jlamonspaintings
Artworks created by Julie Lamons
Welcome to the homepage of United States artist Julie Lamons from Pleasant Plains,Arkansas. Julie is a member of the Arkansas Artist Registry and The Eureka Springs Artist Registry.
Commission Art
I recently had the honor of creating this painting for a client who wanted to use it in his ministry. It was a great opportunity for me and he was very pleased
"Daniel in the lions den"
It doesn't always turn out like this, I know an artist that agreed to do a painting and the price was set. After creating the work of art the client wanted to change some things, and the artist reworked the painting. Again the client wanted to make more changes and the artist reworked the painting. After several changes the client was satisfied, and arrangements were made for delivery. The client informed the artist that they didn't have the money, so the artist accepted a payment plan. Ouch!
Many artists have had what looks to be a golden opportunity - a commission!
Working on commission, creating a work of art from scratch for someone other than yourself, is totally different than selling a finished piece at a show, at a gallery, or out of your studio.
The key to making a commission work is your ability to be flexible and work with people. A commission relationship only succeeds when you respond effectively to the other party's concerns, requests, and needs (which hopefully aren't too numerous). The number one commission pitfall, is taking one on without knowing who you're dealing with. The two of you have to imagine the creation of the art in pretty much the same way for a commission to be successful. Find out what they want and make sure you can give it to them. If they have unrealistic expectations that you can't fulfill, turn down the job. "What do you want to see in your art?" Look for broad answers that have to do with the way your art makes them feel, they like its message, what you stand for as an artist, that sort of thing. Very detailed or specific answers could mean they'll try to micro-manage the project later. "Is there anything you don't like about my art or don't want to see?" The less they don't like, the better. If they don't like something that you can't do much about, warn them now rather than later. "Do you have any other questions or requests?" An answer like "not really" is always good. Unless you know the party well or have worked together before, write and sign a contract. Require an advance, usually about 1/3 the total cost of the commission. Receiving partial payment ahead of time takes pressure off of you to finish the art fast, and also commits the other party to wanting a positive outcome. The advance should be nonrefundable. If the other party backs out, they should understand that you've still invested time, labor, and materials. Arrange for the other party to periodically view the work in progress.. That way, you can address concerns before they get serious. The other party should feel comfortable asking questions, and expressing opinions about the art and its progress. Discouraging feedback or acting overly sensitive to criticism could keep them from telling you what they're thinking as they become increasingly dissatisfied with the art. Ultimately, you decide what you're willing to put up with when working on commission. You might take an obvious risk based on how badly you need the money, or want your art in a particular collection. Then again, peace of mind may be more important than a paycheck. Whatever the plan, do your homework first. The better you understand what you're getting into, the better you'll cope once you're into it.
