Many Pittsburgh-area artists take budget-minded commisions to enable creative dreams

When Lynn Epstein and Craig Otto set out to renovate the kitchen in their Bellevue home, they wanted a different look for the tile backsplash behind the stove.

They began by checking out the usual suspects big-box home-improvement stores, as well as boutiques that sold ceramic tile without finding what they wanted.

We saw a lot of gorgeous tiles, but you end up seeing the same things everywhere, Epstein says.

It wasn't until they attended a gallery show of Stevo (Steve) Sadvary's mosaic art that inspiration struck.

He was experimenting with a different look and we thought, Hmmmm, that would transfer nicely,' Epstein says.

They commissioned Sadvary to create a one-of-a-kind piece tailored to their space and taste.

The idea of commissioning art sounds like an activity for wealthy people or international corporations. It conjures up images of ancestral oil paintings hung over the fireplace or a serious sculpture that's the focal point of a large garden.

Artists are happy to do that.

But they also can be commissioned for smaller or more commonplace projects, such as designing an ornate stair rail, a garden bench or the ceramic tile surround for a shower stall.

A surprising number of local artists at a variety of price levels are happy to take on commissions, says Joy Borelli-Edwards, owner of Borelli-Edwards Gallery in Lawrenceville

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Many Pittsburgh-area artists take budget-minded commisions to enable creative dreams