How To Commission An Artwork Guide

Commissioning an artwork can seem like a daunting thing but it really isn't. Plus the end result is just so heart warming and special! Imagine owning your own one of a kind original painting for your home that no one else has.

Plus you are also supporting artists and their livelihood. You are helping make someone else's dream stay alive and also getting a beautiful original piece of art that is not mass produced. The feel good factor here is something to also love. 

Talking about mass produced art.. yes it can have its place and also prints can be something to have in your home as well. Every piece you own doesn't need to be an original on your walls, mix and match and as long as your choices of art give you that warm fuzzy feeling then that is what matters. Art is very personal and should evoke happy feelings. Now saying all that, if your budget can allow for an original painting then definitely do it. Commissioning a painting isn't as expensive as you would think and it's something you will treasure forever.

People commission paintings for many reasons; they want something unique, they want particular colours or themes to match their home decor, they love something that has already sold and want something similar, they love a painting but need it in a different size, they want something to give as a gift, they want something that will remind them of a moment in their life. It can be many things that gets us to want to commission an artwork.

Over the years I have completed many commissions for my beautiful art collectors all around the world, giving them that extra personal creative touch for their home. The absolute joy I see on their faces when they see the finished piece is just so worth it. 

Each artist may have their own version and step by step guide on how they commission an artwork. Depending on their techniques and structure within their own business it may differ here and there. Don't be afraid to ask the artist and have a casual chat about what you want first. It may turn out that that particular artist isn't the right fit for what you require and that's ok. They can usually refer you to another artist that is a good fit. This chat makes sure you are both on the right page.

Let me give you my step by step guide on my own process of how to commission an artwork. So you can see if we are a good fit as well ;)

Your first step is to send me a message me and start a casual conversation. The best ways to contact me would be via email ambergittinsart@gmail.com or you can message via my website contact page. Say hi and let me know you are interested in perhaps getting a commission painting done and just want to chat first. Perhaps you have seen a painting of mine that has already sold on social media or my sold art page and you love it so much you just have to have one yourself. Or maybe you need a different size created or perhaps the colours need tweaking. Just let me know all your thoughts.

I usually get back to you within the day if you send me a message or email. I'm never far from my phone or computer. Yes I love my job lol. Some of the things we can chat about are: where you are from ie what country/state, the size of the painting you were thinking about, if there is a painting you would like to base it on, any colour changes, did you want it framed (if within Australia), time frames for completing the artwork - you may need it for a special event, costs and anything else you would like to add. Here we chat until you feel totally happy with everything, to make sure the piece will be absolutely perfect for you. Also I like to stipulate that you are not obliged to continue and go ahead after just chatting. We both need to be 100% that this is what we both want to do. I won't be annoyed if you decide it's not for you at this stage. We just need to be open and honest with everything.

Step 3. Beginning

OK so once you are completely happy and have decided that you would like to go ahead, then a deposit is now needed. I will send you an invoice to pay that is a non refundable 30% deposit. This will need to be paid before I will commence any work. Most businesses now require this before commencing any type of work, it just secures the job into a time slot and we can feel reassured that it will be safe to continue. This is also to help cover my initial material costs of buying the canvas, paint, brushes etc. Once the deposit has been paid then I can begin your beautiful commission painting. Let the fun begin...

Step 4. Process and Completion

So depending on what is involved and my work load at that particular time will be determining how long it will take. This will all get discussed and approved in the initial stages of just chatting to one another.

Once the painting commission is completed, I will email you final photos of the piece and it is here where we make sure you are 100% completely happy with the final result. If there are any changes and adjustments I will then do these for you.  So we will have some more correspondence at this stage.

Depending on the piece, I may also send a photo mid way through, but it will depend on what I am doing and if it is necessary. As artists we do need some freedom to produce and my artwork is very intuitive when I paint. So stopping and starting a lot can get too static and the painting can loose its energy and organic feel. Painting is where the magic happens, when I can be free and that is where I get to give you the lovely movement and flow that you see in my artworks.

All artists are different though, so you need to be aware of their style and form and how they work. For me if there is a lot of changes and back and forth, then the piece can get quite stuck and it doesn't have that lovely energy. But I am happy to make changes so that you are totally happy.

Once you are 100% happy with the final work, I will invoice you for the final payment. Final payment is to be made within 7 days from the date the final invoice is sent to you. If final payment is not made within these terms the artwork can be on sold and I will keep the 30% deposit to cover the material costs and my time. The varnishing of the artwork is also done at this finishing stage.

Step 5. Shipping

Shipping occurs once I receive the final payment. The artwork is carefully packed up with bubble wrap and strong sturdy packaging. All artworks are shipped within 1-3 business days after final payment, to allow for me to pack it all up carefully and organise the courier or postage. I will send you the tracking number once your order has been shipped.

Shipping of my original art is free and this is for worldwide, it doesn't matter where you are in the world. It will also be fully insured (which is a cost I will pay for, so you don't need to worry about this either) whilst it is in transit. The artwork is always extremely well packed, so it can make it safely to your home. These extra steps that I do in the packing stage give you that extra peace of mind.

If you’re an Australian collector/buyer then (unless otherwise discussed) your original artwork will come to your doorstep in a very secure box and is ready to hang. You just need to take it out of the box and hang it up on your wall. Easy!

If you are an international buyer (outside of Australia) it will first be taken off the stretcher bars and then sent rolled in a sturdy secure tube. This does mean that you will be required to get it stretched at your own local framers and at your own time and cost. It is very common for artists to send their originals rolled in a tube - if going overseas - as this is a much safer, secure way of sending the artworks.

Another thing to be aware of for international sales: customs may be charged on international (non-Australian) orders. The amount your customs authority may charge you is dependent on your country. Any taxes and duties due upon delivery are the sole responsibility of the purchaser. Please check with your local customs authority for further information prior to placing an order.

Step 6. Arrival

Woohoo it has arrived! This is the favourite step. If you are an Australian buyer all you need to do is take it out of its box, pop some screws in your wall, hang it up and love it forever. Yay!

For international buyers, you are best to take the painting still rolled in it's tube to your local framers and let them do the handling and framing of your beautiful artwork. Canvases don't like too many human fingers touching them, so the least amount of touching the better. I do varnish them, so this does add a protective layer just in case. :) 

An additional final step, that I would love but not essential, would be taking a photograph of your beautiful new artwork in its new home. Feel free to email me with your gorgeous artwork. One that you don't mind me sharing on social media as well. I personally love receiving these emails, it makes my day x

I hope that helps you see it is quite an easy and non stressful thing to do and if you have any other questions please send me a message.