I have worked with artists creating commissions throughout the years and one of the biggest pieces of advice I can give to them is to do your homework.
Commissions, no matter what the subject, require planning because it is too easy to get stuck somewhere along the way. We artists like to just jump right in and get to the good part- the painting- but then we can get stuck and we can forget that a big part of a commission is the communication with the client. A commission is a 3-way conversation. Artist, client, painting. I am always amazed when I hear stories about artists creating pieces for clients without a contract, without a deposit, without a plan and then are bewildered when they spend many, many hours creating a piece and find themselves without payment or find that the client changes their mind at the last minute and the artist realizes that their “sale” was built on a hope and a dream.
This is business.
I offered before in a previous blog, and I will offer again, a copy of my contract to any artist that would like it. If you remember, I was ripped off by a lawyer to create my contract ($6,000) so in an effort to get my moneys worth after all of these years I will give my contract to anyone who needs one. Please just contact me and I will send a blank copy. So no excuses for not having one.
Getting back to this current commission that I am still working on, it is a family portrait with two very small children and it will be in pastel. I mentioned before that for the last 6 months I have been painting in oils so it has been good to get dusty again. (happy, dusty hands…)
I met with the clients on three separate occasions to make sure their young children got used to me before I started to shoot photos of them. This is a good tip for anyone that wants to work with young children. We played with bubbles and toys out on the lawn and got to know each other. I would be crazy to think that these kids want a stranger pointing a camera at them if they don’t know me. I save that for another day. I think building a painting for someone is built on trust. So the clients get to know me too.
After three sessions of photographs and much discussion of where the painting was to ultimately hang, which affects the size of it, I do many black and white thumbnails of which I then show two different compositional versions to the clients. After they pick which version they want, I then did my last photo shoot and then showed them the very simple 8″ x 10″ color study below.
This is so important. This is not a pretty study, but rather a glimpse as to what the painting will feel like when done. It needs to have all the major elements – and by that I mean no features! Just the overall composition and colors. This then has to be approved before I start the actual painting. Yes! So much time and effort before the actual painting starts. (Don’t you do that?)
A deposit of half of the cost of the painting is then paid and the client is aware that there is sales tax. It is a sale after all. There are many of you out there that don’t bother with any of this. Oh man… I suggest you start to use a contract and charge sales tax before you get into trouble. And make sure you do a color study to keep yourself from getting into trouble.
A big part of this image is the setting. It is really the fifth person in the painting. The family just lovingly restored an amazing victorian house and so they are on the front porch of this summer home. Gaslights are always on, so one will be incorporated into the painting. I wanted (intention!) the painting to have the feel of summer so dappled sunlight will hit the figures and railings.
So back to work! More next week.
I can’t wait to see where this commission goes…
Thanks so much for offering to share your contract. I would love to have it.
I really look forward to your blogs!
Happy Wednesday
Jory
happy day to you! Just sent! 😁
Plea send me a copy of your contract. Chatting now with an acquaintance about a portrait of three adult brothers.
Thanks so much for your generous offer of help!
take your own photos. do lots of design work and charge what you are worth….sent!
Dear Christine,
Hello! I’m an artist who does commissions and I’d love for you to send me your contract sample. I have
come across your art many times over the years and it always caught my eye.
Thank you again and it’s great to follow your current big commission and see the progress.
Best of luck to you in all and much
continuing success!
Monica
monicadahlfineart.com
sure! Just sent…
Hello Ms. Swann,
Your Blogs are interesting and helpful to me in many ways. I enjoy reading them each week and learning from your theories, things that I have never been taught, known about or considered before. It feels like continuing education for me and am thrilled to share some of your blogs with a young artist who just started college and her journey. I hope you realize how much you touch and inspire so many of us. Thank you for that.
Now, I hate to admit that I am one of those artists you talked about who have spent many hours on work without a contract, or a deposit and the sale ended as a pipe dream many times. I would much appreciate a copy of the contract that you use so that once again I may learn a valuable lesson from you.
Sincerely,
Tam
hi- Sorry to hear you have had a few bad experiences. Happy to help. I have learned the hard way over the years…. thanks for sharing my blog and I am glad to share in your journey!
I truly appreciate your specific and detailed recommendations for planning and managing commissions, both from creative and business standpoints. Independent artists truly need this insightful, honest and helpful guidance, and I am grateful for it. The first time I had a problem with an art commission, many years ago, led me to do no more!
I primarily make a living as an independent graphic facilitator. When I was just getting started in that field, I experienced a problem with a client who was referred by a friend, and unfortunately was all trusting and had no contract. I now use a ‘memorandum of understanding’ to work together with clients to make sure we are in agreement. We both sign it before work begins.
Maybe one day I will be ready to take on a pastel commission. So, I would be most grateful to receive a copy of your contract!
hi- I like that- memorandum of understanding! Tha tis all a contract is…whatever you call it, it is necessary. Glad to send….
Once again, Christine, I read every word of your advice to artists! I would love a copy of your contract form please.
Thank you so much,
Ginny Stocker
3756 Winkler Dr Ext NW
Dover, OH. 44622
sent! 😁
Hi Chris- nice summary of the process. I do my own version of that. I’m not always involved in commissions, like you, and rarely are they portraits. I feel for portrait artists when doing children, because I know how subjective the parents perception is. They don’t understand, for example, that the “big, wonderful smile“ they adore so much makes the kid’s “huge blue eyes” smaller. I do a lot of stuff on a handshake. I like not taking deposits because I love the big check at the end. The deposit actually de-motivates me, for some reason. But when I feel it’s necessary, I definitely take one. Send me over a contract, please. I’d like to see how you phrase a few things. I have a very simple one-pager that I made myself. Take care and “keep the brush moving,” as Phil Salvato told me once!
you got it!
Christine,
This was a very helpful blog, as I’m getting into doing commissioned portraits for people outside of my family. I would like to request a blank contract that you so incredibly generously offered.
Thanks for your continued generosity in your blogs, I always learn so much each time.
Best regards,
Linda D’Elia
you bet! Happy to help!
Thanks, Christine for this advice! Good to be reminded that it’s business.I actually painted a portrait in which there were many changes and no contract!!! Boy, did I learn my lesson. I’d love a blank copy of your contract.
You got it! 😁
Wow – wonderful advice and i love the layout!! Thank you for the help- i would absolutely appreciate a blank copy of the contract – thanks Christine!!
you betcha! Surprised you don’t have one… you are so good, you need this!
Most of the commissions I do are from a family photo that’s emailed to me! I can’t imagine all the time and effort you put into yours. I have a hard enough time getting people to understand that a couple of hundred is more than reasonable for me to reproduce an image for them in pastels. They would choke if I were to present them with a contract. lol… Your portraits are truly an artist’s vision, and what it means to be a portrait artist. Thank you for sharing your wonderful work and insights.
ok – repeat after me- “I am worth more money……” This is hard stuff. And clients would never argue with an electrician or a plumber doing custom work for them and getting a contract and invoice, so they should not expect any different from an artist. My advice is to NEVER use another persons photos. They are never good enough and will only drive you crazy. Learn about what you need for your work and dont compromise. I’m sending you a contract anyway….
Wow! Lots of good professional advice !
Thanks
What a valuable and excellent article! Thank you so much for sharing it and good luck with the final piece! I’d love to have a copy of your contract and appreciate your generosity.
Just sent! 😁
Thanks for this. I don’t have many commissions, but I really do need a contract.
sure!
This will be so beautiful Christine. It’s not what I expected but so much more. The setting really makes this special. Glad you shared.
😁
Thank you for the practical advice. Please forward a copy of the contract to me.
you got it!
Christine,
I am relatively new at feeling comfortable calling myself an artist. I hope to one day soon be ready to accept commission work, and would love a copy of your contract. I’m irked you were ripped off (grrrr!) but appreciate your wanting to make up for it by sharing. Thank you so much.
happy to share! and yes, embrace being an artist – if you create, you are one. Welcome to the lemon side!
Another excellent blog post Christine. Thank you. I would love to have a copy of your contract. Thank you for your generousity.
you bet!
Christine,
As always, you are a wealth of information! You have never disappointed me! I continually learn from you, things I have never learned in any other workshop or from other instructors! Thank you for your generous and willing heart for sharing with so many! I, too, would like a copy of your blank contract. I am looking forward to seeing this portrait progress!
thanks! just sent.
Hi Christine,
So sad you’re not doing MD workshop, I was really looking forward to it. I really like your suggests regarding kids, meeting with them several times and interacting. It’s a great way to understand their facial expressions that make them “them”. I have actually used video a few times, because they couldn’t sit still. Cameras are so great now you can select a still from the video with great clarity.
You’re right, of course, about charging what you’re worth. I’ve stupidly allowed myself to be taken advantage of by “sad” stories and not charged what I should. Getting better at it. Please send me a copy of the contract, I need to be more disciplined about the business. Thanks.
hi sure!Happy to send. Yes I am sad too. Videos are a great way to get to know faces too. I did a few paintings for a few families in Singapore and I taught them how to take the videos in lighting that would be the best for the painting. Worked well. Good luck!
and I am sad about not being in Maryland this year too!
I love your work!! Amazing! Can’t wait to watch the process. I always want to “dive in”!!
Please send me a copy of the contract, too. 🙂
you got it! 😁
Hi Christine! I’m late to the party but I so appreciate all you do!! I too (echo Dot above) will dearly miss you in MD this year. I loved loved meeting you the last time enjoying your demo and will just have to look forward to a future meeting. If possible I would appreciate any info on contracts. I’ve had a few slippery ones and am treasuring this home time with kids to restructure my art plans. Again thank you for all you do and keep creating as you inspire many 🙏 😁
sure!
Christine, thanks for all the legal tips. Yes, we are running a business. I gave always admired your work. And your blogs are always interesting.
Please send me a copy of the contract. You are so generous to all of us.
Joe Rudski
will do!
I’m working through your blog. What nutrients you provide! Thank you SO much. I do have a contract for my violin teaching, which I find essential and is revised yearly along with my studio policy sheet. But art is so new to me that I would have no idea where to begin there. I also do sculpture and pottery and did a commission in 2019 that I wish I could have either had a contract for, or just said no. Thank you for offering to share. I’m happy to share my policy sheet with you, in exchange, if it would be useful at all. Maybe you’d like to include your process for commissions as well? Or maybe you already do that for clients now. Either way, thank you for your thoughts you share so freely on your blog and your kindness in helping others on their journeys.
You bet! We are all in this together and it is very therapeutic for me to share my life and struggles and find that others relate so well. Glad you like the blogs! I’ll send the contract…..😊