Shona Neary / Sketchy Shona
How to approach existing originals or a painting, mural or installation commission with Shona Neary, the artist known as Sketchy Shona, whose documented New York work includes a Bushwick mural.
A New York connection with a documented public-work record
I am Shona Neary, known as Sketchy Shona. I studied Fine Art in New York and work between New York City, Berlin and Philadelphia, travelling beyond those bases for projects. I plan each New York project around its location, timing and travel requirements, from the first conversation through delivery or installation.
My Bushwick mural for Hispanic Pride Month depicts Carolina, my best friend from high school. The digital sketch shows how I brought her portrait and skateboard into the wall composition; the process and street-view images follow the painting into its orange Bushwick setting. Together, these records show the image changing from drawing to a public wall.
Existing art and new commissions are different routes
The available-original listings identify work for sale and give dimensions, medium and artwork-only price in euros. Project and exhibition pages preserve works made in particular settings; personally retained work is not for sale, has no public price and is not open to purchase enquiries.
A commission is developed around a person, place or purpose. It can be fine art in oil, pastel or drawing, a mural or installation, an object or another idea we discuss. The right format depends on where it will be encountered. A domestic painting, public wall and installation each have different responsibilities, materials and lifespans.
What to consider before choosing a format
For a painting, note the wall dimensions, viewing distance, light and whether the work will sit in a home, studio, office or another setting. Tell me what you want the image to hold, rather than sending a reference and asking for a copy. For a mural, identify the surface, property owner or decision-maker, audience, access conditions and any permissions or maintenance requirements. For an installation or object, consider circulation, handling, installation and how the work will coexist with people using the space.
A practical first conversation can include photographs or a plan, approximate scale, intended dates, budget range and who is involved in approving the work. You do not need to solve every technical detail before getting in touch. These are the questions that help us work out whether a project is feasible and whether it should be a painting, a mural, an installation or something else.
How pricing, travel and delivery work
An available existing original is priced in euros for the artwork only. Packing, insured shipping, customs charges, import duties and tariffs are additional and depend on destination. I discuss those costs before payment; the artwork price is not a landed total. A bespoke commission has its own price, agreed for its scope and materials, rather than inheriting the price of an existing painting.
A free consultation is where we discuss the idea, site, timing, budget and travel. Once we agree scope, materials and price, a 50% deposit confirms the commission; the remaining balance is due on completion. We plan delivery or installation for the site, and account for travel when setting the schedule and scope.
A useful first enquiry
Tell me where the work would live or be made, what form interests you, approximate dimensions or surface, who uses the space, your timing and budget, and any access or shipping constraints. For New York projects, note whether the site is in a private interior or a public setting and who can approve work there. If you are asking about an existing original, include the listing or artwork name so I can respond to that specific record.
The portfolio brings together paintings, murals, objects and installations. The Bushwick page offers a close look at one New York project; for your own enquiry, include the site, image or purpose you want to explore.