Comissions
At the moment I am in a post-graduate program in England, so my time to work on commissions is greatly diminished. However, if you have an idea I'd still love to hear it, maybe we can work something out!
The Basics!
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I require a 50% non-refundable deposit up front to secure commission and cover cost of materials and time.
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Expect 6-12 months to ensure quality of work.
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Shipping costs are paid by client.
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Paintings over 30" on any side will be mailed rolled in a tube, unstretched. Do your research before purchasing a large painting. They will need to be brought to a local framing shop or other professional to have them stretched or displayed. If you need help finding someone to do this near you, I can offer research services at $20/hour
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I will accept the commission after a long discussion, to ensure that we are right for each other and for the project.
Collaboration
Commissions are a beautiful collaborative process where you and I can share a vision for a work of art with personal meaning. Before committing to a commission we will sit down for a coffee or a video call to discuss your vision, to collaborate on ideas, and ultimately decide if I am the right artist for the job. If at the end I do not believe I’m right for the project I hope to point you in the right direction.
As I work on your piece I will give you updates as I feel appropriate and ask questions about direction if I feel I’ve reached some sort of an impasse. These will likely be mostly at the beginning and end of the commission process, as the middle is mostly just process and problem solving on my part, and tend to be a poor indication of the finished product.
If at the end of the process the painting is not to your liking, I will work to make any changes I can (within reason) for an additional 6 weeks. If by then it is still not what you want, you are under no obligation to pay the remaining 50% of cost. However, if this is the case, I maintain the ability to sell the work at my own discretion to another buyer, or to list it on my e-shop for sale.
Trust
What’s really amazing, and flattering, for an artist is to be chosen by someone to make work for them. Every artist is different, and to be singled out is an honor. If you want to commission me, please understand that this is my area of expertise, and my process. If you are looking for my work to resemble another artist, I would highly recommend you commission them instead! My work will always look like I made it, so please be familiar with my work and my style before making a commitment you might regret. Trust that I want the best for you, that I want all of my work to be excellent, and that I know what I am doing.
Patience
Art has never, ever, been a quick process. Sometimes you get lucky with a stroke of genius, but often you must be patient for genius to visit. The 6-12 month timeline is not just to give me time to paint, but to give the work space to arrive just as it must. To force a painting to exist is -I’ll exaggerate a little here- violent and wrong. Giving me that much time to work gives creativity time and space to breathe so that the work is done right not just quick. Have patience for the process, please.
FAQ'S
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“How do you price your commissioned work?”
The base cost of an original artwork is $500 USD, meaning that the minimum size for an artwork will be about 22x22” in acrylic, or 15x15 in oil. I use a pricing formula based on square inch (Width x Height), and price per square inch varies depending on the materials used in the work, as well as the reproduction rights agreed upon in our contract. This gives you the flexibility to fit your budget by adjusting the size or medium of your artwork. For example, my current pricing for a custom acrylic on paper where the artist reserves reproduction rights is $1.5/square inch, and an oil painting on canvas where the artist reserves reproduction rights is $2/square inch.
If you would like to obtain the reproduction rights, the price increases depending on the terms of the contract. If shipping is required, the buyer will cover the cost of packing and shipping. I am also open to setting up a payment plan if you would like to spread out your commission price over several smaller payments (within reason, and with signed agreement to pay in full by a date tbd).
2. “What is the timeline for commissioned work?”
This is another thing we discuss as we put together a contract. June/July is a good time to start thinking about Christmastime commissions. Any later than this and we run the risk of work becoming rushed. Ideally, a commission is best ordered 6-12 months ahead of the date you would like it by, especially for larger works.
3. “What are reproduction rights?”
This means that the artist is allowed to reproduce the artwork to sell as prints or other kinds of things. This is very typical. If you would like to restrict me from sharing your custom art on social media, or obtain the reproduction rights, we can discuss this, but it will raise the price of the artwork.
4.“What kind of references can you use for commissioned artwork?”
An original, personal photo is best. If the photo provided violates copyrights of another creator, I cannot use it unless we agree that significant changes will be made in the artist rendering of the image. I can also create an image by combining elements from multiple references, which is another great way to make sure we’re keeping everything legal and respectful! Again, this is discussed on a case-by-case basis.
5. “What are my rights to the work after it is complete?”
We discuss this in the terms of your contract. Usually, the artist reserves the reproduction rights for prints and use of the image for the artist's marketing purposes. If you would like to restrict me from sharing your custom art on social media, or obtain the reproduction rights, we can discuss this, but it will raise the price of the artwork.
6. “I need this done in a month!”
It is true that some artworks can be finished on this kind of timeline, but that is when the inspiration takes hold of the reins. If you need something that quickly, let me know what the project is, and I will let you know if it is in any way possible. If you need the work shipped, however, I would ask you to try to find another artist that can hand deliver it to you.
7. “What if I want a small commissioned artwork?”
Here’s the big thing about this. An artwork may be small, but often it takes just as much time and effort to complete them, sometimes even more time because there is so little real estate to work with. Ergo, it is not necessarily in my best interest to take smaller commissions for proportionately less money. It may be smaller in size, but it takes just as much work for me :) HOWEVER, if you are really interested in something smaller don’t despair, there may be wiggle room! Please fill out my contact form with your idea, budget, and any reference photos so we can discuss what your options might be.
8. “Why do you need a deposit?”
This is to ensure that the cost of materials and my own time is covered. If in the end something happens and you back out of the commission for one reason or another (totally OK!) it ensures my time has been compensated. Please understand the deposit is non-refundable.
9. “What if I don’t like it?”
If at the end of the process the painting is not to your liking, I will work to make any changes I can (within reason) for an additional 6 weeks. If by then it is still not what you want, you are under no obligation to pay the remaining 50% of cost. However, if this is the case, I maintain the ability to sell the work at my own discretion to another buyer, or to list it on my e-shop for sale. Please understand that if you choose to back out of the commission, the deposit is non-refundable to compensate for the basic cost of time and materials.
Have any other questions? I’m an open book! Just ask and I’m happy to have a conversation about how to work together to help you acquire the art of your dreams!