ABOUT COMMISSIONS
HOW IT WORKS
There are two parts to the commission process.
The first part is the esthetic part-establishing what you are looking for in a piece of art, why you like my work, how it makes you feel, and what piece(s) of my work you saw that led you to ask about commissioned pieces. I consider this part to be the most important, because it establishes a connection and communication between you, the client, and me and my work, so you can enjoy my creation for many years.
The second part is the agreement between us to establish the physical details of the piece, the price, terms of payment, time and method of delivery, and ownership and copyright terms- the legal part. I have attached a copy of my commission contract below on this page.
The price depends on the size of the piece and the complexity of creating it, and any special materials needed to complete it, which we will discuss in depth before we get started. Each piece is different, but generally, a piece that is 24” maximum on two sides will be less than $1000. If you are looking for something bigger like 24 x 30 or 30 x 40, the price will be somewhere between $1200 to $2000 or more. The prices above do not include shipping and sales tax. Keep in mind that shipping costs can be substantial if the piece is very large.
The creative process is unpredictable and all paintings go through phases as they are worked to completion. They tend to go through an ugly phase early on, but then evolve into something beautiful. If you do commission a piece from me, I want you to love it, and I need to love it, too. I will not send you a painting that I don’t love. I will send you pictures when appropriate as it nears completion. I want it to evoke the feelings that you had when you saw my other pieces that inspired you. Generally allow up to 90 days for a large painting to be completed, but most of the time it won’t take that long. If I am particularly busy during show season or attending workshops, the time to finish can be 120 days or longer.
We will need to communicate a few times while the piece is in progress, but please understand that too much input from the buyer can interfere with the creative process. As we work together I hope we can build a relationship based on trust and confidence. There is no better compliment than when a client recommends me to someone else, or comes back for a second piece of my artwork!
Please feel free to contact me with any further questions as you read carefully through the contract and think about what kind of piece you would like to have.
All my best,
Alene
