Commissioning Art from your favorite artist
Hi there. This is Melissa A Benson of Ranting Centaur Studios. I am a fantasy illustrator and fine artist with a colorful, realistic style working mostly with a mixed media of watercolor dyes, and color pencils. My black and white work is high contrast multi-weight graphite pencil. I also work in oil on masonite.
I specialize in anthropomorphic creatures and people in natural and historic settings. My recent work has been commissions for clients who want portraits of their role playing characters.
In this lens I will guide you into the process of commissioning an artist to create that special image that you've always wanted to have but could never find.
New Table of Contents
My latest commission
This is a commission I received from the North East Wars show in VT
When I was at the show I was given a role player's commission of his character Valdyr to do in black and white with one color. He gave me the details of age, height, costume, weapons and so forth along with the addition of including a rams head somewere. Here is the result.I put the rams head in as a background graphic and added the ram motif to the headband and armor. I suggested that since Valdyr has a scar over his left eye, that the ram in the background graphic also have the same scar. Sometimes suggestions work and sometimes not. Happily this was a good thing and he had me add it in.
If you are interested in having me do a commission for you, check my commissions page for details. There is a pricing chart so you can get a basic idea of what it will cost.
Some of the things your Artist needs to know.
A heads up to hit the ground running.
If you have the following information ready, the process will go infinitely more smoothly and quickly.
Black and White or Color?
Each has it's own character.
Decide if you want your commission to be in black and white or in color. Choose black and white for making a dramatic statement which can be very detailed at a small size. This isn't to say that it won't help the artist to know what color things are. Blue eyes are a different value than green.Color lends a depth and reality to an image. It also conveys a broader range of emotion better than black and white. In general, we relate to, and "feel" color images more. If you something either very subtle or very over the top, then choose color.
Background or no background?
You don't always need a background.
Not every image needs to have a background. This is especially true of portrait work whether it is black and white or color.Another option is to add a graphic image in the background that relates to the subject. A flag behind a political figure for example or a a pair of crossed swords behind a knight. It could also be a simple or complex pattern.
But all that being said, there is something complete and wonderful about a painting with the subject in the appropriate environment.
What size?
This is probably the single factor influences price the most.
Aside from complexity, size is the most influential factor when determining the price, and the reason is the same for both.
Time.
The larger a piece is, the longer it takes to do. Likewise, the more detail and the more "stuff" that you want included in your piece, the more time it takes to do.
Not all pieces look good small, and not all pieces look better large. The subject and the effect you are after will often suggest the best size. A portrait destined for an opera house ought to be large while a miniature portrait's small size in far more intimate.
Time.
The larger a piece is, the longer it takes to do. Likewise, the more detail and the more "stuff" that you want included in your piece, the more time it takes to do.
Not all pieces look good small, and not all pieces look better large. The subject and the effect you are after will often suggest the best size. A portrait destined for an opera house ought to be large while a miniature portrait's small size in far more intimate.
Framed or unframed?
All commissions that you have done should be framed. This can be done by the artist or the artist's framer.
The only time this is not true is when you yourself are a framer or if a finished piece is being shipped. Especially overseas.
Receiving a piece framed alleviates the delay of hanging which isn't good for the art and devalues your investment. Wasn't showing it off to everyone the idea in the first place?
The only time this is not true is when you yourself are a framer or if a finished piece is being shipped. Especially overseas.
Receiving a piece framed alleviates the delay of hanging which isn't good for the art and devalues your investment. Wasn't showing it off to everyone the idea in the first place?
The budget.
Know what you want to spend.
As you have seen, there are many factors that effect the price of a piece. One approach is to tell the artist how much you are willing to spend. The artist will manipulate the size, complexity, etc. so that you can get a quality job within the budget.
Another approach is to tell the artist everything you want to see in the commission and ask for a quote with your "want list" and see what comes up. The artist will usually give you a quote with a variety of sizes to choose from. You can pick one or you can ask the artist for suggestions on how to get the price in a range where you feel comfortable.
For example, a small piece with many ornate elements included can cost as much as a large piece with simpler or fewer elements.
Don't be afraid to ask if you can make installments on expensive commissions. It is a common practice. But be prepared to pay at least one third of the total up front, one third half way through and the final third when it is complete unless the two of you agree to another plan.
My installment plan is a regular monthly payment for as long as it takes you to complete the transaction. The art is shipped once payment is complete.
Another approach is to tell the artist everything you want to see in the commission and ask for a quote with your "want list" and see what comes up. The artist will usually give you a quote with a variety of sizes to choose from. You can pick one or you can ask the artist for suggestions on how to get the price in a range where you feel comfortable.
For example, a small piece with many ornate elements included can cost as much as a large piece with simpler or fewer elements.
Don't be afraid to ask if you can make installments on expensive commissions. It is a common practice. But be prepared to pay at least one third of the total up front, one third half way through and the final third when it is complete unless the two of you agree to another plan.
My installment plan is a regular monthly payment for as long as it takes you to complete the transaction. The art is shipped once payment is complete.
The time factor
How it effects the price.
Imagine writing your name on a piece of paper that is 8 x 10 inches. No problem right? It's quick and easy and looks good without making a fuss.
Now write your name on a piece of paper the size of a postage stamp. This takes a little more planning, more effort and more attention to make it look good.
For a more relevant example, let's say that you want a special ring on the finger of your subject's portrait commission. If the piece is an 18 x 24 inch piece, this will not likely be a problem. If you want it done on an 8 x 10 inch piece, it's another story.
The solution? Let's say that the 8 x 10 quote is in the budget, but you really want that ring seen clearly. You can have the figure done at a closer view (from the waist up as opposed to a full figure from head to toe), or you could have the ring done as a graphic in the background. As we saw earlier, with creative inventiveness, there is almost always a way to get the job done within the budget.
The thing to remember is to know what the most important elements of the piece are and set your priorities so that you can relate to the artist what must be in the picture, what can be modified and what can be dropped if necessary.
Now write your name on a piece of paper the size of a postage stamp. This takes a little more planning, more effort and more attention to make it look good.
For a more relevant example, let's say that you want a special ring on the finger of your subject's portrait commission. If the piece is an 18 x 24 inch piece, this will not likely be a problem. If you want it done on an 8 x 10 inch piece, it's another story.
The solution? Let's say that the 8 x 10 quote is in the budget, but you really want that ring seen clearly. You can have the figure done at a closer view (from the waist up as opposed to a full figure from head to toe), or you could have the ring done as a graphic in the background. As we saw earlier, with creative inventiveness, there is almost always a way to get the job done within the budget.
The thing to remember is to know what the most important elements of the piece are and set your priorities so that you can relate to the artist what must be in the picture, what can be modified and what can be dropped if necessary.
Blog Posts from Google
- Felix Salmon » Blog Archive » Art market datapoint of the day ...
- Martin Gammon, director of business development for Bonhams, acknowledged the art will be going on the block at a time when ?the art market is somewhat down from its highs of 2007. ... What is the commission that a broker or auction house makes on the sale of a painting? Do appraisers figure in the sales at all? I'm reminded of when, not so long ago, Candy and Candy bought a $10-$20M building in Los Angeles for $500M using the poor icelanders for financing. ...
- mnartists.org » TEN: This Week in Local Art
- Art and the Economy: Here is an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal about how art collectors are looking closer to home due the unstable global art market. On a somewhat related note?I have had numerous discussions lately with ... Bad at Sports: is an awesome contemporary art blog and podcast based out of Chicago?. that everyone should check out on a frequent basis. Their blog has an interesting post as to food as the hot trend in art events and performances. ...
- Flavorwire » Blog Archive » Dia's Triumphant Return to Chelsea
- Also noteworthy: for the first time in its 35-year history, Dia is electing to commission a new building rather than renovate an existing one. Now this is exciting news, because an avant-garde non-profit with money to burn and a plot of land to ... SANAA is one of the most effective minimalist firms working in the art market today. Proof? London's Serpentine Pavilion and New York's very own New Museum, an institution whose architecture is praised far more often than its ...
- The "Truth" behind "Yellow Journalism" Paid Lying is an Art ...
- Following the September 15, 2009 Goldstone Commission report, a same day Neil MacFarquhar column suggested that Israel's "disproportionate attack" followed Hamas provocations, so perhaps it was justified. ..... In addition, he writes a weekly CNN.com commentary, is an author and award-winning "journalist," most recently in 2005 when "the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awarded (him) the Emmy for Lifetime Achievement" for serving the usual special ...
Let me know!
There's always room for improvement!
Please take a moment to leave a comment or feedback because I'm always looking for ways to make a better lens.
Lensmaster
Shelly wrote
Hi, I'm traveling with Tipi today, looking at your work--very nice. Tipi is my sister, she lives in Fargo and I'm here in Superior Wisconsin.
Posted December 31, 2008
Tipi wrote...
You have very nice lenses. Thank you for adding links on You Found ZazIt. I did look at your shops and am impressed by your designs. Thank you very much!
Posted December 31, 2008
Commissions by Melissa A Benson
Hire me!
To see how I have set up my commissions page, you can go to the "Commissions" page on my website:
http://www.melissabenson.com/commissions/commissions.html
On this page I have my recently finished commission, a link to my "Commissions Gallery" which has completed commissions and a link to my "Testimonials" page where you can read comments from satisfied clients.
There is also a pricing chart where you can get a ball park idea of the cost and my mission statement is there as well.
http://www.melissabenson.com/commissions/commissions.html
On this page I have my recently finished commission, a link to my "Commissions Gallery" which has completed commissions and a link to my "Testimonials" page where you can read comments from satisfied clients.
There is also a pricing chart where you can get a ball park idea of the cost and my mission statement is there as well.
See who's got a commission.
Check out the latest tweets in art commissions.
See who else is working on, completed, or just commissioned an original piece of art.
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- adambelz
- Public art commission could soon form to choose artists to create work for Linn County's flood rebuilding projects: http://is.gd/4RgxR
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- eric_merced
- RT @fishdirt: Commission Dane Ault for art! http://bit.ly/4Bi8oy
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- fishdirt
- Commission Dane Ault for art! http://bit.ly/4Bi8oy
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- AngelaHayden
- RT @artisttrust: City of Santa Fe/Art in Public Places/Seeks Artwork/commission site-specific outdoor artwork/dl:11/30 http://bit.ly/13Q6aE
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- ToddNauck
- New art posted: Deadpool con commission http://bit.ly/1sXvNR
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by Nightmareartist
Hello - I am Melissa A Benson, if you played Magic:The Gathering you know my work. I did the art for the original Shivan Dragon and Nightmare.
I am a... (more)
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