Luminary Studios / Commission guides
Commission guides
Everything worth knowing before you commission.
Plain-language guides from the workbench: how a custom statue commission runs, how long it takes, how to plan a one-of-one gift, and how to tell the services apart. Written by Charles Luminary, sculptor and painter.
How custom statue commissions work
What you provide, what the studio sculpts and paints, and how you approve the work at each stage.
Read the guide → PlanningHow long does a custom figure take?
Two to three months of production, what happens in each stage, and why the studio schedule matters.
Read the guide → International collectorsCommissioning a figure from overseas
References, display size, production scope, timelines, and insured international shipping.
Read the guide → Gift-giversA one-of-one custom figure as a gift
Why a custom figurine makes an unforgettable gift, what to prepare, and how far ahead to start.
Read the guide → Collector decisionsRepaint vs. recommission
Should you repaint a factory figure or commission a new one? Finish limits, scale, and rights compared.
Read the guide → Collector knowledgeRecast vs. commission
What recasts are, how to tell them from original sculpts, and what Luminary Studios will and will not make.
Read the guide → Choosing a serviceCustom, customized, and personalized
Which phrase matches a new commission, a finish on a figure you own, or a piece made for one person or pet.
Read the guide → PlanningHow long does a custom sculpture take?
A stage-by-stage timeline for a custom sculpture commission, from brief to finished piece.
Read the guide →Written for Luminary Studios clients. Project terms are confirmed in your private proposal.