Corey Barksdale accepts a limited number of commissions each month. Commissions are open for this year — get in touch for details at 615-601-2787 or clow2ground@gmail.com.
Why Create a Mural?
The benefits of murals are plentiful: not only do they beautify and enhance the urban environment, they deter costly tagging, foster community partnerships and pride, and can even boost the local economy. Above all, they're fun.
Step 1: The Initial Details
Email with a price range in mind, and Corey will give you options for your commission based on a few specifications. Substrate material is one of the first decisions — stretched canvas for acrylic and mixed media projects, or a stretched masonite board for acrylic, mixed media, and oil painting projects. Corey usually works with large-scale canvas sizes such as 3'x4', 5'x10', or 10'x10', along with large-scale wall murals. His paintings favor colorful, flowing lines that seem to dance and move across the canvas — worth keeping in mind when considering him for a commission built around a vivid, colorful palette.
Step 2: The Creative Process
Corey usually asks for the meaning or concept behind the work being requested. Summarize the request in the title and include any reference materials available — these give Corey layers of meaning to work from and help him create a piece that's genuinely personal and connected to the project. From there, he takes the provided information and makes the stylistic and aesthetic choices needed to bring the idea to life, starting with a sketch that represents the proposed concept. Once the concept is approved, Corey sends an invoice for a 50% deposit; once that's paid, the project goes on the calendar with an estimated timeline. He only takes a limited number of commissions each month, so reach out early if you have a firm deadline.
Step 3: The Painting
Corey typically works on a commissioned piece for up to eight weeks. Photos of the finished painting are sent as soon as it's complete, before shipping or pickup is arranged.
Payment
An email invoice payable online via PayPal is sent for each commission. A 50% deposit is due upon agreement, with the remaining 50% due after approval, before the painting ships or is picked up.
Shipping
Shipping is billed upon receipt via online invoice, or the painting can be picked up in person if you're local to Atlanta.
What Makes a Commission Worth It
A commissioned piece isn't just decoration — it's a one-of-a-kind work built around a specific story, space, or occasion that no print or stock artwork can replicate. Whether the goal is a statement piece for a home, a gift with real personal meaning, or a mural that transforms a business or public space, working directly with the artist means every color choice and compositional decision is made with that specific purpose in mind.
With a limited number of commission slots open each month, reaching out early gives the most flexibility on timeline and concept development.
