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Assure Positive Outcomes When Working on Commission

Collectors often ask artists to produce art on commission. In the great majority of cases, everyone's satisfied with the finished product-- but not always. Problems can arise and when they do, knowing how to address them can prevent major headaches.

The best way to avoid potentially difficult commissions is to spot them in advance and not get involved in the first place. Not every collector is easy to work with; not every artist is compatible with every collector. By paying attention to certain warning signs, you can weed out those who aren't right for you.

A good way to begin any commission relationship is to invite the collector to your studio. Make sure a representative sampling of your work is on display and let him have a look around. Get an idea of how familiar he is with your art. Inquire as to why he's chosen you from among all possible artists. Was he referred? Did he see a piece of your work? Did he see a show?

Ask the simple but revealing question: "Do you like my art?" If you hear any hesitation, you might think twice about going ahead with the project. Some collectors like only one or two pieces of your art, but dislike or are neutral on the rest. Working under these conditions can be difficult, especially when you have to suppress certain aspects of your style.

Inquire about the collector's collection. Find out whether he's commissioned pieces in the past and if so, how things went. Hopefully he will have been satisfied on all counts. If his reports are mixed, however, think about contacting artists he's worked with see what they have to say.

Have him describe his concept of the finished product. Encourage him to elaborate and get a feel for the amount of restrictions that may or may not be place upon you. The more direction he expects from you, the more likely the commission is to go well.

Notice any indications that he may be difficult to work with. He might think he knows everything, deliberately challenge you, be fussy about details, or come off as disagreeable and argumentative. In any such instance, seriously consider moving on to the next commission.

Make sure that you only have one person to please. If he expects Aunt Mary and his gardener to contribute their ongoing feedback every few days, you could have a rough road ahead of you. Ask questions about where the piece will be displayed or who the primary viewers will be and find out whether third party opinions will present problems.

Watch out for people with impossible deadlines. Either they want it done immediately or have a schedule that you're required to follow regardless of what else is going on in your life. You want to work at your own pace rather than that of the client in order to do your best job. If he can't understand that, cancel the project.

Being asked to compromise your artistic integrity can also be a problem. But don't be too much of a stickler when requests are minor. If you have an overwhelming amount of principle regarding your art, avoid situations where you give outsiders control over the outcome. In other words, don't accept work on commission.

Encourage the collector to work with you. This helps alleviate fears and apprehensions on his part. A collector who feels that he has a vested interest in the finished product tends to give you more latitude in its creation. By being flexible, working through differences, and keeping your composure in critical situations, you increase the probability of a favorable outcome.

Regarding dollars and cents, require a percentage of your fee in advance as a non-refundable deposit. A third of the total price is average; some artists take as much as half. The actual contract can either be written or verbal depending on the nature of the transaction or how well you know the client. Either way, make sure he understands that the deposit is non-refundable. Explain that in the highly unlikely event of his dissatisfaction, you will have still put forth significant time, labor, and materials, and have made all reasonable efforts to improve the finished product to his liking.

Once you proceed with the job, require the collector to visit you at least once and preferably two or three times during the process in order inspect the work in progress. Request his detailed feedback. This way, you won't go off in a direction that he wasn't prepared for and have to make massive modifications to a finished piece.

Ultimately, the amount of discomfort you're willing to endure when working on commission is up to you. Depending on how badly you need money, you may decide to take on a problem collector. Or perhaps you don't mind difficult people and feel that you can overcome any obstacle. In any event, understand ahead of time that when you choose to go ahead with an arrangement you don't feel comfortable with, be prepared to accept at least half the blame if things don't work out.

Thanks to artists Virgil Elliot, APSC and Ann Basuino for their help with this matter.