Hi Artist, When I started my art business, doing commission art was part of my repertoire. I did paintings for restaurant, corporate office, and private clienteles. While I enjoyed the additional income, I still preferred to make art for myself. First, let me explain what Commission work is; it is work that a client hired you to do under their command and wishes. Should you venture into creating commission art?
Adding commission art to your business model is a personal choice. If you enjoy working under the command of your client or if you enjoy the challenge then by all means go for it, it can bring you a steady income. Some artists dislike it because it limits their creative freedom. If you don’t like to work under peoples’ whims and wishes, it is best to avoid it. Artists that paint genres such as landscapes, buildings, portraits, and pets, are highly sought after for commission work because of their genre and topic choices. How To Price Commission Artwork But before you say “yes” to commission art, I want you to be aware of the amount of time it takes to work under peoples’ instructions and desires. And because of the time consumption, this kind of work should be priced at least 30%-50% higher than the work you create for yourself. Furthermore, there is usually a lengthy consultation period where you will have to come up with some rough sketches and ideas for your customers’ approval. Sometimes the initial process and consultation can be time-consuming. Hence if you do commissions, be sure to charge 30-50% more than the art you make for yourself. Contract I always believe in getting business dealings down on paper to avoid confusion. Remember, you are operating a business so take charge confidently, handle your commission work professionally and that includes having a contract that protects your copyright and your time and effort. Create a contract that specifies all details such as size, medium, artwork proposal, cost and a deadline for project completion, this will help avoid unforeseen problems. The contract should also have two signature lines for both parties to sign. Make two copies, one for your customer and one for yourself. It is also pertinent to add a line in your contract that claims you are the copyright owner of the work and no one is allowed to reproduce it unless a permission has been granted. This will ensure you the freedom to create reproduction with it when and if you chose to. If your client would like to use the commission piece for business purpose, then you can sell the rights to her and make sure you have that in writing on your contract, and signed by both parties as well. Furthermore, it is wise to collect a 40% down payment before you start work, and once you have completed the artwork, hold on to it till you get paid in full. Want More Art Business Knowledge or Advice? Want some support for your art business? Come and join my Facebook Group and mingle with like-minded artists. This private group is a place for creatives to learn, share knowledge and network, with a common goal of making money from art. And if you have enjoyed this article, I would really appreciate it if you could share it with your artist friends. Thank you the bottom of my heart. With Creative Joy, Ting
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Ting YuenI am an artist and art marketing strategist that is passionate about creating meaningful art and courses that inspire your life, business and home. Archives
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