Working on Commission
5 Essential Steps to Turn Inspiration into Success
Creating custom-ordered art for a client can be a great way to supplement one’s art income and if all goes well, develop a life-long relationship with an art collector. However, the process must be handled thoughtfully, for there are many potential pitfalls. Chief among them are poor communications and unrealistic expectations by both parties. After all, this is basically a business transaction, not an opportunity for free-wheeling creativity. To be successful, I have learned through experience to follow five essential rules when considering any request for a commissioned work.
My Five Essential Rules for a Successful Commission
1. It is important, when considering a commissioned work, that I have a strong affinity for the subject. I have found from experience that if my heart isn’t in the work, it probably won’t turn out well. I have a fairly wide range of artistic interests, but if the subject doesn’t cause any sparks, I will turn it down.
2. I don’t paint from photographic reference supplied by others. If I haven’t personally seen the subject, there is no possibility for me to interpret it creatively.
3. There must be good communication between myself and the client. I explain in detail what I will do, in what order and by what date. They know exactly what the project will cost and when money is due.
4. To make certain that we all agree on the subject, the type of imagery and medium of the final art, I usually create three mock-ups of the potential compositions in color, either in watercolor or in Photoshop. It is important to do this at no charge in order to build trust. Photoshop is useful for the mock-ups because one can re-paint, redesign, recompose and even texturize images so that they are a reasonable facsimile of what will be the final painting. I ask that the client sign off on one of the images before I will take the project any further. If they can’t agree on one at that point, I will consider creating one or two more, if they can be specific about their concerns and if the project is large enough.
5. I don’t get involved in price negotiations. My sizes and prices are posted on my website. I believe that custom work should carry a higher price tag because it is an interruption of an artist’s normal flow of planned work, and some artists charge more for this. The artist needs to be happy too!
A Case History - Read more about working on commission and see a step-by-step demonstration.