Commission for 1,000 Original ACEO Miniature Nature Watercolor Paintings

Project Overview
We are seeking talented watercolor artists, professional painters, or an experienced art production team to create 1,000 original, hand-painted miniature watercolor paintings featuring nature-inspired subjects.
This is a large-scale commissioned art project. We welcome proposals from individual artists, multiple independent painters working together, or established art studios and production teams capable of maintaining consistent quality across all 1,000 paintings.
The project requires traditional watercolor artwork, with each painting individually documented and accompanied by a corresponding watercolor materials list and color swatch.
1. ACEO Definition and Exact Size Requirements
ACEO stands for Art Cards, Editions, and Originals. ACEOs are miniature, hand-crafted works of art that measure strictly 2.5 x 3.5 inches, the exact dimensions of a standard baseball or trading card.
All 1,000 paintings must meet this exact size requirement.
• Dimensions: Exactly 2.5 x 3.5 inches.
• Orientation: Portrait or landscape.
• Medium: Traditional watercolor.
• Paper: 100% cotton, acid-free watercolor paper.
• Format: Individual miniature original paintings.
• Finish: Professional-quality artwork with careful attention to detail.
Artwork that does not meet the exact 2.5 x 3.5-inch dimensions will not be accepted.
2. Artwork Subject Matter
The collection will focus on nature-inspired subjects. Artists will have creative freedom within the nature theme.
Acceptable subjects include, but are not limited to:
• Flowers and botanical illustrations.
• Trees, leaves, and foliage.
• Landscapes and scenic views.
• Mountains, forests, and gardens.
• Birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
• Rivers, oceans, lakes, and waterways.
• Mushrooms, plants, and natural textures.
• Seasonal nature themes.
• Fruits, vegetables, and botanical studies.
• Other creative interpretations of nature.
We are looking for an interesting and diverse collection of artwork, with a variety of subjects, compositions, and color palettes.
3. Originality and Artistic Requirements
Every painting must be an original, individually hand-painted composition.
• No printed artwork.
• No digital reproductions.
• No tracing or copying existing artwork.
• No AI-generated artwork.
• No mass-produced or mechanically reproduced images.
• No unauthorized reproductions of another artist's work.
Artists may use photographic references for inspiration, but the resulting paintings must be original artistic interpretations.
The goal is to create a diverse collection of authentic, original miniature watercolor paintings.
4. Required Documentation for Every Painting
Every individual painting must have its own corresponding materials list and color swatch.
This is a mandatory requirement for all 1,000 paintings.
Each painting must be accompanied by:
A. Watercolor Materials List
Provide a detailed list identifying:
• Brand of watercolor paint used.
• Exact paint color names.
• Pigment identification numbers, if available.
• Any additional watercolor materials or mediums used.
The list must identify the actual paints used for that specific painting, not simply a general list of supplies used by the artist.
B. Individual Color Swatch
Create a corresponding color swatch for every painting.
• The swatch must display the actual watercolor colors used in that painting.
• Each color should be individually identifiable.
• Color names and paint brands should be labeled.
• The swatch must correspond to the painting's identification number.
C. Artwork Identification
Each painting, materials list, and color swatch must share a matching identification number.
For example:
• Painting: ACEO-001
• Materials List: ACEO-001
• Color Swatch: ACEO-001
This system will allow us to accurately track and document every individual artwork.
5. Materials and Supplies
Artists must use professional-quality watercolor materials.
Required:
• 100% cotton watercolor paper.
• Acid-free paper.
• Professional-quality watercolor paints.
• Quality watercolor brushes.
• Appropriate archival-quality materials.
Please identify the brands and types of watercolor paints and paper you intend to use in your proposal.
6. Sample Artwork and Approval Process
Before beginning the full production run, the selected artist or team must complete a small sample collection of 5–10 original ACEO watercolor paintings.
The sample collection will be reviewed for:
• Artistic quality.
• Originality and creativity.
• Compliance with the exact ACEO dimensions.
• Paper and watercolor quality.
• Color application and consistency.
• Completeness and accuracy of materials lists.
• Matching color swatches and identification numbers.
Production approval is required before proceeding with the first 100-piece shipment.
The sample paintings must be representative of the quality and standards expected throughout the entire project.
7. Quantity, Production, and Shipping Requirements
• Total Commission: 1,000 original watercolor paintings.
• Initial Sample: 5–10 paintings for approval.
• Production Shipments: Minimum of 100 completed paintings per shipment.
• Destination: United States.
• Shipping Frequency: Ship completed batches as they become available for review.
Shipping and quality control requirements:
1. The first production shipment must contain at least 100 completed paintings after sample approval.
2. Each subsequent shipment must contain at least 100 paintings.
3. Every shipment must include the corresponding materials lists and color swatches.
4. Artwork must be carefully packaged to prevent bending, moisture damage, or other shipping damage.
5. Each batch will be reviewed upon receipt.
6. Artists must maintain consistent quality and documentation throughout the project.
Please include estimated shipping costs and delivery timelines in your proposal.
8. Who Should Apply?
We welcome applications from:
• Professional watercolor artists.
• Artists specializing in miniature paintings.
• Botanical and nature watercolor illustrators.
• Multiple independent artists working as a coordinated team.
• Art studios and production teams.
• International artists capable of shipping completed artwork to the United States.
Multiple painters or teams are acceptable. However, one individual or designated project coordinator must be responsible for ensuring consistent quality, documentation, organization, and shipment coordination.
9. What to Include in Your Proposal
Please provide the following information:
1. Portfolio showing examples of previous watercolor paintings.
2. Examples of miniature artwork, if available.
3. Description of your watercolor experience.
4. Confirmation that you can produce traditional, original, hand-painted ACEO artwork.
5. Confirmation that you can meet the exact 2.5 x 3.5-inch dimensions.
6. Confirmation that you can use 100% cotton, acid-free watercolor paper.
7. Confirmation that you can provide an individual materials list and matching color swatch for every painting.
8. Whether you are applying as an individual artist, multiple artists, or an established team.
9. Estimated timeline for completing all 1,000 paintings.
10. Proposed price per painting.
11. Total project cost for 1,000 paintings.
12. Estimated shipping costs to the United States.
13. Your proposed production schedule and shipment frequency.
Please also indicate how many paintings you can realistically produce per week or month.
10. Project Expectations
We are looking to establish a professional working relationship with reliable artists who can deliver a large collection of beautiful, original, high-quality miniature watercolor paintings.
Attention to detail, originality, consistency, proper documentation, and timely communication are essential.
This is a substantial commission with the potential for continued work for artists or teams who demonstrate excellent quality and reliability.
Please submit your portfolio, pricing, production capabilities, and estimated timeline when applying.
We look forward to reviewing your proposals!

Your bid should be broken down to amount per painting x 1000 and include shipping costs to USA.