You’ve seen their great artwork online for a long time. Now it’s time to learn the art of commissioning art pieces.
Commissioning art is a great way to get unique art for your home or office, but it’s also very useful for books and advertising. You already know you love the style of the artist you have in mind – but the next step is actually forwarding your idea to them to get started.
Here’s some picture-perfect advice if you’re commissioning your first artwork online…
Determine Your Needs
Perhaps you’re looking for some contemporary art for an office building. Or maybe you need an illustration completed for your marketing campaign. It could also be for your newest children’s book.
Whatever you have in mind, check out your preferred artists’ website or social media feed. Determine whether they have done similar commissioned work in the past, or if their style would work for the concept.
Make an Impression
Just because they’re an artist and you have money to spend, it doesn’t mean they’re available for your project. Or they may be so busy, they have to pick and choose which clients to work with.
So it’s more than just liking their work – they have to like your concept too. So before you get any further, ask first (in an email or DM) if they’re taking commissions, and whether they’d be interested in your project. Don’t be afraid to flatter them a bit by telling them exactly why you’d think their art would be perfect for the job.
Create a Contract
Having a contract in place (or signing one from the artist) once you’ve decided on commissioning art pieces in important to protect all parties. It covers all of the details from price to timeline.
It also will outline what the art can be used for. If you plan to use the art commercially, then that should be made clear from the start. There will usually be a base cost for the art, and a licensing fee to use it for certain purposes.
You don’t want to run into any issues down the road by saying the art’s for personal use and then use it in a campaign. Remember, the creator of the art still holds the copyright in most cases.
Provide as Many Details As Possible
When you’re communicating what you want to the artist, don’t be shy about it. The more you tell them how you want the finished piece to look or exactly how it will be used, the better the chance you’ll be happy with the results.
However, keep in mind that you chose that artist for a reason – you love their work. So while you can provide your vision for the work, ultimately the artist has some creative license to put their own spin on it. If there are some elements that absolutely need to be in there, then say so.
Commissioning Art Pieces Shouldn’t Be Scary
With clear terms and communication about the finished piece, you can make commissioning art pieces fun and become more confident in finding the right artists for the right project.
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