need a work of art more quickly than 6 weeks, please let me know as soon as we begin our relationship, so we can expedite the process as much as possible. Time of completion can also be delayed as edits await approval by the client.
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What kind of edits can be made mid-process?
Pencil underdrawings of watercolor and gouache commissions will be sent to the client for approval. At the time of viewing the sketch, clients may make requests to adjust elements of the image and suggest specific color palettes. Final color and texture are up to the discretion of the artist. Once the pencil sketch has been approved and the painting process has begun, no additional changes can be made due to the permanent nature of paint and ink.
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What factors influence price?
Traditional hand-painted commissions are priced by their size, but I will put all the time and work necessary to create a beautiful piece of art for you regardless of size. Expedited completion is also an additional fee if needed in one week or 48 hours, due to your commission requiring faster completion at the expense of other clients' pieces.
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Can I commission a piece in another medium?
Absolutely! I work with pencils, ink, acrylic paints, and digital media, so those are other options as well! Since some of these mediums aren't standard for me, pricing will vary depending on the size and complexity of the commission. Feel free to fill out the commission form and specify what medium you're looking for, and we can get started on a beautiful custom work of art!
Hand-Crafted Digital Media
What materials do you use?
All of my digital commissions are created in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator at print resolution, and are printed onto matte fine-art paper with a slight watercolor paper texture. Your commission will most likely be created with digital watercolor-and-ink brushes for the most realistic and tactile appearance. (Requested style for digital commissions can include alternative techniques.)
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Will I really be getting an original?
For digital illustration commissions, the only print that will ever be made will be the print specially made and shipped to the client. Additional prints and reproductions will never be made for commissions. Your custom work of art is special, and I want you to feel special by knowing you have the only physical copy in existence. The upside to digital commissions, though, is that if anything happens to your physical version, I can made a singular additional print to replace it!
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How will I receive graphic design work?
For graphic designs, you will receive the digital file as both an SVG and PNG that you can then use to make T-shirts, stickers, business cards, and more!
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Can I get a commission in a size not listed?
Yes! My full list of available sizes (in inches) is as follows: 4x5.3, 4x6, 5x7, 6x9, 8x8, 8x10, 8x12, 10x10, 10x13, 10x15, 10x20, 11x14, 12x12, 12x18, 12x24, 10x30, 16x20, 16x24, 20x20, 12x36, 18x24, 20x24, 20x30, 24x36, 24x48, 30x30, 30x40. Price may vary with non-standard sizes.
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How do I know what size I need?
First, find the place in your home or friend's home where the custom illustration will be displayed. Your commission will want to fit comfortably against that wall with at least a 2-inch mat all the way around, and a minimum of a 1 or 2-inch frame all the way around. Larger sized pieces of art will also require additional mat and frame thickness to balance the scale of the artwork itself. Some standard sizes such as 8x10 or 11x14 can fit into a frame without a mat, but matboard is always recommended to enhance the presentation of your artwork.
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Can I size up or down mid-process?
Yes! If you change your mind during the commission process, your one-of-a-kind print can always be made smaller, but can only be sized-up a certain amount while still retaining its crisp details. If you are wanting to size up your commission, let me know, and we will try to make something work. No additional fee will come of sizing down, but sizing up from your original size to anything larger than a 16x20 will incur an additional charge. Note that your image will be edited to fit a new size as best as possible, but clipping can occur when your resize is of a different aspect ratio.
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What other edits can be made mid-process?
The biggest perk of commissioning a digital work of art is that it is much easier to adjust than traditional illustrations! The underdrawing of your digital commission will be sent to you for approval. At that time, the client will be able to make requests regarding placement of elements in the composition. After value and the first iteration of color is added, the client may make requests to adjust color. Once color is approved, the artist will add black and white detail and will confirm the physical size of your commission before making your one-of-a-kind print.
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How long will my commission take?
From the time of payment, commissions can take up to 6 weeks to complete. Time of year can also impact the timeline of custom pieces, as orders can get backed up around holidays. If you need a work of art more quickly than 6 weeks, please let me know as soon as we begin our relationship, so we can expedite the process as much as possible. Time of completion can also be delayed as edits await approval by the client.
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What factors influence price?
The price of digital commissions are determined by the time and attention to detail I put into your custom work of art, and the cost of manufacturing your physical giclee print. Expedited completion fees may also apply.
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Get Started on a Custom Work of Art
Send me your specifications and a brief description of what you’re looking for to begin our relationship! I’ll email you back shortly, and we can discuss reference images and payment before I begin work on your new piece of art! Payment of a 50% deposit will be accepted via Zelle, Venmo, or emailed invoice before any work on the commission begins. Clients are responsible for additional shipping costs of traditional artwork if necessary. If you are looking to collaborate with me on a graphic design (logo, graphics, stickers and t-shirt designs), or if you are interested in a mural, please email me via the Contact page of this site.
Terms & Conditions
For purposes of these terms, the "client" is whoever is paying the artist (Katherine Knapik Riveral) for a custom work of art.
No work will begin on the commission until deposit of at least 50% has been paid to the artist via Venmo, Zelle, card, or check. Checks cannot be mailed and must be delivered/received in person. In the event of expedited completion required, 50% of the base price will be added for 1 Week completion, and 100% will be added for 48 Hour completion. An additional 50% fee will be charged if your 1 Week turnaround time falls the week of Christmas and New Year's, or the weeks of April 5th, May 23rd, or December 7th.
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Clients who commission works in digital media will not receive a digital form of the work to prevent unlawful reproduction of the work. The artist maintains the right to use images of your commission for promotional use but will not sell reproductions of your one-of-a-kind work of art.
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Client acknowledges that they are purchasing the vision of the artist and that interpretation of their reference images is a stylistic and artistic representation. Client acknowledges they are purchasing a one-of-a-kind illustration, not a photograph or photo-realistic representation of reality.
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Terms for Custom Fine Art, Traditional Media
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Timeline of Project Completion The Artist will typically complete artwork in 4 to 6 weeks.
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Unavailability of the Artist The Artist will not work Sundays, April 5th, May 23rd, December 7th, 24th, 25th, and Federal holidays, with exceptions made for projects requiring expedited completion.
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Expedited Completion Fees Coinciding with Artist Unavailability In the event of expedited completion required, 50% of the base price will be added for 1 Week completion, and 100% will be added for 48 Hour completion. An additional 50% fee will be charged if your 1 Week turnaround time falls the week of Christmas and New Year's, or the weeks of April 5th, May 23rd, or December 7th.
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Timeline and Allowance for Under-Drawing Edits The Artist will create a pencil under-drawing of the Client's subject matter, and will send an image to the Client for one round of edits. All requested edits must be proposed at this time. Requested edits must fall under the category of size, placement, and composition. The Artist will then make any requested edits and send an updated under-drawing to the client for final approval. The client may request one round of adjustments to any edit that the Artist is already aware of, but under no circumstances may the Client propose a new edit during the final approval phase.
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Timeline and Allowance for Paint and Ink Edits The Artist will obtain a list of the Client's preferences for color and style, but will ultimately have the final say for stylistic direction of the artwork. The Artist will finish the artwork with paint and ink, and will send the Client an image of the finished artwork for final approval. Due to the permanent nature of paint and ink, no edits will be allowed after the Artist has finished the artwork.
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Payment and Shipping The Client must pay any remaining balance in full before the artwork is shipped. The Artist will ship the artwork to the Client on the next business day after the final balance is received. Shipping is fulfilled with USPS or FedEx, and typically will take 2-7 business days from date of shipment.
Terms for Custom Fine Art, Digital Media
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Timeline of Project Completion The Artist will typically complete artwork in 4 to 6 weeks.
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Unavailability of the Artist The Artist will not work Sundays, April 5th, May 23rd, December 7th, 24th, 25th, and Federal holidays, with exceptions made for projects requiring expedited completion.
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Expedited Completion Fees Coinciding with Artist Unavailability In the event of expedited completion required, 50% of the base price will be added for 1 Week completion, and 100% will be added for 48 Hour completion. An additional 50% fee will be charged if your 1 Week turnaround time falls the week of Christmas and New Year's, or the weeks of April 5th, May 23rd, or December 7th.
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Timeline and Allowance for Under-Drawing Edits The Artist will create a pencil-style under-drawing of the Client's subject matter, and will send an image to the Client for one round of edits. All requested edits must be proposed at this time. Requested edits must fall under the category of size, placement, and composition. The Artist will then make any requested edits and send an updated under-drawing to the client for final approval. The client may request one round of adjustments to any edit that the Artist is already aware of, but under no circumstances may the Client propose a new edit during the final approval phase.
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Timeline and Allowance for Color Edits The Artist will obtain a list of the Client's preferences for color and style, and will color the artwork. The Artist will add a watercolor painted-style color layer to the artwork, and will send an image to the Client for one round of edits. Requested edits must fall under the category of value, hue, and texture. Requested edits may not fall under the category of size, placement, or composition. The Artist will then make any requested edits and send an updated colored artwork to the client for final approval. The client may request one round of adjustments to any edit that the Artist is already aware of, but under no circumstances may the Client propose a new edit during the final approval phase.
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Timeline and Allowance for Ink Edits The Artist will Finish the artwork with a fineline ink-style drawing consistend with the Artist's artistic style. The Artist will then send the Client the finished artwork for one final round of edits. The Client may request edits that fall under the category of adding or subtracting ink, or modifying ink texture. Requested edits may not fall under the category of object size, placement, or composition; edits may also not fall under the category of "paint" value, hue, or texture. The Artist will then make any requested edits and send an updated finished artwork to the client for final approval. The client may request one round of adjustments to any edit that the Artist is already aware of, but under no circumstances may the Client propose a new edit during the final approval phase.
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Payment and Shipping The Client must pay any remaining balance in full before the physical copy of the artwork is produced and shipped. A one-time giclee print is created to-order of the custom artwork and is shipped from the print shop used by the Artist. Production and shipping typically takes 3-8 business days after the final balance is received.
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Artwork Guarantee in the Event of Tragedy In the event of fire, flood, or other Act of God that results in destruction of the artwork, the Artist will create a one-time giclee reproduction of the artwork at 60% off retail price for a single giclee print of the same size. This reduced-cost print pricing does not apply to artwork destroyed by negligence or improper care, and also does not apply to a second reproduction in the event of a second fire, flood, or other Act of God.
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Client will not see their completed commission until it is paid for in full and delivered.
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Client is responsible for all shipping costs, which will be calculated (if applicable) once the commission has been completed and will be charged separately at the end of the commission process. Finished commission will not be shipped (if applicable) until remaining balance has been paid in full.
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Client acknowledges that custom artwork does not come framed.
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Custom artwork is non-refundable post-completion, and once any work has begun on the commission, deposit is also nonrefundable.
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All above terms are subject to change without notice. You agree to these terms when you pay the deposit for your commission.
Copyright Info
In all business arrangements, the client is licensing the intellectual property of Katherine Knapik Riveral. The client has no legal claim to any of Katherine Knapik Riveral's illustrations or designs, even illustrations where the client gave input on the direction of the project. The right to all visual artwork created by Katherine K Riveral belongs to her solely, including distribution rights (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Sections 102 & 106). It is not classified as Work For Hire (Chapter 2, Section 201) as a freelancer is not your employee, and rights to copyrighted works are not transferred to clients of freelance artists unless an explicit Work Made For Hire contract is signed by both parties. The artist will never sign a Work Made for Hire contract for freelance work. In the event of the artist's death, copyrights are transferred to her family.
Client does not have the right to copy, reproduce, or distribute the commissioned illustration for profit or otherwise unless agreed upon beforehand.