In opinion, one of the hardest pieces of fine art to perfect and master is a commission for clients. Over the last few years, there was substantial growth and evolution between both digital and physical works; even so, it seems like a commissioned piece turns into a real test of quality and skill as an artist no matter where you are in your development.
It was rough when I started commissioning back around 2015. A major issue that was hindering my work was time management; a lot of times, I took on several works at once to see if I could get them to my supporter in, what my dumb brain considered, a timely manner (a.k.a. as fast as possible). The resulting pieces were low quality compared to my other works and did not actually showcase what I could accomplish, especially now since I've developed my skills a little more. (I'm sorry, Cole ;A;)
With that in mind, here are some pointers I've learned over the years on how to better handle client pieces:
Take your time with each work! The main reason for the piece is to showcase your style and skill for the client; rushing a work really hinders that important aspect and overall leaves an unsatisfactory feeling in both you and the person you made it for.
Limit how many commissions you work on during a period of time. One concept that I see often (and works for most people) is issuing slots for each commission request. When the slots are filled, requests are paused until another slot opens up. The amount of spaces available is dependent on what you feel most comfortable with, but the average amount I've personally seen was around 2-3 requests at a time.
Small breaks are you best friend. You don't want to overwork yourself on a project to the point if you're wondering if the piece is doing good. Just like in other occupations and jobs, you want to take a step back to evaluate the work in progress and note any parts that are going well along with spotting any hiccups or corrections that need to be made. Feeling fatigued? Step away for a little bit, take a nap, eat a snack, etc.
Don't feel disappointed if you have to take a hiatus. Life happens, and sometimes we get caught up in other obligations. If you're stressed from other aspects of your life, personal or professional, it is completely fine to stop taking requests until your mindset is cleared and ready to start back up again. Just be sure to let any potential client know that you are taking a break; most of the time they will understand and wish for you to successfully tackle any obstacles and be happy.
Keeping those small pieces of advice may help you in the long run with commission work, as well as reducing any burnout so that the passion and joy in art remains the same. I do also want to know if there are any other tips and tricks I may have missed; if you have any wisdom to share, please let us know!
- Celina <3
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