Start with the canvas — not the artwork
Denim, leather, canvas duck, twill, and heavy cotton all take paint differently. Denim absorbs and cracks with wear — a look most people want, but not all. Leather sits on top of the paint and holds detail beautifully, but requires sealing. Nylon and technical fabrics do not accept acrylic — a painted windbreaker will crack in a week.
Before you even think about the design, decide what you want to wear. The garment leads. Every good commission conversation opens with "what jacket do you already own that you would trust me with?"
What to send the artist
A useful brief is short, visual, and honest. Overwriting a brief kills the piece before it starts. Send:
- A clear front-and-back photo of the exact garment (or the closest match if you plan to ship it).
- Three-to-five reference images — from anywhere: paintings, album covers, tattoo flash, photographs. Do not send Pinterest boards of 200 pins. Pick five.
- A one-sentence mood description ("cinematic, faded, red-black-cream") — not a Pantone code.
- The size you wear, and where you want the artwork sitting (back panel, chest, sleeve).
- One thing you specifically do not want. A dislike anchors an artist faster than a like.
Budget — a real range, not a fantasy
A hand-painted jacket is not a Uniqlo tee. The realistic range for a fully-painted denim or canvas jacket is 400 to 1,500 USD, depending on coverage, detail, and the artist's waitlist. Leather runs higher (600 to 2,500 USD) because of sealing time and material cost.
That range includes the artist's time, materials, sealing, and shipping. It does not include the base garment if you want the artist to source one. Prices below 300 USD are almost always mass-printed or vinyl-heat-pressed — not painted.
Timeline — book early, breathe
Most independent artists work three-to-eight weeks per piece once the brief lands. Rush jobs (under two weeks) usually cost 30-50% more and force compromises — either detail loss or scope loss. If the piece is for a specific date (birthday, tour, wedding), start the conversation at least ten weeks out.
A good artist will tell you their waitlist upfront. If they cannot, or they promise "next week" without asking about the garment, that is a red flag.
The revision conversation
Most commissions include 2-3 revision rounds during the sketch phase — before paint touches fabric. Once paint is on, revisions become repaints (expensive, and often visible as an underlayer). Front-load your feedback. The sketch stage is where you have the most freedom.
Trust the artist on execution decisions — palette adjustments, brushstroke direction, where a highlight sits. Micromanaging the paint kills the piece. Set the vision; let them drive.
Aftercare — the part everyone forgets
A properly sealed hand-painted jacket survives normal wear for years. Rules:
- Turn inside-out before washing.
- Cold water. Delicate cycle. No fabric softener.
- Hang dry. Never machine dry — heat softens acrylic sealant.
- Spot-clean instead of full-wash when possible.
- Store on a padded hanger, not folded on a shelf (creases at the paint edges).
How to commission with Be Back Soon
For Be Back Soon commissions specifically: start with the Custom Work brief form. Pick your canvas type, set your timeline honestly, share your budget range, and drop reference images or Instagram links. The artist reads every brief personally and replies with a quote within a couple of days. No middlemen, no template answers.