Ask an Artist — Can Commissions Be Successful?

Many artists, artisans & crafters, working in all types of media, are asked to create specific pieces of artwork. Some dread these “commissions” and often what you hear are the “horror stories”... on both sides of the agreement. Sometimes customers feel they were “duped” by getting something not at all what they thought they had asked for and on the other hand, artists tell of not getting paid or of the customer who just can’t be satisfied despite their best efforts.

And yet some artists are quite successful doing commissions.

So... we “Asked an Artist”, William Band, who actually ENJOYS doing commissions. He offers his expertise and advice on this sometimes thorny issue... You may want to give some of this a try!

What suggestions or advice would you give to make “commissions” successful for both the customer and the artist?

William Band's Tips for Successful Commissions —

I guess I like doing commissions because I treat each project as a challenge. Someone has a strong connection to the subject, and as an artist I try to capture and express that connection.

I’ve been doing commissions for almost twenty years, and over the past five years they have become a large part of my income.

My latest commission is of a house over 100 years old that is being torn down for development. The client’s photo references were unbelievably good. The subject was taken close up, distant, and under different lighting conditions. As it turned out, I had taken a photo of a 1929 car last year. He also had a picture of the same car before it was restored. I was then given full reign as to the season, adding flowers, and even including the car. Basically I got totally excited about doing the painting.

I seldom turn down any commissions, because I’ve learned the results can be surprising….. Recently I received one photo from a client. The home was very unattractive, it had no landscaping. Basically it was just plain ugly. I saw this job as a challenge. I met it head on and the client loved it. A beautiful blue sky, rich grass and I put in a hint of flowers that gave it just enough life.

I know some creative people have problems doing commissions. It may be that some artists tend to “tighten up” when it is a commission. The work may tend to be a little more controlled and they lose the feeling of artistic freedom. Unfortunately, this often results in pieces that are not their best work. To counter this, I think of every piece of work as my creation and if the customer does not like the work, that’s okay too. I know I have done my best. I keep the piece to use as a sample and I have it framed to put in my next show.

Here are some pointers that have worked well for me:

• In all cases, the client knows the price that I charge, from the beginning. The pricing structure is the same as for non-commissioned pieces. Like many artists, the pricing structure is based on the size of the piece. I charge the same price for the same size piece to be fair to all customers.




• I always ask to include a pet or family auto before starting the project, to personalize the piece even more. I will make any reasonable alterations to the painting later, such as brighter flowers or richer grass. Adding a vehicle or pet after completion is not acceptable.




• I always ask for as many pictures as they can supply. I also ask for a close up of some of the features of the home. If they have a special flower garden, a good close up photo would be more beneficial than a distant view.




• Usually while we talk, I make a fast sketch from the photos and they get the idea of the direction we will be heading in. If the customer is unsure of what to expect, I give them the step by step process and explain how I am going to handle the job. This usually answers their questions.




• I always bring my “handout”, one sheet of paper with three samples on it. This shows my style, colour palette, etc. I also have my portfolio if other examples are required. This gives customers a good idea of what their piece can look like.




• I don’t have any “reviews” while the painting is in progress; the fast sketches mentioned above are usually sufficient. Sometimes a local family will drop by a couple of times during the process and I enjoy their comments. This is the exception though.




• Most customers expect to make a deposit before the job is started. The usual fee is $100. Full payment is required when they take the piece.




• One should also explain that the price is for the art work and that any mats or frames would be extra.




• Learn how to talk with customers, satisfy their wishes and they will become your friends and your best advertising.




• If you ever encounter a difficult customer, who does not want to pay the full price, is not satisfied, or they want too many changes, just give them back their deposit and walk away. Fortunately, I have only heard of these types, and I have not had to deal with them.




• If you do have problems with customers, ask a seasoned artist for advice. I am now one of the “old guys”, but when I was younger, I found that older artists were always helpful with ideas and advice. Been there, done that!




• Good clients + good photos + good subject to paint = a good finished piece of work

A closing story….. I was called to a home a few years ago. The commission was to be of Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto. A Doctor’s wife wanted to surprise her husband with a painting for his birthday. I showed up for my appointment and as we discussed what she was looking for, her husband rang the doorbell. He was not expected home until evening. As it turned out I drove a black van that the previous owner had “customized” with tinted black windows and some lettering over the license plate that said, “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and it was parked in the driveway. Not the usual vehicle that he would expect to see. She then ushered me into the nearest room, closed the door and ran to open the front door. She told him not to come in at the present time and would not let him into the house. Since the nearest room was their bedroom, I got a little uneasy as to the situation in which I now found myself. Could this be one of those situations where a commission suddenly goes bad?

The end result was the husband had an idea that she was planning something for his birthday; he had complete trust in his wife and off he went back to work…no questions asked. It became somewhat of a joke later. End result, another commission turned out, and everyone was happy at the end.

A&CNet Comment:

We thank William Band for his thoughts on commissioned art work… some good down-to-earth experience and advice from a very successful commission artist.