The wonderful thing about fine art is that you get to make what you want. Making Art at its best is unbridled personal expression, free of concerns for making it a certain way or pleasing anyone beside yourself. There are very few things one can do in life that carry such freedom.
It is no surprise then, that when Art is made for someone other than yourself it becomes trickier. It could be a friend, an institution or a collector. Anyone peering over the shoulder of the artist, who has a vested interest in the outcome, can often make the creative process more challenging. It no longer becomes just about pleasing yourself, but becomes about pleasing others as well. If it seems hard sometimes to please yourself, then it becomes doubly so when others are on the sidelines waiting.
You might have guessed by now that I am mostly talking about commissions. Those projects that are often instigated by someone who has seen something you have made before, that they love. And of course it is no longer available, which makes it that much more desired. The only solution is for them to commission you to recreate it again – not as an exact copy, but something usually close.
The artist must now create in a different way. This new way of creating, this thinking is no longer solely the artist’s. It is easily affected by the wishes and concerns of the waiting patron. It can be very difficult to not think about the comments and concerns of the interested party who has possibly put thousands of dollars on your studio table. We all want to please. I know I do. Unfortunately this can stifle the creative process.
It seems so easy to point at something done previously, probably something done effortlessly and without particular thought, and think it can be remade again. This hasn’t been my experience. The second time around almost always becomes tiring or even worse, incredibly rigid and stiff.
Usually it is both, but since it assured a sale where there wasn’t one, I usually agree. It always seemed so possible, such a reasonable request. I am, after all, an artist. What is the big problem?
Over the years, however, I have become better at doing commissions. I actually enjoy them now. What really helped me was coming up with two rules, commitments to myself actually, that I now follow. If I do, then everything is much easier. Maybe they can help you too.
You have to be excited.
I never accept a commission unless I genuinely want to make this particular piece of art. I have to be somewhat engaged and in alignment with the premise. For example, if it is making something derived from very, old work I probably won’t accept the commission. I no longer make Art in the way I did 10 years ago. I don’t want to go backwards, so this is a definite no. It has to be current. In short, I have to be able to become excited about it. I know for certain if I am not excited, the art will fall flat.
Make it yours. Always.
The second commitment to myself is my personal guarantee. I tell myself that at any point and for any reason, if the client is not entirely happy, they are under no obligation to purchase. If they are not totally happy with the commission then I will keep it. This puts me squarely back in the driver’s seat of making the art according to just my sensibilities. It doesn’t matter at all if the client accepts it or not. I just have to like it so much, it must be so strong, that I would gladly send it to one of my galleries, or better yet, keep it myself. This painting, in other words, is made to please myself.
It becomes almost incidental that there might be a buyer waiting for it – or perhaps there is not. Strong work sells. If I love it, then someone else will too. And in the end the primary experience, the lion’s share of the value is not the price but the experience of creating something you actually really, really like. I get that regardless. It must be a win for me no matter the outcome.
Interestingly, if I truly love it, almost always the waiting buyer will too.
These two commitments seem obvious but it took me years to figure it out. Maybe you have a knack for doing commissions, a way that makes everyone happy. Especially you.
If you do I would love to hear about them.
In gratitude, Nicholas
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Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
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Thanks, Nicholas. Perfect timing for me as I am literally in the middle if a commission currently and had this issue of rigidity pop up immediately. Thankfully, I had actually gone through the same problem a few months back with a piece that wasn’t a commission, but was the final painting for a big show coming up. I felt pressure to get the piece done due to a deadline so got all tight & weird just like what has happened with the current commission.
Your 2 previous jewel guidelines will turn this process around, I am sure. Many thanks for all you share always!!
Yours in creative spirit, Carolyn
Thanks Carolyn… glad this was helpful..
My first commission was an unpleasant experience and I’ve never done one since. A man saw my work at a show and asked me to do a painting for his sister. He wanted several specific things in the painting. I agreed and gave him a price. When he and his wife both arrived to collect the finished painting, it was apparent that the wife hadn’t been consulted about the commission. When I proudly showed them the finished painting, the wife scowled and asked how much they owed me (I think it was $200), and then she proceeded to try to dicker with me about the price. Uncharacteristically, I stood firm and she ripped the check out of the book and turned on her heel and out the door. I fully expected to see the painting lying on the side of the road and I’m sure the husband never overstepped his bounds again. So kudos to those of you who are brave enough to take on commissions.
Try these tips I share..you can do commissions.. however you must vet those you are going to work with some…
Good on you for figuring out the solution. It is to affirm yourself, your art and to also affirm your client’s wish. I am delighted that you boiled it down and shared it with us.
As soon as I read it I recognized my unconscious tendencies to sabotage a painting with anxieties about failure. What a destructive force, and totally self inflicted!
Thanks for opening the door and showing the way.
I had a 5’x7′ painting hanging in an Aspen gallery for 3-4 months. I went by and told the owner I thought I would take it back and paint over it as no one seemed to want it. I took it home and completely painted over it that night so I could start a new painting. The next morning I got a call from the gallery. A lady had come in and asked where that painting was. She had to have that painting. She had been looking at it for several months and had decided to buy it. So I had to completely re-create the original painting starting that next day. I delivered the new painting and she loved it and bought 2 more commissions for her house. You just never know what will happen but if you are out there trying, good things sometimes do come your way.
Yes, I’m always wondering when I decided to repaint over a painting if someone is going to want it just after I paint over it. I’ve been close to your experience so usually I wait 6 months before I repaint it.
Great story… thanks Terry
Wow I have had paintings take a year or more to sell! Sometimes it takes a while for their person to show up. but I know space gets limited…
Timely post, Nick. I’ve been working on a challenging piece for a friend and have been attempting to sand over a 10 year old acrylic painting on birch for background but finding it may be too old to sand. Can you offer any tricks? Is there a solvent or environmental friendly solution you use? It could be that my sander is old and tired. Was going to try a more powerful one. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Kind regards,
Old student Suzanne
Wet the painting with water and then use a new disc sandpaper.. it will come off easily.. water is actually quite corrosive..
So you’re saying to sand it while it’s still wet?
Although I haven’t actually written it down, I do pretty much as you do, Nick. But I also have to have a non refundable deposit. It is only fair when you are making a painting with some specifics even if it is done along the lines of what you paint anyway.
This is so pertinent to what I’ve been dealing with in the last few months. I was asked to do a work based on the concept of another individual, and I somewhat rashly accepted even though I had misgivings from the start. I’ve had a very hard time getting excited about this piece, which is essentially telling someone else’s story, not mine. I wish your post had come while I was earlier in the process, because I would have benefited from your advice to “Make it yours. Always.”
I will be presenting the finished work to the individual who commissioned it tomorrow. Even before reading your post I had decided that if they don’t love it, I won’t ask them to purchase it; but I won’t be sending it out to a gallery either, because I really DON’T think it is my strongest work. If nothing else, it will stand as a powerful lesson — to avoid accepting commissions for work I can’t get personally excited about.
Thanks for your insightful posts, and the great ideas you share!
Kathleen
Kathleen, the thing that IS in your control is making your art so YOU love it. If you do this with even this piece your whole situation will change. You simply win every time.
As usual…you hit the button right the head, Nicholas. And it’s so wonderful to have a “bank” of ideas in how to approach commissions. Thank you for the percentage raise in my savings account 😉
Even though this is still a tough one for me I will share something that my husband came with and it’s worked wonders for inhibitions. And then so parallel with what nuggets you’ve given us, here.
I tell the client that I will attempt something of what they want, but it’s very difficult for free spirits to contain themselves. If you like it and want it, it’s yours. If you don’t like it, someone else will and it’s not a problem at all. “I don’t want any uncomfortable-ness between us. I am just a regular guy/lady that doesn’t want stress between us, ever.”
I haven’t had anyone turn down the commission yet. Who knows, certainly not me. But this sure has helped me “free up” myself (never completely though).
And I wholeheartedly feel the way you do, about #1….I have to be EXCITED and LOVING the concept for that person.
THANK YOU FOR SUCH WONDERFUL SHARINGS
Wanda– exactly- thanks
This is very timely for me Nicholas, I am a textile/mixed media artist who has teamed up with an Italian Taylor to make ‘Bespoke’ silk linings for rich clients. At first I was really excited to be chosen and thought it would be a lot of fun. Testing my skills of making surfaces that are interesting but still wearable on silk.
The one major point I overlooked was the client and how they would be involved in shaping the art piece. Why would you not want to have a say in something so personal as a silk lining in an expensive suit? We ‘interview’ the client to get a sense of what they like and what is important to them in life. Then I can go away and create from that.
At first I was given quite a bit of leeway in my creations, but as time has gone on the direction has become much more controlled, asking for specific images such as Jellyfish or Deer! First off I am not a realist artist, I do abstract surface design……..so this is challenging me into an area that I am not comfortable with and don’t really want to go. I’m not a silk painter!
Secondly I don’t do art to order and think that my creations are now suffering as a result . In fact some of them turn out like sh1t !!!!
Purely because my heart isn’t in it.
So you have really given me permission to tell myself what I have been avoiding for a while now………to stop doing this and get on with my own art again. The frustration is killing me slowly piece by piece.
Thank you for this post.
Anni
Anni, do not walk…run from this. I totally support and encourage you to stay in only the creative areas that bring you alive… so glad you saw this post.. (:
I’m glad you addressed this. I’ve heard so many artists talk about, stress about, and generally worry themselves about this topic. What you say makes sense, completely. Duly noted; thank you!
I seldom accept a commission because of the reasons you mentioned. What I say is, I’ll make a piece and if you like it and want to buy it, that’s great. If you don’t want it, that’s ok too. I take no money ahead of time. Helps my anxiety to work this way.
I understand that thinking– I always get a deposit but in my mind I am not attached to whether they buy it in the end or someone else does…
Question: Do you ask for a deposit upon accepting a commission, and if you do, is is refundable or non-refundable?
Well, the deposit makes sure the buyer is serious. So yes usually 1/3 up front…
This post hit home, as I am just finishing up a commission. I find doing commission is difficult for exactly the reasons you mentioned. Since I am an intuitive painter, starting out with a concept tends to make a stiff, boring painting. So I usually have to repaint several times to get that looser, fresh feel.
Boom! Yes and yes! i say the same thing. If they don’t love it they don’t pay for it and i have the same thought that if I love it I’ll keep it. Its how I stay sane. But one thing you didn’t mention Nicholas was do you offer to do another for them after you’ve decided to keep the other? Or do you both decide to move on with no commission? Ive never had this happen but Im curious as to how you’d deal with it. Beautiful painting by the way. This is my absolute fave of yours so far 🙂