How to Make a Legal Business for Art Comissions
As a cocky-employed artist, I rely on commissions more and so than selling my work in galleries. However, some artists are not great negotiators or business-minded, and art commissions that start off optimistic can sometimes plough into a sour experience. These eight tips volition aid you maintain skillful clients, manage their expectations, and produce work with integrity.
ane – Timing is fundamental. Be responsive and follow up on your leads immediately.
If someone expresses interest in buying ane of your pieces, but tin't make a deposit or payment correct away, have downwards their contact info and follow upward with them by the cease of the mean solar day/consequence. Most people who buy art don't "need" it. Information technology's a luxury detail that is oft an impulse purchase — they fall in love with the art and have to accept information technology. But if you lot expect too long, the infatuation can fade or even transfer to another item. If the art is intended equally a gift, timing is even more than of import. I learned while working in advert that no thing how well your product is advertised, if you don't make the sale at the right time, you've missed the chance. But luckily, people are more willing to wait when it comes to art.
two – Don't exist shy to state your terms.
It'southward ever wise to accept an creative person's agreement signed by both parties to protect you lot from unwarranted situations. Start off, licensing terms should be made articulate. Does the client want the right to reproduce the artwork for commercial use/sale? They may think that owning the artwork is the same as owning the license to reproduce it as they see fit. Information technology'due south your task to educate them if this is the example. Most artists retain their licensing rights for their work even subsequently a sale. But an unaware client may take your committee and innocently reproduce it on T-shirts or publish information technology for commercial use without informing yous start. That volition definitely lead to a sticky situation that could be avoided. Freelance artists may besides ask for a "kill fee" — a mandatory fee in case the project is cancelled midway. Kill fees can be 50 – 100% of the projection price, depending on how soon the project is cancelled.
3 – Enquire for a payment up front.
Information technology'southward fair to ask for as much as 50% up front to embrace the cost of your materials and fourth dimension. Some people prefer thirty% downward and a couple of installments. I would recommend taking between 30 – fifty% upward front, unless the commission is for a friend or somebody who has expert standing credit with you. For larger commissions, consider a monthly payment programme, where you ship 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 existence asked to do.
Be clear in your descriptions and bank check in with the client at sure intervals. Remember why the client chose you to begin with, and don't doubt your ability. Exercise take creative license — this is why y'all were hired! DO outset with concepts or sketches for them to approve before moving on to costly or large scale work. DON'T check in too often, or seem unsure of yourself or ideas, equally this is an open invitation for your patron to suggest their ideas, or perhaps drag you along a creative journey that isn't your own. They're merely trying to help, but it's probably doing the opposite.
five – Cherish your good clients, and larn to manage hard ones.
Non every commission will get smoothly, merely don't allow a few bad experiences ruin the potential for groovy ones. I've had my share of hard clients, especially when I was an eager and fresh art school graduate. This is a learning bend that will take experience, but here are some cues to sentinel out for. The skilful clients will insist on paying you up front, leave a lot of the artistic license to y'all, and give you lot a broad spectrum to work with without interfering with your creative procedure. Hang on to the practiced clients, equally their trust will inspire you to be more artistic, resulting in more portfolio pieces, and you'll love what you practice even more. The bad ones will endeavour to dictate how you do things, change their minds afterward you've already started, or micromanage your work — but they insist they're merely trying to help. Good client management skills and educating your client on your process — like what you lot DO and DON'T need from them in terms of creative input — is crucial to keeping the integrity in your piece of work.
vi – Know your market place.
What type of art do y'all enjoy creating the near? What type of art are yous best at? If you market yourself wisely, you'll cease upwards with commissions you absolutely bask. I had trouble deciding for a long time because I enjoy creating in many styles — my piece of work ranges from plein air landscapes and travel memoirs to quirky dark illustrations to colourful portraits. If I had to choose, I do enjoy the illustrations the well-nigh, but they accept the almost time and have a much slimmer market compared to the landscapes and colourful portraits.
7 – Accept a method to pricing your work.
This volition prevent panic when an opportunity comes upwardly. Most artists cost their piece of work based on a per projection charge per unit ($ = estimated hours to completion 10 hourly rate) or based on size ($/sq footage) simply in that location are four variables to continue in mind:
ane) Fourth dimension – Volition y'all exist working weekends or long hours? Or tin y'all do this leisurely in a couple of hours? Is it due immediately, or tin you take your time?
2) Size – Larger pieces require more pigment, materials, treatment, shipping costs, etc.
iii) Skill Required – Portraits and figurative art generally require more than skill than landscapes, so they are priced higher. Is the discipline circuitous, similar lace or patterning that requires a lot of particular?
iv) Creative Integrity – Will this slice enhance your portfolio, or will you never bear witness it off after it's complete? Is the project interesting, meaningful, and fun to work on?
8 – Provide a adept experience by sharing your process.
The more open and honest yous stay with a client, the more positive the experience will be for both parties. Cheque in periodically, and send them some photos of work in progress, or an enthusiastic update. I tin't stress the enthusiasm enough: YOU are the artist. If you lot sound excited almost your piece, so will the client. If you lot sound unsure or unconfident, chances are your client will too lose conviction in the project.
Markham artist Stacey MacNevin stresses the importance of not just delivering a painting, but delivering an overall experience. She advises, "Spend the time upwardly front really listening to what a client wants for their piece. They may say: 'I love your stuff — do any you want' but what they are really request y'all for is an experience." Commissioning an artist should be an interesting, thrilling, and enjoyable experience that is rich in chat and creativity. Then take the time to sympathize your client, listen to their vision, and give them some insight into your creative procedure. Information technology'south worth the fourth dimension two-fold: the client will feel more connected to the slice considering they are at present more connected to your process.
While art commissions can sometimes be an exercise in trial and error, in my experience, these tips make clients happy and allow you to maintain your artistic integrity and creative vision.
Near THE ARTIST
Fei Lu is a cocky-employed artist, artistic managing director, and founder of Winged Canvass Art Hub in Markham, Ontario. Her paintings are known to be colourful and provocative with a impact 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/