by Krista Kirkpatrick-Hatch
Commission Information
1. Details of Commissioned Piece(s)
Please give the artist (me) as many details as possible, including (but not limited to):
- Preferred medium (acrylic, watercolour, Perler beads, polymer clay, mixed media).
- The size of the commissioned piece (Painting = preferred canvas size in inches. Craft = approximate craft dimensions in inches).
- Reference photos (this is especially great for pet portraits!)
- Colours, shapes, art style, textures, special effects, embellishments, finishing preferences (framed, matte/glossy varnish, etc).
If I feel there are not enough details or that I need clarity, I will reach out to you at this point to get a bit more information.
2. Sketch up and Re-draws
I will sketch up to 3 ideas/redraws based on the information you gave (unless you are wanting a photo replication, in the case of a pet portrait, for example). With each idea/redraw, I will send it to you for confirmation. Please understand that any more than 3 redraws will require an additional fee for the extra time it takes for the redraw (this is why more information given in the beginning is so important!).
If I am not getting the idea after 3 redraws, ask yourself: am I the right person for the job? I will not take offence if I'm not! I understand all too well that sometimes a person's style is not the right one and encourage you to find the right person if I'm not it. I might even be able to refer you to someone who can help! (This may happen in the 'Details of the commissioned piece' phase to save us both some time).
3. Quote, Deposit, and Payment
Once the details of your commission are confirmed, I will send you a quote for what the piece will cost as well as an estimated completion date. I will also send you a contract for you to read and sign. The cost of the piece takes into consideration some of the following factors:
- Size of piece
- Complexity of the piece
- How many hours I anticipate I'll put into creating the piece
- Any additional redraws needed
- My experience with the requested medium (the cost of classes I've taken over the years, research into techniques, previous practice, etc. This could mean that a painting done in acrylic may cost more than a craft made with polymer clay given that I have more experience with acrylic painting).
- Cost of materials (canvas, paint, brushes, varnish, clay, etc).
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required before any work beyond the sketches is completed. This is a typical practice to ensure that the commissioner (you) are serious about commissioning work from the artist (me) and also to protect me from working for free.
During the creation process, I may send 1-2 updates to you on the progress. This doesn't always happen, as sometimes I get into the zone and before I know it the piece is completed. If you are wanting progress pictures, please let me know in advance so that I can make it a priority to do this!
Upon completion of the piece, the remaining 50% of the payment as well as the cost of any shipping, handling, and insurance is due before the item is given to you. It is advised that you get an idea of what shipping, handling, and insurance will cost before you pay the deposit (I can help you with finding this out!).
4. Final Thoughts
A commissioned piece is a one-of-a-kind gift that is incredibly special to the receiver. I will always do my best to make your dream a reality (within reason)! If I feel like I am not the right person for the job, I will try to point you in the right direction.
I understand better than anyone that life happens and things come up... if this is you, please talk to me about a payment plan. I am usually super flexible!
As this is a business for me, I always appreciate reviews, referrals, and social media exposure. I will offer customers a discount code for next time. Feel free to share this with your friends! I will also give discounts to repeat customers (this discount can only work for you and is a little more than what you receive from me after a purchase).
Ready to commission a piece? Contact me!
Thank you so much again for considering me to complete a commissioned piece for you!