Owning a work of art is a pleasurable, enjoyable experience. If you have been unsuccessful in finding that perfect piece for you, why not commission a work direct from an artist? Commissioned work is personal and unique, and specifically produced for you and your requirements. 

Write down ideas

It’s important to know what you want, in order to communicate your idea to the artist as clearly as possible.  Write down all of your thoughts and ideas on paper. Use the questions below to help you get started.

• Who or what is the work for? Is it for your home? Is it a gift?
• Are there any constraints or special requirements? Think about dimensions of the work, the space where the work will go, the function of the work, any materials to be used?
• What are you looking for? What kind of artwork do you like, do you prefer a particular style?
• Whats your budget? Does this include installation and delivery?

Meet with the artist

A rewarding commission relationship occurs when the artist responds effectively to your concerns, requests, and needs. Take some time to get to know the artist and answer a few questions before making a commitment. 

Meet with the artist to discuss the project, preferably at their studio or gallery where they are showing. Ask to see a representative selection of the artist’s work. You may think you want to commission a new work of art when what you are really interested in is an exact duplicate of something you’ve seen. Encourage the artist to ask you a lot of questions and make sure you do the same.  Both you and the artist have to imagine the creation of the art in pretty much the same way for a commission to work. Differences in initial perception could lead to problems later.

Make an agreement

If the meeting goes well and you feel comfortable with the artist, move forward with the commission. Even if you know the artist well or have worked together before, it is always a good idea to write and sign a contract. It doesn’t have to be complicated but it should address major points like basic characteristics of the art, payment schedule, late payment fees, completion time, and final delivery and copyrights.  Verbal agreements or handshakes risk He Said/She Said disputes later.

The artist will almost always require a non-refundable advance, usually about 1/3 the total cost of the commission.

Review the work in progress

Arrange to periodically view the work in progress—not every day, but perhaps three or four times before completion. That way, you can address concerns before they get serious. You don’t want to be presented with a finished piece that looks totally different from the concept you had in mind.

Enjoy your art

Show it off to friends and associates. Take pride in your personal and unique artwork.