So you want to purchase your first piece of custom artwork from an artist. That’s awesome! Are you not sure how to go about it? Fear not, here are some common practices on how to start that conversation:
Check if their commissions are open
If you aren’t sure if the artist takes commissions, many artists who are taking commissions place their open/closed status in their bios on social media. That’s a good first place to check. Check their website. Similar to the previous note, some artists place their status on their professional portfolio. E-mail and ask. If you still aren’t sure after checking their website and socials, contact them directly to confirm. Be aware that some artists don’t take commissions via DMs, so e-mail can be the better route.
Start the conversation
Introduce yourself and briefly describe what you’re looking for. Also, if you have a budget, be aware that you will be asked to share. Describe if this project is for a personal project (i.e. for your own, personal use like art to hang in your home or to give as a gift) or if it’s for a commercial project (i.e., for you to use to promote your business). Be aware that commercial projects tend to have a higher cost attached to them than personal ones. When buying something for commercial use, you are not just purchasing an image but rights to use and distribute that image—hence the extra cost. Thank the artist for their time, as many are self-employed and often juggling multiple jobs. Time is precious, so it’s always good to be courteous!
Discuss the cost
Once you have started the conversation, don’t shy away from being honest about your budget. If an artist charges more than you can afford, you have two options: One, thank them for their time and let them know that that’s outside of your budget and you cannot purchase their art at this time. Two, thank them for their time and let them know that you need time to save for their work, as you cannot afford it at this current time. Please don’t just stop responding once you hear the cost—it is more respectful and professional to let them know one way or the other if you can go through with the transaction. That way they can plan their time accordingly. It’s totally okay to be upfront, just don’t ever tell anyone their prices are too high.
Artists have every right to charge what they see fit. If you are going to go through with the purchase, be prepared to pay for a deposit. Many artists take something like 20%-50% deposits before they start the work. This is most likely non-refundable and simply guarantees that they aren’t accidentally working for free. It pays for the ideation and sketching portion of the artwork. Believe it or not, some folks will receive the finished artwork and then refuse to pay or disappear. The deposit guarantees that the artist won’t be working for nothing. Often, the final deliverable won’t be available until you pay the full cost. This means that the final high-resolution file or traditional art piece won’t be available until you pay the remaining amount. Just something to be aware of when budgeting to buy artwork.
Provide feedback
Depending on the nature of the project, you may get WIPs (“works in progress,” sketches, or thumbnails) to check in on if you’re okay with how the art is going. Be honest and kind with your feedback. Don’t be shy to provide positive feedback too; sometimes folks get caught up thinking they need to be critical when asked for feedback. Describing what’s looking right helps artists a lot, too! Be aware that some artists will charge for revisions. Some allow for a certain number before they start charging. Make sure you discuss this with them before starting the project so you can stay on target with your budget goals. Sometimes artists require visual references, so be prepared to make a Pinterest mood board or even just save and send photos in your correspondence. Be specific about what you like and don’t like in your references.
Pay them
As I mentioned previously, the final piece most likely won’t be available until you pay the final fee. Make sure you’ve discussed how they would like to receive their payment. The artist has put in a lot of time and work into their art and made it just for you, so make sure you are respectful of their time and pay them promptly when the work is completed. It’s not common practice (at least in my experience) to receive tips for their work, but if you can afford it and are over the moon with how the work came out, feel free to add a tip to the final payment. This is not mandatory, but a very kind gesture (and thanks for considering it!).
Provide credit
If you’re posting on social media or even just talking to your friends, make sure you provide credit to the artist. Word-of-mouth is often a huge way artists get customers, so if you love their work don’t be shy to let people know!
That may seem like a lot to process, but it’s overall really simple to commission an artist. Simply reach out, discuss your budget and expectations, and prepare to be excited and blown away by the artwork you receive! Happy commissioning!
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