One of the most frequent questions I get asked is “how can I make money as an artist?”.
There are many avenues to bring money in but before you even get to that point, you must be clear on who your audience is. This is important because then you know how to best help them buy what you make.
Some of the most common methods for making an income with your art may include commissions, Patreon, in-person sales, online sales, grants or community collaborations, and teaching.
Over the next few weeks, we are going to explore each of these six ways to make money as an artist. Today I'm going to focus on commissions.
What Is A Commission?
A commission is when someone hires you to create an original piece of art for them. This is not freelance work.
The commission process I’m talking about is when you are selling a bespoke painting or piece of fine art.
You get to decide how much of the creative process you want the client to have input on. For example, what colors or sizes fit your collector’s wants?
Often artists have a negative feeling about commissions. When I ask why, in most cases, it turns out that their commission process doesn't support them. And maybe it takes too long or feels overwhelming.
Set Boundaries
When you know what you do and don’t want to sell as a commission, it lets you keep the artistic integrity of the project.
Find clients who are willing to pay what it’s worth and who already appreciate the art you make. These are the clients who will be happy to let your creativity shine.
It can be easy to let a client dictate too much of the work with a big-priced commission piece. Remember, you’re not a freelancer.
When you lose control of the creative process, it’ll be a miserable project for you. This may make you want to swear off commissions forever.
This is understandable. But I caution you against giving up on commissions because, for many artists, it’s a great main source of income.
Pricing
Generally speaking, most artists I work with undervalue their commission work. I encourage you to understand the market value of your work and what it means to the person buying the piece. This way you won't leave potential income on the table.
You’ve got bills to pay and your commissions should help you the most when it comes to paying them.
Usually, your commissions will be your top-priced offerings. Hour for hour, you’ll make a higher wage creating custom pieces.
Experience
Commissions are not only art for your buyer. They are uniquely curated experiences for your buyer.
It's an opportunity to build a relationship with your collector as you learn their specific needs and goals for art.
The process is exciting and energizing for both of you. Part of the joy for them is getting to have their ideas seen and heard. By purchasing custom art from you, it also lets them express themselves creatively.
When they display your work in their space, they’re getting to show what they value and what matters most to them.
Are You Considering Commissions?
Are you inspired to start selling commissions? Or fine-tune your existing sales process?
If you answered yes, I can help. Connect with me and we'll draft a sales process that will make you feel good about adding commissions to your income stream.