Rizzo Fine Stone Art
The Commission Process
A commissioned stone project is a true partnership. Whether you're a homeowner envisioning a custom feature built directly into your kitchen, shower, or walls, or an interior designer seeking a unique stone masterpiece for a luxury home, we'll bring that vision to life together.
You provide the inspiration, and I'll handle the precision cutting, hand-carving, and intensive labor required to shape a legacy piece you will treasure forever.
THE CONSULTATION Every commission starts with a conversation about what you love and where you want to put it. We'll chat about the wall space you're looking to transform, the rough size you're thinking, and whether you want a mountainscape/sculpture, a built-in feature, or a classic hanging piece. You tell me which elements speak to you; a mountain peak outside your window, local wildlife, or just a certain texture—and we'll start gathering ideas. Feel free to send over any photos that capture the vibe you’re going for. I’ll do some research on my end, and from there, we’ll fiddle with the design until it feels completely right. Once we’re both excited about the direction, I’ll mock up some rough sketches so you can see exactly how I plan to bring your vision to life.
THE INVESTMENT When it comes to pricing, I keep things pretty straightforward: it’s based on time and materials. Naturally, the larger and more intricate a piece is, the higher the investment will be. Right now, I don't charge for initial consultations or the hours spent tailoring the design, though as my schedule fills up, I’ll likely have to shift away from that. My pricing really comes down to basic economics and the reality of fine art commissions. While my husband helps with cutting the heavy cement backing and installing the hanging cleats, I’m the sole person behind the rest of the artwork. I personally source and hand-select every stone—most of which I simply cannot buy in a store. From there, I’m the one operating the tile saws with specialized diamond blades to perfectly fit the stones together, and using a Dremel with diamond burrs to carve out tiny intricate details. It is a highly meticulous, immersive process. Despite the intense labor, my process stays fluid and collaborative. There’s always room for a sudden spark of inspiration or a design tweak along the way, as long as the structural timing allows. And once your piece is finally finished, I always prefer to hand-deliver it myself whenever possible.
THE TIMELINE At the moment, my commission queue is open, making it a great time to start planning. Because each piece is tailored to your home, the timeline will naturally depend on my current studio workload, the season, and most importantly, the physical scale and complexity of the project. The time of year/ weather also affects my timeline. Because precision stone cutting requires water, my winter work is limited to days that hit 60 degrees. Even with a heated garage and warm water, splashing wet stone in freezing weather numbs my hands fast, making it dangerous to run the saws. In general, for Mountainscapes or sculptures, you can typically expect about 3 to 4 weeks. For smaller, straightforward wall art,1-2 months. For larger-scale projects—like built-in features—the process usually takes closer to 2-3 months. Our communication plays a big role in that timeline, too. Because this is a highly collaborative process, our momentum really depends on how quickly we can pin down the details, share feedback, and make final design decisions together. Because I pour so much focused attention into every detail, planning ahead ensures we don't have to rush the creative process. If you have a specific season or occasion in mind for your piece, let’s start talking about your ideas today.
