Most weavers prefer to design and weave on commission and it is in the commissioning that the real excitement lies. A good deal of bespoke weaving is for large architectural spaces, often planned by a team made up of the architect or art consultant and the tapestry artist. Commissioned work does not have to be for large corporate or civic buildings however, and commissioning for a specific area in the home can be particularly satisfying.
Commissioning a new tapestry is a skill in itself and the most important first move is to choose a tapestry artist/weaver whose work is sympathetic. In the search of an artist the Internet can be of great help in finding an experienced artist and also in determining if the artists design style is suitable for the project. A visit to the artist’s studio is also very helpful and most artists welcome such visits.
When a tapestry is commissioned the artist will work closely with the architect or art consultant to make sure that the work is fully compatible with its proposed setting. The commissioning process begins with discussions between the client and the team (or the artist/weaver) and then a design suggestion is prepared. If the client decides to go ahead, detailed discussions are held, after which a firm quotation is given, stipulating both cost and completion date. The amount of time it takes to weave a tapestry varies a great deal, but to give an indication, depending on the complexity of the design a 4ft x 8ft tapestry may take three month to one year to complete.