A triptych commission: how a series of paintings works and when it beats one canvas
A triptych commission is the choice when one painting is not enough and one big one will not fit: through the door, into the lift, onto the wall between two windows. A series of several canvases solves that. Below is how it is put together, how it is painted at the studio in Almaty, and what to settle before ordering.
Diptych, triptych, tetraptych: how many parts
- Diptych: two parts. A pair above a bed, or two states of the same place
- Triptych: three parts. The form comes from altarpieces, where the central panel leads and the side wings support it
- Tetraptych: four parts, also called a quadriptych. Hung in a row or as a square
When a series works better than one big canvas
- Transport. Three parts of 60 cm go where one 180 cm canvas will not, and they are easier to pack and send
- A wall with obstacles. A window, a door, a light switch: a series works around them, while one big painting runs into them
- Flexibility. The parts can hang in a row, as steps or as a square, and after a move they can be split between two rooms
- Rhythm. Several parts read as movement: morning, day and evening, the seasons, the view from different windows
Two ways to build a series
| Approach | How it works | When to choose it |
|---|
| Continuous composition | one landscape cut into parts: the horizon line and the forms carry from canvas to canvas | the parts always hang together and in the same order |
| A series in one key | each part is a painting in its own right, with a shared palette, light and scale | the parts may live apart or change order |
Four things hold a series together. The horizon line or main axis sits at the same height in every part. The light comes from one side. Two or three key colours run through all the canvases. The stretchers are the same depth and the edges are finished the same way: either every side is painted, or none is.
A good series is painted all at once rather than one part at a time, so the colour does not drift from canvas to canvas.
A "modular picture" from a shop is usually a print cut into parts. How to tell it apart is covered in how a canvas print differs from a painting.
The "Windows with Flowers" tetraptych: an example from the studio
A series of four paintings made for a client from Switzerland. Each part has its own card in the gallery:
In structure it is a series in one key: each painting can be looked at on its own, and together they work as one piece.
How to commission a series
- Send a photo of the wall and its width. Mark the furniture, windows and switches
- We decide the number of parts and the approach: continuous composition or a series in one key
- The subject and palette are agreed from photos and references before work starts
- The price and timing are known before the start and do not change afterwards. Photos of the stages come as the work goes
The order of work on any commission is covered in how to commission a painting.
What a triptych commission costs
A commissioned painting starts at 60 000 ₸: your own subject, with size and palette matched to the interior. The price of a series is worked out for the project and depends on the number of parts, their size and the subject.
Check current prices on WhatsApp at +7 707 413 32 05. Amounts by type of work are collected under commissioned painting.
How to hang a triptych
- The gap between parts is usually 5-8 cm. More, and the series falls apart into separate paintings. Less, and the parts merge into one patch
- The centre of the whole group sits 145-155 cm from the floor, as with a single painting
- The width of the series, gaps included, is roughly 60-75% of the width of the sofa or chest of drawers below it. More on size in how to choose a painting for an interior
- Paper templates first, cut to the size of the canvases and fixed with painter's tape. The layout is visible before the first nail
Hang from the central part outwards, on one line and with a level. General rules are in how to hang a painting properly.
How to find us
ArtMix art studio: Almaty, 69A Satpayev Street, corner of Gagarin, 1st floor, office 101, Bostandyk district.
The paintings are made by the studio's founder, Anna Chernysheva. Academic training: Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts. She has 300 completed commissions behind her. The work can be seen in person by appointment; the address and map are in studio contacts.
Questions and answers
How much does a triptych commission cost in Almaty? A commissioned painting starts at 60 000 ₸, and the price of a series is worked out for the project: number of parts, size and subject. The price and timing are known before work starts and do not change. Check current prices on WhatsApp.
How is a triptych different from a modular picture? "Modular" usually means a print cut into parts. An oil triptych is painted in parts from the start: each part has its own canvas, its own edge and the relief of the brushwork.
What gap should be left between the parts of a triptych? Usually 5-8 cm. With a wider gap the series falls apart into separate paintings, with a narrower one the parts merge.
Can I commission a diptych or a tetraptych instead of a triptych? Yes, the number of parts is decided by the wall. An example from the studio: the "Windows with Flowers" tetraptych, a series of four paintings for a client from Switzerland.
Can a series be made from my own photograph? Yes. The subject and palette are agreed from photos and references before work starts. Photos of the stages come as the work goes.
Where in Almaty can I see paintings before ordering? At the ArtMix studio at 69A Satpayev Street, by appointment. The catalogue is in the gallery on the website, which holds 35 paintings.
Where to start
A triptych commission starts with two things: a photo of the wall and its width. Send them to WhatsApp at +7 707 413 32 05, and from those alone it is clear how many parts are needed and what size.
New work and the process of painting in the Almaty studio go up on the studio's Instagram.
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