There are three ways to own a piece through Maestra. Most first-time buyers don't immediately see the difference between them, so let's make it plain.

The three tracks

Original. A one-of-one painting that already exists. You see it on the site; if you buy it, it's yours, and no one else can ever own it. The Certificate of Authenticity records it as the Primary Work of its composition — meaning it was the first time this specific image was made, and it holds that status forever. This is the most coveted of the three, and typically the most expensive.

Made to Size. A hand-painted variation of an existing original composition, painted by the same artist at a size that fits your wall. If you love a 24×36" piece but your wall needs 48×72", the artist paints a new original to those dimensions. The COA records it as an Artist's Variant and references the original composition. Also one-of-one — nobody else will own that specific painting — but it exists in reference to the Primary Work.

Bespoke. A brand-new composition painted to a brief you write. No existing piece to reference; the artist starts from your description. This is the most personal, the most variable (because a brief is a conversation), and the most meaningful when it works.

Which is right for you?

The short version:

  • "I love this specific painting and I want it." → Original.
  • "I love this painting but my wall is a different size." → Made to Size.
  • "I have a room in mind but I haven't found the painting yet." → Bespoke.

A longer version

The Original is the right choice when you see a piece on the site and it stops you. Don't overthink it. If your wall fits, buy it — Primary Works come with a specific kind of provenance that can never be replicated.

Made to Size is the right choice when the composition is right but the dimensions are wrong. This happens more often than people think: a great piece exists at 24×36" but your living room needs 48×72". Rather than compromise, you can ask the artist to paint it again, in the size you actually need. You get a new original; the artist gets to revisit a composition they've already thought through.

Bespoke is the right choice when the specific painting doesn't exist yet — maybe because you want a particular subject (a coastal scene with specific weather, a portrait of someone meaningful, a view from a room you love), or because you're outfitting a new home and you want pieces made for it. Bespoke is a conversation over 4–8 weeks: you write a brief, the artist proposes a concept, you approve milestones along the way. It's the most personal of the three and the most rewarding when it lands.

What all three have in common

Every piece, regardless of track, is:

  • Hand-painted by a real artist we've personally introduced to Maestra
  • One-of-one — we don't make prints, reproductions, or copies
  • Signed by the artist
  • Shipped rolled and insured worldwide
  • Delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity

The tracks are different in origin and meaning. They are identical in the things that matter most.

A note on price

Price scales with size and complexity, not with track. A small bespoke might cost less than a large Made to Size, which might cost less than a mid-sized Original. If you're budgeting, think in tiers — we have pieces in the $1,200–$2,500 range, the $2,500–$5,000 range, the $5,000–$10,000 range, and above. Within each tier, all three tracks are possible.

If you can't decide, our concierge will help

If you're reading this and genuinely torn, write us (or start a bespoke brief — "I'm not sure whether I want a bespoke or an Original" is a perfectly legitimate opening line). Our concierge does this every day and usually has a clear recommendation after about three exchanges.