Should I Make a Bussiness or Personal Gmail for Art Comissions
A Framework for Accepting Fine art Commissions
Whether you accept commissions for portraits (houses, people, pets), funerary urns, custom jewelry, or garden sculpture, you encounter situations that other artists don't.
Commissioned artists must meet with patrons, communicate throughout the process, figure out payment schedules, and create documents that outline terms to the clients. All of this on top of making the client happy.
Commissions aren't for anybody, which means at that place is plenty of room for artists who bask and are practiced at them. If you are one of those artists, follow these viii steps to state more of them.
viii Steps for Landing Fine art Commissions
one. Add a prominent link for commissions on your website.
Include steps for commissioning a slice and testimonials from happy patrons alongside images of the finished work.
2. Provide at least two means to contact y'all.
Meet that your marketing materials, including your website, have both an email address and a phone number. Co-ordinate to Matt Oechsli, the flush prefer phone to electronic mail.
At least 1 artist has lost an opportunity for a mural commission considering she didn't have a phone number on her site and her electronic mail was down. How exercise I know? Because I was the person looking for an artist to assistance a neighbour with her project.
3. Empathise your pricing structure.
Commissioned artwork should be priced college than your other piece of work because you lot are trying to meet someone else's expectations.
Some artists accuse every bit much as 50% more for commissioned pieces, which is on the loftier terminate. This covers the PITA (pain in the donkey) factor that often accompanies the committee process. At that place will be numerous meetings or conversations, along with possible changes that will take y'all away from your other work.
This brings me to …
4. Develop a questionnaire for potential clients to complete earlier y'all meet with them.
Ask for their timeline, ideas, and expectations. This will serve as a manner to qualify people – to brand certain they are serious and don't waste your time.
You might also exist asked to create something that has zilch to do with your body of work because the innocent person doesn't know any other artists. That's when you really have to retrieve most accepting a commission to pigment Tom'south true cat, Neptune, in a spacesuit on top of a mirror.
(Kidding. Yous don't need to call back about it at all. The respond is Hell No! unless you're in the habit of painting feline astronauts on acme of mirrors.)
v. Brand clients aware of your pricing before you spend any time on the project.
When you respond to the questionnaires that are submitted, give an estimated price range of the project. Be clear that y'all volition know more when you meet and have the details, merely become their confirmation that they want to proceed.
6. Schedule a meeting.
If all is a become up to this point, schedule a coming together—fifty-fifty if it's on a video conference. It'due south important that you accept this face-to-face meeting so that you lot can look into one another'due south eyes and begin to build trust.
In the meeting y'all'll discuss details and get a sense of what this commission means to the client—how they prioritize it in their lives.
Do not feel pressured to provide a firm fee or payment schedule at the meeting. In fact, I strongly suggest y'all don't commit to anything at the meeting. Give yourself fourth dimension to think nigh it and use the meeting to sympathise the entire telescopic of the work.
7. Check in with yourself.
Commissions crave that you willingly work collaboratively with some other person.
They also need that you mostly enjoy the process – something virtually artists don't think near. This is important because you will procrastinate projects you don't similar and end up resenting patrons (for asking y'all to do the job) and yourself (for accepting the challenge).
Practise you feel good about working with this person? If so, y'all can proceed.
8. Put information technology in writing.
After the meeting, write a letter of understanding that spells out all of the details including timeline, deposit, and payment schedule.
Begin with this: "Thank you for meeting with me and for your involvement in my work. I am delighted to accept this commission with the following terms, which are based on the discussion we have had to this bespeak."
In your letter of the alphabet, assure the patron that you lot can deliver what they're request for and that you tin can meet any deadlines. As the wise business concern communication goes: Under promise and over deliver. This means if you recall you can have information technology done in two months, say it will take 3 months. When the client gets the piece in 2 ½ months, they'll be thrilled to have it early on.
Ask that the patron sign and render the understanding.
Your Turn
Yay! Yous landed the commission! Now the hard role begins. Y'all must communicate clearly throughout the procedure and deliver as y'all promised on time.
What accept you learned most doing commissions?
- by Alyson Stanfield
- February 21, 2018
This plan emphasizes your limited capacity. It's non about residue.
Information technology's well-nigh being fulfilled—about enjoying the life of an creative person. To do that, yous seek to optimize how y'all spend your precious time.
It's not a social media class and it's not about posting more!
Be intentional with your artist life.
In 2 hours a twenty-four hour period I walk you lot through steps that will outcome in a program that merely you lot could make because information technology's based on your goals, your current commitments, and how you want to run your art business and live your life.
Get real with your fourth dimension.
84 thoughts on "A Framework for Accepting Art Commissions"
Source: https://artbizsuccess.com/art-commissions/
I LOVE commissions but it is like dating – not everyone volition be a perfect match. I similar to have notes at the first meeting and so review what I've written with the client so we are all on the same thought track.
Excellent, Paula. So of import to exist on the same folio with your clients. I encourage my clients to write down: "At present this is how I understand . . . " and inquire the patron to sign off on it.
Thanks for those resource, Sarah. Gwenn is an fantabulous example on so many levels.
One of the all-time ways to impress a customer is to terminate BEFORE the deadline —
and to stay on upkeep.
The raves from the client to their friends is the best advertising possible- and it is Costless.
Excellent point. This is over-delivering at information technology'south finest, Telise.
I beloved deputed work and I know artists who hate it. A good challenge pushes us to be ameliorate. The end result may not always be what I would choose, but I do my very best to give the client exactly what they want, in my painting style. They ever appreciate suggestions, which I requite to assistance them see how the terminal result may look, either practiced or bad! I honey your suggestion of a "committee" section on the website. Must get to work on that!
Inez: Sounds like yous accept some happy patrons.
It is very important that you lot have a clear understanding of what the client want. What they envision for the project and what yous envision may not be the same.
Absolutely, Sandra. That'due south why the discussion and contract are critical.
I become loftier blood pressure over commissions considering so often I notice the customer changes mid-fashion what they want! They Recall they desire what you agree on, but and then…. I've also had lots of final-minute commissions ("Hey, I need this for next week….") or customers who want a figure painting (and I'm not a figure painter) and say "I don't want it to Look like them… just a child… so, when their spouse sees it information technology gets sent back saying "Information technology doesn't LOOK like them.." So… commissions… a blessing and a curse. And I need to be more clear about them costing more than. They are more difficult! Putting it all out in that location on a folio on my blog is a great idea – 1 I volition do asap! Then I tin just refer them to that folio!
Kelley: You can also charge for whatsoever changes to the contract.
The phrase, "That volition cost you an arm and a leg" came from art commissions that charged past the body parts. If you wanted more than a face, y'all paid for it.
I had forgotten that. Thanks for the reminder, Nancy.
Start, cheers for including our photo and my painting in your web log postal service/eblast today. 🙂 It was a great evening
I honey commissions. I reason is because I exercise an extensive interview with the collectors. This not only helps me just information technology also gets them really engaged.
I also deliver more than they expect. I give them a note carte with their image (they use this to show off to others and/or put in their offices.) I also create a small book that shows them the procedure. They go this as a surprise souvenir several weeks after the painting has been delivered.
There is nothing quite equally satisfying equally seeing a collector grinning with glee and sometimes cry, later seeing their painting completed. I also similar knowing that I will be paid for my efforts.(One third is given up front end.)
I am sure you please your patrons, Carol. I've seen your books and they're quite a treat.
and cheers Sarah for the resource!
Great article, Alyson! Love the suggestions from everyone.
Gosh, I don't put my phone number on my websites, FB or anywhere else. I don't fifty-fifty put where I live. I have had some real whack jobs arroyo me and I am not going to put myself out there for more. I have had commissions from people I encounter personally and that works for me. If people connect with me via my email, which they exercise discover, I consider them and decide how safe I feel with the connexion. I also refer them to my rep in New York. I probably sound paranoid but I know personally that crime does happen.
Kathy, in that location are ways to offer a phone number without beingness agape of contact. I think Google offers something via gmail where you tin have a phone number that goes to a voice mail that y'all can access. I think a phone number is important.
Kathy: You can go a Google phone number that is connected to your own – so yous're non giving out your personal number.
Hi Alyson,
Wonderful advice. I really enjoy commissions because I'm a portrait painter, although I've also done deputed paintings of houses and corporate buildings. I detect a commission contract to be very helpful. Before I start a project, I create a contract form that outlines what we've agreed to in terms of size, number of people included and date deadlines. I also explain in the contract that the reproduction rights remain with me, and that I may require to show the piece from time to time. Plus I accuse an extra fee for each added person in a portrait because in fact that's an additional portrait. I require 50% of the fee upwardly front, which I've found guarantees that deadlines are met. When the client has decided to commission me, nosotros meet and nosotros both sign and date two copies of the contract, one for the client and i for my records. If all of the terms are clear right from the start I observe that nigh projects become smoothly, and are quite fun.
Barbara
Sounds very professional, Barbara. I'm certain they appreciate that level of care and business organisation.
Proficient communication. I enquire for a deposit, a deposit lets me know that the client is committed. I break the payments into 3 segments. First a deposit of l%, this is not negotiable, and so another payment midway through the project and the final payment due on completion. This saves a lot of confusion and stress. A contract is imperative, at present to design a commissions page for the website!
Most of my income is from portrait commissions, and then I'1000 grateful to have them and relish the challenge, merely I do wish I had more time for and more sales from personal work! I learned the hard way that a contract is a must, explaining the process, including the mode of the piece, the time frame, sizes, full cost and what that includes (framing, shipping are extra) plus how many revisions that includes! One time a client had me make changes over the course of a couple of YEARS (after framing and delivery!!) because her husband (who was Not the client, his wife was) did not similar the way he looked (men do NOT see themselves as they truly are. I have found them to be much pickier than women, believe it or not!). Partial payment for a not-refundable deposit are likewise a must. It covers the photo shoot and first meetings. For multiple people in ane portrait I accuse 75% for each actress person afterward the first. Detailed backgrounds or props are extra. All prices are clearly stated on my website so people know beforehand if I'm within their upkeep or not and I experience more than confident stating my fees without guilt.
Thanks for outlining those fees, Daggi.
thanks for this! very timely, and helpful. I merely got a commission request last calendar week. I thought equally was reading that I should get testimonials for the work I've sold even if it'southward not commission too…
Howdy Alyson,
Your article is but in time for me, because I have merely received a commission request and I said aye. It is a neighbor commissioning me to paint a portrait of his wife and daughter every bit a surprise birthday gift to his wife (her altogether is next April). It'd be my commencement commission piece.
Shall we yet sign contracts? I'g pretty sure your respond would be "yeah". It just feels a bit weird though.
Thank you lot.
Lucy: The closer someone is to you, the more of import information technology is to have a contract. It could save a friendship.
Concur! I accept a draft template in my reckoner. I promise I'll sign a contract.
Only what if he feels a bit put off by the idea of signing a contract?
Hi Lucy,
I know the feeling exactly. Kiffanie Stahle (web site theartistsjd) (Allison featured in a recent podcast on legal issues) suggests you retrieve of a contract equally a courtesy. A way to ensure you and the client are both on the same folio. Sounds like a practiced mode to approach information technology.
It will save your friendship!
I just finished a commission for my cousin. I absolutley had a signed contract and eolith merely like any other client. The only trouble I've ever had was with the very first committee I did. I didn't have a contract and there were many changes and requests. With the contracts in identify and everything spelled out, changes if they happen at all, are minor.
And it will save your family unit relations!
In addition to all the good suggestions nearly dealing with the business organisation details of a commission, I have plant a very useful technique that helps to ensure the client volition be happy with the painting they receive. I am an abstract painter, and my work is very intuitive and pretty varied. When someone asks for a commission, it is oft not clear what they are expecting. I ask the client to spend a few minutes on my website to look at the images of existing paintings. I then take them tell me the iii paintings they found that they similar the best, and the three paintings that they like the least….AND WHY….very important to know why…is it color, composition, energy level, etc.? I take found that this do is tremendously helpful in establishing an agreement of what the client is envisioning, and information technology has helped me to maintain a 100% satisfaction charge per unit with my committee projects over 20+ years.
Karen, I do the aforementioned matter and accept had the same results. Glad you lot mentioned it! It's a great style to go the conversation going likewise.
Karen: Great idea! Thank y'all for sharing it.
Karen, I'yard an abstract painter too and those are fantabulous ideas on how to go clients to tell yous what they actually want. Thanks for the suggestions!
One affair I put in my committee agreement, btw, is that if the customer ultimately does not similar the piece, they may employ the payment to another already existing piece and I'll continue the ane that I created for them. This concept wouldn't work well with portraits only I think volition work well with abstracts (I haven't had to employ information technology however).
I too do piffling mini's of what I think they desire on canvass board. I do a fast, simple and rough piece only to insure that we're all on the same page.
Best,
Pat
That is an excellent thought! Thanks
I do deputed pet portraits for a living. I find it very important within the body of the proofing email to tell my clients to call me with their pattern modify requests. Information technology is too easy for me to miss something in a quickly jotted off electronic mail. If a client knows they are going to take to talk about their needed design changes using a telephone they finish up using improve more complete language to limited their needs. It is nevertheless hard to become many people to pick up the phone.
Rebecca: So glad y'all shared that. I agree that information technology'south much harder to misunderstand a spoken conversation than to misunderstand email.
Wow Rebecca, checked out your website. You really know how to work it. Fun art of pets that has some edge to it.
Carol, yup expert advice. Cheers.
I basically practise what everyone else here does for commissions. I charge 1/iii to brainstorm, 1/3 subsequently approval of crude typhoon, and one/three upon hanging the piece.
Last commission I had I did non do that though, equally it was new territory for me. The customer, who had deputed other work and purchased several paintings of mine, had asked me to exercise a sculpture. I was non sure I could pull off the bronzing of the piece at the fourth dimension. I wound upward doing information technology in the plasticine and was stuck with the fact that I would have to practise a mold for something, simply I was just non sure of how to go on. Likewise I had made the work besides complicated and the mold alone came to $3K. I was glad I had non asked for any $ upfront as I never finished her. I am back to doing what I know, regarding sculpture and that is using high fire clay as my medium.
Kathy: I have heard of many a commission disaster from artists who accept projects out of their realm. Glad you're back on rail.
Hello Alyson! This article is very helpful. I especially liked the office well-nigh adding a commissions section to my website and will be working on that soon. I've been hesitant to put my personal phone number on my site, as there are many spammers and I'd detest for them to get admission to me directly. Whatever thoughts on this?
Recently an artist I know told me that when he gets a committee he will sometimes paint two pieces which will increment his odds that the customer will like i, and perhaps he will end upwards selling two. I thought information technology was a cool concept.
Jason: My main thought on this is that while you think you are protecting yourself from spammers, you might be cutting off excellent opportunities from others. In other words, y'all're merely looking at the negative.
Await into getting a Google phone number if yous like. It could be the solution.
You're right I should focus more on the positive. I volition look into getting a google phone number or maybe have the plunge with my directly line. Thanks for your feedback Alyson.
Hi, came across this every bit about to put a portrait committee bit on my webpage. Writing here equally am a scrap taken aback about how insistent you are on a phone number – I am partially deaf and virtually never use the phone – in fact, only really accept one for 111 calls and tin can lose it for weeks at a time. Everyone who knows me knows this and contacts me by email or facebook an take not nonetheless had any issues with this. Ane of the issues, of class, is that I miss hear very easily, then something written is less likely to be misconstrued. The question is, really, should I mention this on my commission section or just be happy to miss potential clients? Face to face (as long as not in a very noisy place) more often than not not a trouble . . .
Jane: Everyone who already knows you is comfortable with email and Facebook. What about the people who don't know you? Could you get a phone # that messages you via email? Or have the voicemail say that you can't hear well and prefer email?
You can get a Google phone # for gratuitous. It can email y'all when there is a message.
I just saw on FB where my sister got hacked by some crazed person from some other state. He posted her name forth with several pics of him with weapons. There are all kinds of people who have "liked" information technology, that she does not fifty-fifty know. I looked at some of their walls and they seem to vest to some militant group.
With that said? I am confirmed in my mind as ever, I will not post where I alive or phone number on any site. Possible "clients" observe me.. they do, so I practise non need to open myself upwards to things like the above. My Gmail has been hacked before so has many of my friends. As I wrote before, criminal offense does happen and I know that personally. I know this is not the subject area here, but I am just proverb, be wise, exist conscientious. We do not live in the same earth we grew upward in.
Kathy: You can become a telephone number from Google – Gratuitous.
Hullo Alyson,
Great blog post and swell comments!
I've been doing commissioned work for a very long time. I've always done realistic portraits and am now also doing large abstruse pieces. I really beloved doing them and have almost ALWAYS had dandy experiences.
What I'd similar to know is how to find the people that commission artwork.
I used to get a lot of commissions through word of mouth because I lived in a pocket-sized boondocks. People would bump into me and talk to me about commissioning piece of work, (they never called!!) Now that I alive in a bigger metropolis, I'm just wondering about the best manner to detect the people who are interested in commissions.
Any suggestions would exist greatly appreciated!
(In other news, I was just reading the '$100 Startup' over lunch and came upon your quote in there! Very cool!)
🙂
Julie
Julie: Outset, exercise #ane on the list.
2d, NURTURE your list (email list, social media followers). Everything you practise to keep your fine art in front of people will lead to commissions.
From time to time, mention that you are available for commissioned work. Feature happy patrons with the art they've commissioned.
Absurd that you are reading Chris's volume. He'south crawly!
I must exist very lucky. People have been commissioning me for portraits since 1976 and I tin can just recall ii occasions when the portrait wasn't gratefully received (sometimes with tears).
From the first rejection I learned to paint babies as they look when their mother is in the room. They can expect then much older when she isn't there, that she doesn't recognise the portrait.
As I am very disabled, I tin can't hold to deadlines but I promise to do my best. Also because of my disability, my terms and weather condition are that they don't pay anything until I have finished a portrait that they are happy with. Then they don't get the portrait until the cheque has cleared.
This wouldn't suit well-nigh artists but it suits me.
Jennifer: I am glad that you have a arrangement that works for you.
I am now informed.
Thanks
I have a no-obligation commission contract that asks for a 50% deposit with the balance due upon approval of the concluding piece. If the buyer doesn't approve, the eolith may be applied as a credit to an existing painting or service I offer for up to 1 year. I've created a number of successful commissions over the years and been happy to practice so.
I now find myself in the middle of a large commission that simply feels dead in the water. The client wants something in a style I've outgrown. It's destined to hang in a identify it will probable be seen by other collectors, some of whom own paintings in the one-time style. Do I produce a repro of my sometime style knowing information technology's "non me" whatever longer? I've been tempted to ditch the project and render the eolith, only I already have considerable time and free energy invested coming together with the customer over the past 6 months. Plus, the $ involved is not insignificant. Anyone have a thought ….?
Ellie: I will let others here speak, but it sounds like information technology got too far too fast.
How would information technology experience to finish it?
How would it feel to return the coin and exist free of information technology?
Thanks, Alyson. I've been giving it some thought since writing this comment and, now, reading your answer. I really don't desire to gratis of it; but I practise want information technology to be meaningful to me and non but almost fulfilling a contract. Information technology would experience proficient to finish it, but I think what the painting needs is for me to go back into it with some of my more current moves and bring new life to the one-time way and subject area matter. Every bit always, I'thou grateful for your helpful insight.
Ellie: I hope you discover a way to brand it work for you.
Great article Alyson! I have been doing house portrait commissions for a few years at present considering they fall into my genre of painting buildings in the mural. Working with clients tin exist a challenge at times because it is essentially their vision I am painting, only, I have been allowed to practise my artistic license in near cases. Meeting people and figuring out how I can create something special that volition resonate with them is especially gratifying.
Lisa: I would suggest that bringing yourself (what yous call your artistic license) to a projection would be a MUST in any understanding. Otherwise, why bother?
Neat piece, Alyson. Most of my commissions are for businesses vs. individuals, but the challenges are similar. I recently finished a commission redesigning a company's packaging. A couple of things I learned in the procedure: detect out how many people will be weighing in on the process or giving last approving (the more people, the higher my fee), and define the terms (in writing) of a minor revision vs. a conceptual change. This item job involved pleasing 3 people – the founder and two investors, and morphed midway through into a whole new package pattern. I know, it sounds nightmarish, but these were really prissy people and happy to conform my compensation to conform the modify. My lesson, for the adjacent contract, is to ascertain what constitutes a revision and what constitutes a major change (I'g open to suggestions!), and, include the fact that a major change will involve a renegotiation of the fee. I'm interested to know if anyone has effective language in their contract for treatment this type of affair.
Joan: That does audio awful!
I might as well propose (and this may be role of what happened) that you deal with ONLY one PERSON. They have to come to a consensus before communicating with you.
What yous're referring to is a "modify fee" and I see them in graphic designer and Web designer contracts. I'll bet you can Google something nigh those.
I have a love-hate human relationship with commissions. I'll work with clients who have seen my work in friends' homes, in an role or on my website but when they arroyo me for a painting because they saw 'something like it' in a gallery that handles my piece of work it sends up a carmine flag. Normally what they are later on is a cheaper version of what is hanging on the gallery wall.
Your points are well taken and I have followed most of them over the grade of my 20+ year career. And, you're right, it does accept time away from other work in 1's studio. Usually I joyfully have commissions from corporate clients because the time spent is justly rewarded both monetarily and knowing it is being viewed daily in the public domain. I would tell other artists thinking about doing commission work to be very sure you desire to take time away from your studio to make i client happy.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Brad.
This is so timely for me. I am drafting a commission page for my website and merely beginning a commission for a friend. I actually appreciate the guidelines and the feel in the comments (I'll be checking out your websites). Thanks for sharing.
Good to hear, Elizabeth.
A very splendid article in every aspect! Brusk, to the point and very accurate.
What are your thoughts regarding marketing your work via the Internet as opposed to a Gallery? No I practise not mean by using my website just by using an 'art service provider' in lieu of. Thank you.
Jerome: How much time exercise you lot have?
Every bit a company who hires hundreds of commissions, I absolutely agree with steps Allison, but would similar to add together: Put ALL of your contact info on website – address, telephone, email, etc. I oft need to know what state y'all live in, at the least. Create professional contracts that are standardized and know your state's art laws. Y'all should know that if the customer rejects the committee you are owed the l% downward. Do not refund full amount. You should too clearly address the process for milestones: thumbnails, revision of terminal thumbnail, after that, make it clear that it is the artist's vision and craft from there – assign due dates for each step. Make information technology clear to client that they are purchasing the painting, not the image and under no circumstances should it exist reproduced (unless otherwise agreed). Create professional invoices using Microsoft standard templates. Include project name, full address of client, full description including size and price of work, and (I tin can't tell me how many times this is non included) your consummate remit to accost so we know where to ship the check!
Awesome! Thank you for sharing this, Janelle.
I had washed many commissions over the years and they are ever a challenge that I dearest mainly because I get energized by the interactions with people and animals. I have taken the approach of producing 3 pieces and the clients gets to pick what they feel is the all-time one. I have been amazed at how the other 2 pieces take e'er sold, I have never been stuck with a piece. I do however state that I practice "commissions with weather condition". If the projection doesn't excite me I don't do it. I utilize a contract with a down payment and always work difficult to deliver when required. If someone needs a really difficult quick deadline I walk away. Commissions resolve the problem of what volition I pigment next.
Bonnie: I'm so happy to hear that this is an artery that has worked for you. Sounds like win-win-win (3 pieces!).
I take learned that contracts are so important and relieve and so much stress when you are working on a custom lodge. I tell my clients up forepart that it's a requirement to read and sign the contract when/if they decide to work with me. I usually do an initial free in-person consultation, starting time to encounter if we make a adept fit and the custom work is something I feel confident I tin do. Things go much meliorate that fashion and I don't terminate upward promising
more than than I can deliver. Communication is vital in such an endeavor! I affair I always include in my contract is that I exercise not copy other artist'southward works, not volume covers, or annihilation else, because that is a copyright violation, and also it doesn't represent the artist I am, nor the work I practise. I suggest that people who desire some other artist's work buy their prints from their website or original work from the artist. I would never desire to steal another artists' thunder because I know how much blood, sweat, and tears goes into such work.
Jodie: Give thanks you for sharing that experience. It's interesting you put that language in a contract because that is ordinarily discussed before a contract – before the arrangement is agreed upon.
I'm very new to making custom art, so I am still learning virtually all the things to talk about beforehand….Previously art has been a hobby, but I am trying to take it to a more professional level. I had never had the feel of someone request me to copy another artist's book encompass until recently and I decided to brand it office of the contract that I don't re-create anyone's art for custom work. Unremarkably, people but say, can you paint my dog, cat or child from this photograph, r some variation of that…Hope that helps to explain.
I have a prospective client who "loves" a detail artwork and would like to use it in children's books. First, she wants to modify the colour of my agreeable emu then when I said I would retain copyright of my paintings she asked if she could copyright the color scheme. And no I have no contract yet but would present one if farther requests were made. However, since mentioning copyright she seems to have gone cool on the idea.
Pauline: It would be smashing if the two of yous could work information technology out. So many children's books have author + illustrator collaborations.
Cracking postal service! I normally do paintings equally gifts for friends and family, and I often am told I should start doing commissioned works, but I never really know where to start. I've recently just started up a blog of my own, so hopefully through its evolution I will exist able to branch out into commissioned piece of work.
Good luck, Katherine.
I've learned over the years to heed and take notes right abroad. I enquire a lot of questions also.
I actually enjoy creating nature and landscape commissions. Although I have done many more portrait commissions, I selectively do less of those nowadays, unless there'southward a lot of artistic license. Cheers kindly for the feature of my art "Envisage".
I paint natural imagery and subsequently years of working on commissions for private patrons, I had all simply given upward having had some pretty awful experiences. Most of said experiences have come from patrons wanting me to make changes to the agreed upon ideas which tin add together hours of work or to include imagery not in the original photos (dogs, sheep, even the sun setting in the middle of the Atlantic Bounding main . . . think about information technology . . . ) to the painting. I take ever included a contract, and receive fifty% deposit, but several suggestions such equally limiting how many of MY photos may exist used, sending out the questionnaire and having potential clients visit my spider web site to review work they are attracted to (thank you lot Karen Scharer) address many of the bug I have experienced.
One thing I have learned is for most of the people who solicit me to paint a commission, information technology is their showtime fourth dimension commissioning an artist and they really do demand and capeesh the guidance. To add to the list of suggestions, I have a minimum price requirement for commissions. This ensures only serious inquires.
Meg: Give thanks you for sharing that experience. I hope your future commissions go smoothly.
This is all very interesting to me. And I searched on "commissions" considering I am in the center of one now for a lovely customer…and it's not going every bit I would like. I am at the signal I ever get to on a commission where I think I should just admit that I can't do it. And then it happens. Things come together quickly and information technology's done. I only take to retrieve that this moment is part of the process.
I have a love/detest relationship with commissions. They take me away from work I want to be doing for myself, but the $$ is bully. Also – after 30+ years in the business globe, I feel so privileged to be able to do what I've always wanted to do – create. So I exercise not have a contract, I do not charge 50% up front, and if the client likes it then they pay the agreed upon toll. Timelines are mine to set. Anything else feels like I am back at work, dealing with contracts and other people'south money. yuck.
I realize I am in a minority here on the handling of commissions, but have had astonishing (to me) success. The thing I struggle with is having too much information: colors of rooms, article of furniture, lighting, etc. TMI!! I paint non-representationally and my style is evolving; and then my piece of work that clients take seen elsewhere is non what I do now. And I am very clear virtually that. I enquire them what it is about a sure work that appeals to them…color? limerick? Once I have this info, I know how I did that and tin can work it in, just am very house in managing expectations.
Cracking blog mail – slap-up information to run into how other artists approach commissions.