good things often start small.

Like an idea. A spark of insight. A realization of what can be. Maybe you want to convey without words what a person means to you. Or you hope to give others (or you?) a visual reminder of something true, good, and beautiful. Maybe it’s time to get creative and evangelize (others and self) with art. You can make a difference with intentional gifts that nudge the human spirit to soar and experience more of the authentic delight that’s always God's gift. Maybe you realize that you, too, get the unique opportunity to bring “grace in the ordinary” to life, partnering with an artist relying on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to do just that in soft pastel, watercolor, or other media.

Custom art doesn’t have to be costly…just graced by God in the ordinary.

Enter the Journey to Give the Gift of “Wow”

a sacred art work, an expressive portrait, a memorable scene….you pick.

  • Point to God - Commission a Work of Sacred Art

    God’s Word exhorts us to fully trust in the Lord, always acknowledge Him, and make disciples - always by grace. When you commission a work of sacred art, you have the opportunity to point to the one true God. Enter deeply into Great Commission with custom art that points to the Lord, the faith, hope, and love that is His gift, and truth and life found only in Him (John 1).

  • sample portraits in pastel and oil painting

    Give a Special Gift - Commission a Portrait

    Every person was created in the image and likeness of God. Among other things, that means you are gifted with the desire to appreciate, give, and connect with, others. A remarkable way to do that is the gift of a portrait. Capture the essence of a loved one in a candid or staged photo, and let that moment be transformed into a work of fine art that reveals the soul.

  • landscapes and seascapes of creation that are beautiful and reflect grace in the ordinary

    Deepen a Memory - Commission a Landscape

    Did you take a photo capturing a moment of grace in the ordinariness of life - on a treasured time away or at home? The intentional recall of good moments can humble us, restore wonder, refocus us on the important stuff of life, and allow God to give us peace. Transform your photo into affordable custom art for a visual memory you can bring into the present moment.

Pricing Structure

The artist works primarily in soft pastel, and sample prices are listed as such. Final price is determined with client if there are special requirements or complexities as assessed by the artist. A non-refundable 50% deposit is due at contract signing, and balance is due upon client’s final approval of the work. Sales tax is separate.

Hand delivery of pastel works is preferred; if client resides beyond 50 miles of artist workshop, a surcharge will be assessed for shipping and handling. Framing is not included in the price, but framing consultation is available for an additional charge, plus the cost of framing.

Lisa Marie Campo, dba The Acquired Palette, reserves the right to refuse to create custom artwork on commission for any reason, including conflict with sincerely held religious beliefs. Thank you for understanding, and may the peace of Christ be with you and your spirit.

How Commissions Work

STEP 1: You submit your idea (e.g., a portrait of a loved one, sacred art, seascape, etc.) and/or reference photo(s) if you have any.

STEP 2: Upon my verbal or informal statement of interest in fulfilling your commission request, I will draft a suitable contract. If there are special requirements that necessitate a price adjustment, it will be reflected in the contract. This is the time when expectations are set and communicated.

STEP 3: You sign the contract and return to me with a check or electronic payment of 50% of the agreed-upon price. Work on your commission will begin three (3) weeks from contract signing, unless otherwise specified in your contract due to workload. The additional time enables me to order any special materials (e.g., specific pastel hues and brands, or surfaces beyond what I keep in studio).

STEP 4: I will complete a charcoal drawing, and provide to you for your approval. The drawing establishes the values (i.e., dark to light areas) and overall composition. Color is not laid down in this phase, and the drawing is not detailed. For example, if you are commissioning a portrait, you will not necessarily see the exact position of the iris of the eye, or smile lines. Following this, I will complete a color study. You have the option to waive your right to view/approve the charcoal drawing or the color study, considering it is essentially a scaled-up thumbnail that will differ from the final work, and the colors in the final work may differ from what is initially conceptualized, using artistic discretion. (NOTE: if you need to see greater detail before I move forward with pastel, a graphite drawing can be completed for an additional charge).

STEP 5: I do a quick drawing based on the previous sketch on the surface to be used, and begin adding color. I typically do a dry underpainting in harder pastels like NuPastel or Cretacolor in local color for portraits, and a complementary color underpainting with an alcohol wash for landscapes/seascapes, although this varies greatly depending on the inspiration I receive and the surface used. Sometimes, I lay down the softest pastels when working on an underpainting.

STEP 6: I lay down buttery soft pastels of the finest brands, including but not limited to Sennelier, Girault, Unison, Great American, Blue Earth, and Art Spectrum Extra Soft. I select whatever brand is appropriate in terms of value, chroma, temperature, and my experience with how each one interacts with the surface and other pastel brands.

STEP 7: When I believe the work is complete (or just about) I will provide it to you for review. You may request minor changes at this stage.

STEP 8: Congratulations! Your original, commissioned soft pastel art is finished and will be delivered to you, taped to a board and protected with acid-free glassine paper. It will be hand-delivered to you if you reside in the greater Philadelphia area; otherwise it will be securely shipped. The remaining 50% of payment is due at this time (NOTE: If you contracted to have the work custom-matted and/or framed, I will work with the agreed-upon framer to do so in this phase).