Frequently Asked Questions + Commission Process
WHAT IS YOUR COMMISSION PROCESS?
Email sarah@sarahaileen.com to inquire about a commission. Here’s what to expect:
- Dimensions - What size(s) of artwork are you considering for the space? Are you interested in paper, wood, or canvas?
- Pricing - I’ll provide you with a quote. If you are a designer, I’ll include trade pricing.
- Images - I’ll request reference images (e.g., pieces of mine that you prefer, colors, fabric swatches) for design inspiration.
- Deposit - If you decide to move forward, I’ll email an invoice payable online to collect a nonrefundable 50% deposit. Once received, I’ll create a digital mockup of your piece. We can make revisions as needed and agree to a final design.
- Timeline - Depending on the size/surface, your commission will be ready to ship in 2-8 weeks from when we agree to the mockup. I’ll provide a tighter timeline once we’ve confirmed the details.
- Balance - I’ll send a photo of the completed piece. Once approved, I’ll email an invoice payable online to collect the final payment for the artwork. Once received, your commission will be shipped.
Email sarah@sarahaileen.com to get started, and I’ll take you through the process step-by-step.
WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU USE?
I paint with artist-grade acrylics, primarily on wood and archival paper. The materials are made to last and are ideal for executing the crisp lines that are a signature in my pieces. Canvas is an option for commissions on request.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?
The first thing that stands out about my work are the clean lines, and saturated fields of color; the style is known as hard-edge painting. I further emphasize the abstract, geometric forms with contrast and color. I use the proportion and layout of my designs to achieve visual tension and balance. View my artist statement here.
WHAT IS YOUR ART BACKGROUND?
I’ve been drawn to art for as long as I can remember. As a child, I created “stationery” with watercolor on paper. In grade school, I recall our art teacher telling our class not to draw a sun in the corner of the paper because it would give her gray hair! As an art major, I had the opportunity to try my hand at everything from fundamentals in drawing, to ceramics, sculpture, and metals. I have a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design and am focused on exploring and expanding on my love of geometric abstraction and minimalism. View my CV here. Take a deeper dive in my interview on the You Are a Work of Art podcast here.
WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
I find inspiration everywhere, in everyday items. Architectural lines, the colors in packaging, patterns of light and shadow; all of it and more can spark an idea. I never know where it will strike, but when it does, I either take a picture or draw a quick sketch in my phone to capture it. From there, I may immediately conceptualize a fully-formed design, or I take the seed of the idea and create multiple mockups to flesh it out. Once a design excites and energizes me, I’m ready to paint and bring it to life.
WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR DREAM PROJECTS?
When I was a teenager, I was given a coffee table book on Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. I could have cared less at that age and just wanted something “cool”. I am now obsessed with modern architecture and wish I still had that book! I would love to see my large scale pieces looking right at home in Wright’s houses. There’s something thrilling about seeing a large piece go up in a space, it becomes an automatic showstopper.
The most important thing to me is that my pieces go to live where they contribute to the overall aesthetic. They're intended for those who want a dose of modern, color, and a crisp line.
WHO COLLECTS YOUR WORK?
My work is in residential and commercial collections across the United States, as well as Canada and Australia.