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Custom hand-painted commissions

A painting of the moment that means everything.

Colourful, story-filled paintings inspired by the moments, relationships, and memories that quietly shape our lives.

A painted feeling.

Join the waitlist

Limited commission rounds Β· Worldwide shipping Β· Newsletter subscribers hear first

Watercolour commission of a couple at a colourful mountain lake by Cris Banana Studio
who it's for

For people who want something meaningful.

You’re not looking for generic wall art. You want something personal, joyful, and full of meaning. A piece that brings someone back to a moment of life they never want to forget.

01

Completely one of a kind

Created from your story. Hand-painted. No templates, no mass prints. Just a deeply personal artwork.

02

Expressive & painterly

Colourful, whimsical, and full of atmosphere. I paint the feeling of a moment, not a photo copy.

03

Story-filled & personal

I weave in meaningful colours, flowers, and symbols tied to your story.

04

Made with the good stuff

Painted on 100% cotton, 300gsm Fabriano Artistico paper with professional artist watercolours (Daniel Smith, Schmincke, Winsor & Newton, Holbein). Shipped worldwide, ready to frame.

A colourful watercolour painting by Cris Banana Studio
the little details matter

The little details matter.

A handwritten note hidden inside the painting. The venue where two people got married. A double rainbow connected to someone's mum. The tiny house that held an entire chapter of life.

I love incorporating personal details and emotional symbolism into each painting so it feels deeply yours, not generic.

Because if a moment matters to you, it matters to me too.

An overhead watercolour painting of a meaningful place by Cris Banana Studio
the investment

Sizes & pricing.

Every painting is an original, created by hand just for you. Choose the size that suits your space and your story.

A4
about the size of a sheet of paper
$390NZD
most loved
A3
about the size of two sheets side by side
$620NZD
A2
a real statement piece for the wall
$960NZD

A 50% deposit secures your spot, with the remaining 50% due on completion. Unframed originals ship worldwide, carefully packaged and ready to frame.

how it works

Five steps. No stress.

Commissions open in small rounds every few months so every painting can be created with genuine care and attention. Newsletter subscribers always hear first before bookings open publicly.

  1. 1

    Join the waitlist

    Add your details below to be the first to hear when the next commission round opens.

  2. 2

    Share your story

    Once commissions open, you'll send through photos and the story behind the piece, the more details you add the better.

  3. 3

    Shaping the feeling

    We'll talk through the atmosphere, colours, emotional details, and symbolism you'd love woven into the piece.

  4. 4

    Painting begins

    I hand paint your piece in my style, with updates shared throughout the process.

  5. 5

    Delivered to your door

    Your original painting is carefully packaged and shipped worldwide for you or your loved one to keep forever.

Cris, artist behind Cris Banana Studio, in her Christchurch studio
hi, I'm Cris

The artist behind the paintings

I create colourful, story-filled paintings inspired by meaningful moments, relationships, and places people never want to forget.

What I love most is translating emotional memories into artwork that feels joyful, personal, and deeply alive.

Every piece is painted by hand from my Christchurch studio, created collaboratively with care, symbolism, and real attention to the story behind it.

questions, answered

The good-to-knows.

How much does a commission cost?

Commissions currently begin at:

A4: $390 NZD
A3: $620 NZD

Pricing reflects the time, storytelling, collaboration, and hand-painted detail that goes into creating something completely personal and one of a kind.

What kinds of moments can you paint?

Anything emotionally meaningful. Weddings, homes, travel memories, farewell gifts, anniversaries, meaningful landscapes, memorial pieces, or moments connected to someone you love. If it carries emotional weight for you, it can become a painting.

Are the paintings realistic?

Not in a photorealistic sense. My work is expressive, colourful, whimsical, and painterly, focused more on atmosphere, emotion, and storytelling than realism.

Can you include symbolic or personal details?

Absolutely. That's one of my favourite parts of the process. Meaningful colours, weather, flowers, small references, or symbolic details can be incorporated to make the painting feel even more personal.

Can I commission a painting as a gift?

Yes. Many of my commissions are created as meaningful gifts for weddings, anniversaries, housewarmings, farewells, birthdays, and milestone moments. They're designed to feel thoughtful, emotional, and completely unique to the person receiving them.

How often do commissions open?

I open commissions in limited rounds every 3 to 4 months. This allows me to give each painting the time, creativity, and attention it deserves. Newsletter subscribers always hear first before spots become publicly available.

I'm not in New Zealand. Can I still commission you?

Absolutely. I work with clients worldwide through email and video calls, and all finished artwork is carefully packaged and shipped internationally.

The waitlist

The next commission round will open soon.

I only take on a small number of commissions at a time so each piece can stay thoughtful, collaborative, and deeply personal. Join the newsletter to hear first when the next round opens.

Subscribers receive early access before commissions are announced publicly