How Hard Is It to Get Into Commision Based Art Online
As a self-employed creative person, I rely on commissions more so than selling my work in galleries. Withal, some artists are non great negotiators or business concern-minded, and art commissions that starting time off optimistic can sometimes plow into a sour experience. These eight tips will aid yous maintain proficient clients, manage their expectations, and produce work with integrity.
ane – Timing is primal. Be responsive and follow up on your leads immediately.
If someone expresses involvement in ownership one of your pieces, but can't make a deposit or payment right away, take downwards their contact info and follow upwardly with them by the end of the twenty-four hour period/event. Near people who buy art don't "need" it. Information technology's a luxury item that is oft an impulse buy — they autumn in honey with the art and have to have it. But if you wait too long, the infatuation can fade or fifty-fifty transfer to another item. If the fine art is intended as a gift, timing is fifty-fifty more important. I learned while working in advertising that no matter how well your product is advertised, if you don't make the auction at the right time, you've missed the chance. But luckily, people are more willing to wait when it comes to art.
2 – Don't exist shy to state your terms.
Information technology'south ever wise to have an creative person's agreement signed by both parties to protect you from unwarranted situations. First off, licensing terms should be fabricated clear. Does the client desire the correct to reproduce the artwork for commercial use/sale? They may think that owning the artwork is the same equally owning the license to reproduce it as they see fit. It's your job to educate them if this is the instance. Nigh artists retain their licensing rights for their work even later a sale. Merely an unaware client may take your commission and innocently reproduce it on T-shirts or publish it for commercial use without informing you first. That volition definitely atomic number 82 to a sticky state of affairs that could be avoided. Freelance artists may also enquire for a "impale fee" — a mandatory fee in case the project is cancelled midway. Kill fees can exist 50 – 100% of the projection cost, depending on how soon the project is cancelled.
three – Ask for a payment up front.
It'southward fair to ask for equally much as l% upwards front to comprehend the cost of your materials and fourth dimension. Some people prefer thirty% down and a couple of installments. I would recommend taking between 30 – 50% upwards front, unless the commission is for a friend or somebody who has good standing credit with yous. For larger commissions, consider a monthly payment plan, where yous send your customer monthly progress updates. Making a payment will help both the patron and the artist stay invested in the piece, and build a credible professional relationship.
4 – Know exactly what y'all're being asked to exercise.
Be clear in your descriptions and check in with the customer at sure intervals. Remember why the customer chose you to begin with, and don't doubt your ability. DO take creative license — this is why you were hired! Practise start with concepts or sketches for them to corroborate earlier moving on to costly or big calibration piece of work. DON'T check in too frequently, or seem unsure of yourself or ideas, as this is an open up invitation for your patron to suggest their ideas, or perhaps drag you along a artistic journey that isn't your own. They're just trying to help, simply it's probably doing the reverse.
5 – Cherish your practiced clients, and learn to manage difficult ones.
Not every commission will go smoothly, just don't let a few bad experiences ruin the potential for great ones. I've had my share of difficult clients, especially when I was an eager and fresh art school graduate. This is a learning curve that will accept experience, only here are some cues to watch out for. The practiced clients will insist on paying y'all up front end, exit a lot of the artistic license to you, and give you a wide spectrum to work with without interfering with your creative process. Hang on to the good clients, as their trust will inspire you lot to exist more creative, resulting in more portfolio pieces, and y'all'll honey what you practice even more. The bad ones will try to dictate how you do things, change their minds later you've already started, or micromanage your work — but they insist they're just trying to help. Good client management skills and educating your client on your procedure — like what you Practise and DON'T demand from them in terms of creative input — is crucial to keeping the integrity in your work.
6 – Know your market.
What blazon of fine art exercise you enjoy creating the most? What type of art are you best at? If you market yourself wisely, you'll cease up with commissions yous absolutely savor. I had problem deciding for a long time because I enjoy creating in many styles — my work ranges from plein air landscapes and travel memoirs to quirky dark illustrations to colourful portraits. If I had to choose, I practise bask the illustrations the near, only they take the most time and accept a much slimmer marketplace compared to the landscapes and colourful portraits.
7 – Have a method to pricing your piece of work.
This will prevent panic when an opportunity comes up. Near artists price their work based on a per project rate ($ = estimated hours to completion x hourly charge per unit) or based on size ($/sq footage) but there are four variables to continue in mind:
1) Fourth dimension – Will you exist working weekends or long hours? Or can y'all do this leisurely in a couple of hours? Is it due immediately, or tin yous take your fourth dimension?
2) Size – Larger pieces require more paint, materials, treatment, shipping costs, etc.
3) Skill Required – Portraits and figurative art generally crave more skill than landscapes, so they are priced higher. Is the discipline complex, similar lace or patterning that requires a lot of detail?
four) Artistic Integrity – Will this piece enhance your portfolio, or will you never bear witness it off subsequently information technology'southward consummate? Is the project interesting, meaningful, and fun to work on?
viii – Provide a good feel by sharing your process.
The more open up and honest yous stay with a client, the more positive the experience volition be for both parties. Bank check in periodically, and transport them some photos of work in progress, or an enthusiastic update. I can't stress the enthusiasm enough: Y'all are the artist. If you sound excited about your piece, so will the client. If you audio unsure or unconfident, chances are your customer will also lose confidence in the projection.
Markham creative person Stacey MacNevin stresses the importance of not only delivering a painting, only delivering an overall experience. She advises, "Spend the time up front really listening to what a client wants for their piece. They may say: 'I love your stuff — do whatever you desire' only what they are actually asking yous for is an feel." Commissioning an artist should be an interesting, thrilling, and enjoyable experience that is rich in chat and creativity. So take the time to sympathise your client, listen to their vision, and give them some insight into your creative process. Information technology'southward worth the time two-fold: the client will feel more than continued to the piece because they are now more connected to your process.
While art commissions tin sometimes be an exercise in trial and error, in my experience, these tips brand clients happy and allow y'all to maintain your artistic integrity and creative vision.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Fei Lu is a self-employed creative person, creative director, and founder of Winged Sheet Art Hub in Markham, Ontario. Her paintings are known to be colourful and provocative with a affect of sense of humor, hinting at a deeper story behind each painting. Her artwork has been published in Applied Arts and American Illustration and in private collections worldwide.
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Source: https://theabundantartist.com/8-tips-artists-accepting-commissions/
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