Commissions

Treehouse of gold 4x5 ft oil

After missing out on several of Shay’s sold originals, this couple decided it was time to commission a painting created exclusively for them. Their only requests were three monkeys and a vibrant palette of orange and blue—then they gave Shay complete creative freedom. From that simple starting point, he created an entire world: three monkeys gathered high above the city in a luminous golden tree, surrounded by butterflies, movement, and hidden symbolism. The finished painting became a perfect example of what can happen when a collector’s personal vision meets an artist’s unrestricted imagination.

Feminine future. 11x14 oil

Created for a wonderful collector drawn to spirituality, feminine energy, and the mysteries of the universe. With only those ideas as a guide, Shay was given the freedom to create a deeply personal vision connecting the human spirit to something far greater.

A Dad and his Dog. 24x36 oil

This deeply personal commission was created to honor a collector’s late father, with a small portion of his ashes carefully incorporated into the painting itself. His family wanted more than a traditional portrait—they wanted the man they remembered. They shared the jacket he wore, his beloved dog, his passion for fishing, and the unmistakable details that made him unique: Bud Light, SpongeBob, and the Denver Broncos. Shay brought those memories together into one meaningful scene filled with personality, love, and life. The family connected with it so strongly that prints were created for everyone. When a painting brings people to tears, it becomes more than artwork—it becomes a place where someone they love can always be found.

The Site of Serenity. 2x5 ft oil

This commission began with a deeply personal request. The collector’s late mother had always loved owls and the mountains, so a small portion of her ashes was carefully incorporated into the painting itself. Given complete creative freedom, Shay envisioned her as the majestic mother owl watching over a tiny owlet—representing her son—nestled safely in the lower-right corner. Surrounded by a peaceful mountain landscape at dusk, the finished painting became more than a memorial: it became a lasting image of protection, connection, and a mother’s presence that never truly disappears.

The last shot. 30x40 oil

This commission began when a collector connected deeply with one of Shay’s paintings at an exhibition but imagined a slightly different version created especially for them. Rather than simply reproducing the original, Shay returned to the atmosphere and energy of his underwater series and reimagined the concept through new details, composition, and personality. The result became The Last Shot—a completely original painting that preserved everything the collector loved about the earlier work while giving them a vision that was uniquely their own. Their excitement when they saw the finished piece made the creative journey every bit as rewarding for Shay as it was for them.

The Edge of Existence 6x9 ft oil

After selling his former ranch to Post Malone and relocating to Idaho, this collector needed a monumental painting that would feel like a natural extension of his new home. Together, he and Shay studied the view beyond the back door—discussing the exact perspective, the waterfall, the surrounding landscape, and the perfect time of day to capture. The idea of a solitary fisherman was added to bring life and quiet reflection into the scene. At 6 by 9 feet unframed—and more than 10 feet across once framed—it became the largest painting Shay had ever created: a custom-built window into the world just outside.

The buzz around a bee. 4x5 ft oil

Created for Rice’s Honey—the Colorado company founded by L.R. Rice in 1924—this commission began with an incredibly open brief. The company asked only that a bee and a bottle of its honey appear somewhere in the painting. Naturally, Shay transformed the bee into the commanding focal point and built an imaginative new world around it, weaving the product into the scene without allowing it to feel like traditional advertising. With nearly complete creative freedom, the project became a vibrant celebration of bees, honey, nature, and the company’s heritage. Commissions like this are especially rewarding because they prove that even a brand’s story can become an unexpected and completely original work of art.

The way I see it. 4x7ft oil

When this collector launched a new company, he wanted to celebrate the achievement with something far more personal than a traditional business milestone. He commissioned a large-scale original painting and gave Shay nearly complete creative freedom, requesting only a dramatic cityscape and the company’s logo incorporated into one of the buildings. From there, Shay created an entire metropolis filled with energy, movement, and vibrant color, weaving the logo naturally into the architecture as a symbol of the collector’s new beginning. The ambitious scale and intricate details required countless hours to complete, but the finished painting became a powerful reminder of what can be built when imagination, determination, and vision come together.

Sasquatch Ranch. 4x5 ft oil

This massive 4-by-5-foot commission was created for Shay’s good friend Dean, founder of a one-of-a-kind Sasquatch Ranch in the mountains of North Carolina. Complete with Hobbit-inspired homes, friendly goats, a gift shop, and Bigfoot adventures, the ranch offers visitors the chance to step into a world where imagination and mystery feel completely real. Dean requested only three things—the goats, the Hobbit homes, and an appearance

by Bigfoot—then gave Shay total creative freedom. The result became a centerpiece of the ranch: an adventurous, whimsical painting that guests love almost as much as searching the property for Sasquatch himself.

The mind of a orthodontist. 4x5 ft oil

Created for one of Shay’s most dedicated collectors—an orthodontist who owns several practices—this commission was designed to turn an ordinary day at the office into complete visual chaos. The collector asked only that the two figures from his practice’s logo appear within the painting; everything else was left to Shay. Knowing his client’s love of football, Shay dressed one of the young patients in football gear, added a striking portrait to the back wall, and filled the scene with unexpected details. One favorite is the bizarre, irresistible candy sucker—still one of Shay’s favorite objects he has ever painted. The finished piece became an unforgettable centerpiece that continues to surprise patients and give them something completely new to discover every time they see it.

Gobel not golem 3x4 ft oil.

This large-scale commission was created for close family friends who wanted something unforgettable for their downtown Denver residence. They offered no list of requirements, no preferred subject, and no creative restrictions—only complete trust in Shay to make something extraordinary. When the painting was finally finished, its debut became an event of its own. Nearly 200 guests gathered in their downtown home for a private unveiling, where Shay shared the inspiration, symbolism, and story behind the work. What began as a commission became an incredible night filled with art, friendship, and connection. For Shay, it remains one of those rare experiences that proved a painting can bring an entire room—and an entire community—to life.

Excellence 3x4 ft oil

This commission began with a completely unexpected meeting at the Denver premiere of the ShayVision film around 2012. A collector arrived hoping to meet Shay, and their conversation soon led to several commissioned paintings. For this first piece, he asked for only two things: excellence and the presence of a ram. Everything else was left to Shay’s imagination. When the painting was shipped from California, its frame was damaged in transit, so Shay flew to Denver, repaired it personally, and stayed for dinner and an intimate unveiling celebration. What began as a chance encounter became a lasting collector relationship—and a reminder that art has a remarkable way of bringing the right people into our lives.

Smitty's Sweet Spot 30x40 inches

Created for a longtime friend and former high school teammate now living in Alaska, this remains one of Shay’s favorite commissions. The collector requested an Alaskan landscape, mountains, a ram, and his old football number—57—hidden within the painting just as Shay often incorporates his own number 21. Shay transformed the ram into a surreal two-headed guardian, placed 57 subtly on the whale, and added a Lakewood Tiger skull as a playful tribute to their former high school rival. Along with several other hidden details, the painting became a visual time capsule of Alaska, football, friendship, and shared history. The collector loved it so much that it became the beginning of several more paintings in his collection.

Reunion of Love 3x5 ft oil

Created for a valued collector who devotes considerable time and energy to supporting veterans—including work connected to concert events—this commission was built around one powerful moment: a service member finally returning home to his child. The collector left the child’s identity open, and Shay chose a young daughter to heighten the tenderness of the reunion. A military emblem was placed on the wall, while an early idea featuring Shay’s own dog evolved into a German Shepherd at the collector’s suggestion. Everything else was entrusted to Shay. The dramatic light pouring through the doorway became one of the painting’s greatest technical challenges—and ultimately its emotional heart, surrounding the family in a radiant moment of love, sacrifice, loyalty, and homecoming.

A CU Legend 30x40 oil

Created for CU legend Darian Hagan—a friend, fellow Buffalo, and someone Shay admired long before the two became close—this commission honors the full journey behind an extraordinary football life. Hagan asked for several personal landmarks: 110th Street in his hometown, scenes from his years as a player and coach, and his family woven into the background. Shay brought those chapters together into one layered portrait of where Hagan came from, what he accomplished, and the people who stood beside him along the way. Creating the piece for someone Shay once watched as a young athlete—and later came to know as a friend—made the commission especially meaningful. Hagan loved the finished painting, and another honoring his son is already part of the conversation.

Quantum Reality 24x36 oil

This international commission began at one of Shay’s exhibitions in Denmark, where a collector connected strongly with a painting that had already been sold. After Shay returned home, the collector reached out from across the Atlantic to discuss creating a new work inspired by the original. Rather than reproducing the sold piece, Shay revisited its spirit and developed a completely different composition with its own imagery, symbolism, and identity. The collector’s fascination with science provided a natural foundation for the painting’s sense of mystery and discovery. In the end, he loved both works—the one that first captured his imagination and the entirely original vision created especially for him.

The Light King of the Sahara 24x36 oil

This commission began with a simple but intriguing direction: create a desert world filled with the animals the collector loved most. The setting and combination of wildlife were unlike anything Shay had painted before, making the project both a creative challenge and an opportunity to explore completely new territory. Shay developed a series of preliminary sketches, working through the composition until the collector’s ideas and his own artistic vision came together. From there, the desert gradually came alive through atmosphere, color, movement, and carefully placed details. The finished painting became a one-of-a-kind gathering of the collector’s favorite animals—and proof that stepping outside familiar territory can lead to something entirely unexpected