A large part of Bradley Stevens’ work is devoted to commissioned paintings––portraits, landscapes and cityscapes, some of which are on a grand scale for public spaces. With over thirty years’ experience of working on commission, his extensive roster of clients ranges from private individuals to corporations, universities, government agencies and the U.S. Capitol. When a client commissions a painting, they have a unique opportunity to interact with the artist and participate in the creative process. A commissioned painting ideally matches the client’s desires with the artist’s inspiration: It may be a luminous landscape to enhance a home, a professional portrait to honor an individual’s outstanding achievement, a cityscape to enliven a boardroom, or a family portrait to capture a moment in children’s lives. Stevens enjoys collaborating with his clients. He values their input and is sensitive to their expectations. Together, they explore the various ideas for a painting, and from there, Stevens crystallizes these ideas into a series of pencil sketches. As he works out the elements of the composition, Stevens refines the sketches into preliminary charcoal drawings. Once the client has chosen a drawing, he translates the final composition into an oil sketch. Then the stage is set: The canvas is stretched, and as Stevens puts brush to paint, an inspiration is transformed into an enduring work of art.
Please view the Portfolio for examples of Bradley’s commissioned paintings.