Hints and tips for commissioning art works

13/03/2021

Author: Tammy Woodrow

During my career as an artist and curator, I have experienced the commissioning process from both sides. It is so exciting as an artist to find that someone really has fallen in love with your work and that they want something unique and bespoke made just by you. If you are the one commissioning the work, you might find that working with artists can sometimes feel like trying to staple jelly to the wall.

The current art market due to the pandemic and economic crisis is evidently the worst it has ever been. But even before these difficult times, I was not aware of any artists that could make a full-time living out of selling their art, unless you are a Damien Hirst or Antony Gormley of course… Many creatives have other careers besides making art and if you are lucky it is something art-related like working in an art gallery or teaching art.

That’s why it’s great that an online gallery as UK Artists is in place to take care of the advertising and selling side of things and to support artists with these tasks. Artists and designers would rather make work in their studio than spending time behind their laptops trying to flog their products.

Let’s imagine you are the client who is commissioning a 2 or 3-D piece. You have come across an artist from UK Artists whose work you admire. You are looking for something specific either for yourself; you have a certain size of space left above your couch or on your shelf and would like to fill that or it’s someone’s birthday and you would like to spoil them with a unique, personally selected arty gift.

The golden rule when working with creative people is to give them plenty of time ahead. There is nothing worse for an artist or designer than to work under pressure; it really kills their inspiration. Have an initial meeting during which you talk through ideas, prices and deadlines. Leave space for the artist to bring their own ideas in as well, you can’t come to the meeting with a closed brief. The most fun of the journey you go through during the commissioning process is the discussion of your and the artist’s ideas and then get to the final art work which will almost be a collaboration between the two parties.

Pricewise you will already have an amount in your head which you would want to spend. Be honest with the artist and check whether this will be sufficient. It’s always awkward to talk about money but it’s best to get it out of the way at the beginning of the commissioning process to avoid any nasty surprises. During lockdown, I have been watching too much Judge Rinder and I would advise you to put a few lines on paper as a very basic contract. Include items like a description of the artwork, price, and deadline, and then both sign it. I have not come across clients putting down a deposit for a commission; usually, the whole amount gets paid when the piece is completely finished.

Deadlines are an artist’s worst nightmare so you might find that you get a few phone calls during the process in which the ever so sorry artist will ask you if it’s ok to delay the deadline a bit. Don’t panic, but just give them a bit of leeway. From time to time things can go wrong in the studio or in an artist’s personal life. Making art is not an exact science or a production line but a highly individual, private practice that is subject to highs and lows. Stick with it and you will end up with a great piece and an insight into the artist’s mind and working methods.

Tammy Woodrow, sculptor/curator, web: http://tammywoodrow.jimdo.com

More than half of the artists represented by UK Artists are open to commissions. They will have this sentence at the top of their profile page: 'Artist’s Name is willing to accept commissions'

Here is a broad representation of the different types of artists' commissions, be it muralists, glass artists, illustrators, sculptors, or painters UK. Please see the images above.

Neil Adcock – Motor Sport

Joanne Makin – Portraiture

Tim Cunliffe – Stained Glass

David Lewis – Houses & Architecture

Guy Chapman – Fantastical Illustrations

Sarah Caisey – Pet Portraits, Drawings

Roseanna Chetwood – Contemporary Pet Portraits

Alastair Gamble – Interiors and Gardens

Lynsey Cleaver - Murals

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