Today’s visual art industry is enormous, producing thousands of images every day that can be seen with the click of a button. While this can provide inspiration and efficiency, it can also be a bit overwhelming. What if you are looking for something really unique, either for yourself or for a loved one? Well, an option that is worth exploring is art commissions.
What is an art commission?
Put simply, an art commission is a piece of art that has been commissioned specifically as an original artwork, by the person purchasing it. By commissioning an artist, you are placing them ‘under commission’ for you and asking them to make an artwork that meets your specific, bespoke requirements. This means that you will receive a piece of art that brings to life exactly what you’re looking for, be that your beloved pet, a portrait of a loved one or your favourite place. The possibilities are limitless.
The history of art commissions
In centuries past artistic commissions were very commonplace, particularly within the upper classes who would commission portraits of themselves or their families to be passed down through the generations and demonstrate their wealth and influence. If you take a trip to the National Gallery in London for example, you will see a range of portraits from throughout the ages and find that most of them were painted on commission. Such portraits also decorate stately homes and palaces the world over, documenting how the rich and powerful of the past sought to present themselves. Now that we can all take photos on our phones, it’s not every day that you’ll see a painting of someone’s entire family in their home. But nevertheless, art commissions still exist and are very popular.
Top tips on how to commission an artist
So you want to commission your very own piece of unique artwork, but you’re not sure where to start? Here are some top tips.
Choose your artist
First of all, you need to choose which artist you’d like to work with. You might do this by scrolling through Instagram, or through recommendations from friends. Once you’d chosen the artist you’d like to work with - what next?
Do your research
Most artists that take commissions advertise this on their website or social media, but you can also always ask them directly if they’d be open to making a commission for you. Ordinarily, they will have a clear process outlined on their website - for example here is how you can commission me to make a bespoke artwork for you. This will help you understand the steps you’ll need to take in order to commission your piece of artwork.
Give the artist a clear brief
When contacting the artist you’d like to commission, make sure you are very clear about what you’d like. For example, is there a particular photo you’d like them to use for reference? Perhaps there’s a particular background you’re looking for, or a particular size. Whatever the specifications might be, make sure you communicate them clearly to the artist. Otherwise, you may find the final work isn’t what you’d imagined in your head. After all, artists aren't’ mind readers.
If you’re not quite sure of the details, don’t worry. Sometimes artists are commissioned with a more open brief - and this is also a great way to approach an art commission, particularly if you don’t happen to have a strong sense of what you’re looking for stylistically.
Provide realistic timelines
Remember, if you are commissioning an artist to create a bespoke artwork as a gift for a loved one and you want to give it on a specific date, you will need to let the artist know this date before they begin working on it.
Once you’ve followed these steps, you can sit back and relax. Now it’s time for them to work on the art commission for you. Remember, if you are commissioning an artist to create a bespoke artwork as a gift for a loved one and you want to give it on a specific date, you will need to let the artist know this date before they begin working on it.
How much do artists charge for commissions?
You’ll find that artists’ rates vary, as they are depended on a number of factors including:
Size of the artwork - a life sized painting will cost more than a miniature
Materials used - some materials, such as oils, are more expensive than others
The complexity of the image - generally the more complex an image, the longer it takes to execute - meaning more of the artist’s time needs to be compensated
While I’m not advocating for extortionate costs, I think it’s important to remember that art commissions take time to create - at least a few hours - and artists need at least minimum wage just like every other professional.
Working with me
Why choose me to work with on your commission? It’s a fair question! If you like my work and think it will suit what you’re looking for, I am approachable, easy to communicate with and experienced. I hope that you’ll take the time to have a look at my commissions page to find out a bit more about working together. And if you don’t choose me, I hope this blog has helped you commission another artist to create the artwork you’re looking for!
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