Hi None,
Several weeks ago, I received an email from an artist who was undertaking her first painting commissioned by a client. The artist wanted to make sure that she handled the commission in a professional manner and minimized her own risk of having the deal sour. I can certainly understand the concern - commissions can pose a real challenge for any artist, especially if the artist is inexperienced in dealing with the nuances of creating a custom work of art.
We have coordinated many commissions in the gallery over the years, and most have gone smoothly. Below are a number of things I have learned over the years that may help you, if you have the opportunity to create commissioned work.
Before you agree to create a custom artwork for a client you should consider the following items:
- Not every artist is well-suited to doing commissioned work. If you enjoy interacting with people and are patient and diplomatic, you'll probably be fine. If, however, you prize your artistic freedom and creativity above all else, and have a hard time filtering yourself when interacting with people, you risk having an unpleasant experience in the commission process. You should probably stick to creating what you love, and let your client know you will keep them up to date on new work until they find what they are seeking.
- You should have an understanding in place with your client prior to beginning the project, or even perhaps, before taking a deposit. While we don't have a formal written agreement for most commissions, we let the client know exactly how the process will work and send them the details via email.
- Let the client know how much input they will have on the final artwork. I suggest giving the client only a little latitude here. For example, you might let them determine the general subject, size, and primary colors of the artwork, but leave decisions about the details completely at your discretion. "I want to make sure I create a masterpiece for you, and the more freedom you give me, the better I will be able to do this."
- Give the client an estimated time of completion, and a schedule of the various steps along the way:
- when you will begin
- when they will receive images of the art for their approval
- how long the piece will take to dry (or cast if you are a sculptor)
- framing or basing time
- crating and delivery time.
- Let the client know what their responsibilities are for shipping costs and installation, if any.
To read more on how to navigate the commission process, continue to the original full article on RedDotBlog ...
