Accepting Commissions
LET’S TALK COMMISSIONS
Someone wants to commission you!! Hooray?!?!
Almost every artist I have worked with has had a love/hate relationship with the idea of taking commissions. And trust me, I get it! It's a completely different animal to be making artwork for someone else specifically rather than just entirely for your own satisfaction. It can actually be really intimidating -- but it can also be incredibly broadening for your career and your body of work.
Before you jump right in to take a commission, there are a few basic things I advise everyone to consider.
1. Client personality: Most of the time you can get a pretty good read on someone from an initial conversation. Nothing can suck the fun and success out of a commission faster than a client who is impossible to please or a micromanager of intense level. If your red flags are popping up everywhere in your first phone call to discuss the possible commission, trust your instincts and step away from the opportunity. That being said, it is important to move forward with good intentions and positive belief in your client until proven otherwise. It is a HUGE compliment for a collector to ask an artist to commission a piece of work -- if they didn't love your work and your style, they really wouldn't be asking you to create a special piece for them.
2. Know what you are comfortable with before working with a commission client. I have worked with artists over the years who are completely comfortable changing colors to suit a client's desires, creating new work based on very old work, or creating work based loosely on another artists work. If you are that flexible, that's great as it will open up your commission ability. However, most artists are not completely open in the commission process, and want to be able to do commissions only within certain parameters. Which is FINE! It is entirely up to you to determine what your own parameters are and then to communicate them to your client. Only you can know your limits. It is always good to push yourself creatively, but if it feels like too much to tackle, then you are probably better off to decline.
3. Make sure you have all of the information you need up front. It will make your whole process go so much more smoothly, if you have a firm grip on the demands and requirements of the commission before you even gather your supplies. The basics being naturally: What does the client want? When do they expect it? How much will you charge? Where will it be shipped or installed? In the excitement of an initial conversation about a commission, both the client and the artist often forget to discuss some of these critical elements. Below is a worksheet we have developed which will help you to gather the pertinent information as you discuss a commission with a potential client.
There is so much to think about when creating a commission, but with a little structure, you can make the possibility a lot less overwhelming. By using this Commission Worksheet, you will be able to gather enough information to make a good decision as to whether this opportunity is one you want to pursue.
If you are interested in creating more commissioned artwork and reaching new collectors, let's talk! Together we can make a plan for broadening your reach and growing your body of work. x Laura