Commissions Closed for 2025 - Open for 2026
Having custom artwork in your home can really bring a room to life. I love collaboration and will work with you in detail before pencil or paint ever hits the canvas to make sure we have a clear vision of what your request is and what the final piece will look like.
The information below details my guidelines for commissioned artwork.
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STEP 1 - CHOOSE A SIZE
I offer a range of sizes and prices as a starting point for your project.
Additional elements like backgrounds, added people, pets or full body portraits, taxes, as well as shipping and handling, are all subject to additional costs. Custom sizes are available, but may have exceptions if they are oversized.
I’m currently offering commissioned art ONLY in Canada and the United States.
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STEP 2- SELECT YOUR PHOTO
When providing photos for me to work from, they must be as large as possible, clear, and in digital format to provide the best amount of detail for me to work from. You must also hold the copyright or have permission to use the photo from the photographer.
See my Photo Guidelines for how to choose an ideal photo. If you need help deciding on a photo, I can help you with that process as well.
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STEP 3 - CUSTOMIZED QUOTE
I work in a variety of styles and mediums for commission projects. Since every project request is unique, the pricing is also customized to your project. When you fill out my booking form, I will respond to you in 3-5 business days with any options and detailed information on the scope and cost of your project. There’s no obligation to book at this stage; the quote is absolutely free.
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STEP 4 - DEPOSIT PAYMENT
A non-refundable 50% deposit is required on all projects prior to the beginning of work on the piece. This deposit covers the time and materials for the project. Final payment is due before the artwork is shipped or delivered. My preferred methods of payment are PayPal or e-transfers.
I am now accepting credit card payments through Stripe as well.
Please read my terms and conditions for more details.
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STEP 5 - ARTWORK CREATION
This is where the magic happens! At this stage I will send you a line drawing for approval if your artwork is based on a composite of different photos. If the artwork is essentially recreating a photo, I will jump straight to rendering once the crop or layout has been approved.
Depending on the medium you choose your final artwork in there may be multiple stages of approval. I’m dedicated to creating the best quality result for your artwork and some of the mediums I work in are more forgiving than others when it comes to adjustments.
Please let me know ahead of time if your project is for a surprise gift so that I can avoid posting on social media during the process of your piece.
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STEP 6 - ARTWORK DELIVERY
When I have completed your artwork I will email you a full scanned version for you to approve. At this stage, I may be able to make limited minor adjustments to your piece.
When final approval is given, the final payment will be due as outlined in your quote and I will prepare your artwork for shipping or delivery.
Kind Words From Clients.
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![A digital painting of a smiling young girl with long red hair and a smiling young boy with short light brown hair, both showing their teeth, against a colorful background.]()
“Working with Barb on this commission was flawless. She does everything possible to ensure that she creates your vision and maintains an open dialogue throughout the process. The portrait she created for us is special for many reasons. It puts a huge smile on our faces every day. We have it displayed prominently in our living room for everyone to see. We cannot say enough good things about working with Barb. Truly a pleasure!”
JENNIFER & GARY S.– CLARK, NJ, USA
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![Painting of a black dog with golden eyes, tongue hanging out, and a collar with a chain, set against a green background.]()
"Barb was great to work with. She was professional, timely and helpful. The finished pet portrait commission is everything I hoped it would be. I highly recommend her to anyone considering a commission.”
LYDEN P. – CALGARY, AB, CANADA
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![Painting of two calico cats, one larger and one smaller, sitting together on a couch.]()
"This talented beauty has created 6 pieces of art for me over the years. Yes, they have a cost, but they are absolutely priceless to me because every time I see them, they put a smile on my face and bring back such happy memories.💜”
CARIN R. – CALGARY, AB, CANADA
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![Colorful illustration of a hummingbird with outstretched wings, surrounded by a vibrant, abstract background.]()
“Barb’s portfolio of art is so happy, vibrant and detailed. I knew that she was the best artist to commission for a special piece after loosing our home in the McDougall Creek Wildfire. My husband enjoyed setting up hummingbird feeders in our yard and admiring their vibrant colours when they came to feed. Barb captured the colors and life with this piece and it made my husband so happy. The whole process was simple, efficient and Barb was very professional. The art was packed with care and delivered on time.”
JENNIFER P. – KELOWNA, BC, CANADA
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![Close-up of a smiling Shiba Inu dog with a gray background.]()
“I commissioned Barb to draw a portrait of my dog Fuji. She was professional, communicated exactly how the process works and the timeline. When I received my portrait I was completely blown away. I am in love. The drawing is so detailed, and looks exactly like him. She captured everything perfectly, from all the different colors in his fur, to the sparkle in his eyes. Every time I look at it I see the pure joy in my dog’s face. It makes me smile. This photo will forever be in my home.”
NADIA C. – CALGARY, AB, CANADA
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![Front view of a vintage red Chevrolet truck with a rusted hood and yellow grass in the foreground, greenery, and a blue sky in the background.]()
“I commissioned Barb to do a drawing of my grandfather’s old ’68 Chevy from a photo I took of it when it was still back home in Manitoba. The detail is ridiculous and it looks even better in person. The truck has been in my family for three generations and this is now a lovely memory of what it was before taking it all apart to rebuild into a truck for myself. Barb is extremely talented! Thank you for making this awesome memory that means so much to me and my family.”
MATT S. – CALGARY, AB, CANADA
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![Three Siberian Huskies wearing colorful bandanas with painted backgrounds, seated and looking in different directions.]()
“We were incredibly honoured to have been gifted a hand-drawn portrait of our three dogs from Barb. It would be an understatement to say how beautiful it is. Barb was able to work from multiple photos to include our newest rescue pup in a favourite mountain scene. She did an amazing job immortalizing them. The attention to detail is unreal especially given the sheer size of the piece. They look absolutely true to life. We are beyond moved to have this in our home and it will be something we treasure forever. ”
COURTNEY M. – CALGARY, AB, CANADA
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![A digital illustration of a smiling woman and man with glasses, surrounded by a circular border of green leaves and gold accents.]()
“I commissioned a picture of my brother and sister in law for their engagement gift with Barb. Not only did it turn out amazing, but the process working with her was great. She is very responsive and will work with you on any little thing you want. They loved it also! ”
JODI B. – HOWARD BEACH, NY, USA
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![A circular emblem with an outer gold and brown Celtic knot border. The inner circle is divided into four quadrants with a gold central compass. Top quadrant features a red warrior mask with a fierce expression. Left quadrant has a white gorilla face on a black background. Right quadrant displays a green tree on a blue background. Bottom quadrant shows a red and yellow snake on a black background.]()
“We were very happy to have been referred to Barb by a close friend. She showed professionalism, passion and genuine excitement when we proposed our vision of a modern day Coat of Arms to her. She laid out her process and at no point did she fail to uphold the timeline that we agreed on for this project. Barb has amazing talent and it shines brightly in the art she created for our family! Just as she was referred to us in the beginning, I will not hesitate to recommend her to anyone that is in need of amazing commissioned art work! Well done Barb and thank you for this beautiful creation!”
THE WOODS FAMILY – SPRUCE GROVE, AB, CANADA
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![A family of five, including a woman in a black dress, a woman in a polka dot shirt, a young girl in a denim jacket, and a young man in a checkered shirt, along with three dogs, inside a hair salon with mirrors and hairdressing tools.]()
“We are so pleased with the family portrait that Barb recreated for us. It will definitely have a special place in our home. She was great to deal with and her communication throughout the process was excellent. She always ensured I was happy before moving forward and made all deadlines as promised. Barb, your talents are amazing! Thank you so much!”
DEAN H. – SPRUCE GROVE, AB, CANADA
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![Three sea turtles swimming over a colorful coral reef with small fish, in an underwater scene]()
“I reached out to Barb in the early part of 2016 asking if she would be interested in creating a turtle painting for me. I was expecting my first son that year and I really wanted something to commemorate this special time. I have a soft spot for sea turtles and she took my idea and blew me away! I absolutely loved and still love the painting. When I look at it I can still feel all the excitement leading up to becoming a first-time mom and expanding my family. I will definitely be reaching out to her again very soon for another creation. Barb, thank you for your talent, your kindness, and your beauty! You have given me something I will treasure forever.”
BRIANNE G. – EDMONTON, AB, CANADA
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![Painting of a seascape with blue ocean waves and rocky cliffs under a partly cloudy sky.]()
“Before my husband and I got married I commissioned a charcoal drawing for him. Barb was extremely professional and kept me up to date on the process, layout, and options for framing. The piece was incredibly well done, and her talent shone through. My husband was in awe and absolutely blown away by the attention to detail and description card she included with the piece. She also painted a piece in celebration of our wedding. It beautifully depicts the location where we got married and the colours Barb used would make anyone swoon. Whether you commission Barb for a fun drawing, memorable painting, or custom piece you will not be disappointed. She will take your ideas and make them come to life!”
JAMIE T. – CALGARY, AB, CANADA
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![Colorful skull mask with Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) design, featuring pink, blue, and red decorations.]()
“I have commissioned 3 sugar skulls from Barb. All have been amazing. I gave her a general colour palette and theme and let her imagination run away with an idea. She knocked it out every time! I highly recommend art by Barb. She is unbelievably talented and professional. My skull’s name is Valentina and is music themed. I have it in my entranceway. Love it! ❤”
AMANDA M. – EDMONTON, AB, CANADA
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![Drawing of a person wearing sneakers with striped socks, standing on a flat surface.]()
“Barb has done three custom pieces for me and they both completely exceeded my expectations. She’s incredibly talented and beautifully captured exactly what I was looking for with amazing attention to detail. I look forward to more Barb Sotiropoulos pieces in our home.”
FAYELYNN B. – ABBOTSFORD, AB, CANADA
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![Decorative black skull with blue octopus, stars, and sun symbols, gold teeth, and turquoise writing that says 'Crafting on my skull'.]()
“A few years back Barb was doing these custom sugar skulls and I thought that they looked amazing and I had to have one. I reached out to her on Facebook and asked if I could have her make me one. I am a big Tragically Hip fan and love the song “Nautical Disaster”. She wanted to give me what I wanted and asked all the right questions. The final product could not be more perfect. Her care and attention to detail shows her love for art. I love the skull and it is on display in my living room.”
MIKE P. – SPRUCE GROVE, AB, CANADA
