I may be in that rare category of artist who actually loves doing commissions. Probably for the same reason many artists hate commission work. In commission work there are deadlines, creative meetings, a contract and money paid to you upfront. It's like a a real job!
I get it, some artists see those things as hindering their creativity. I hear it often, “I don't want some person giving me ideas or notes or directing what I paint or sculpt.” I hear ya art brothers and sisters. I've been an animator, a radio show host and a painter mostly because I don't want to work with people and I'm a control freak. I love drinking vast amounts of coffee and working alone with Miles Davis slinking in the background.
Maybe it's because I'm a first generation Greek, but I like getting hired to do an art job. I don't always want to rely on my own inspirations or obsessions to create paintings. I enjoy the idea of “having to hit a mark”.
To me it seems any Joe and Sally Artist can randomly do a nice piece of art. Just keep doing it and yeah, eventually something sweet will happen. It's a numbers game.
A commission is a totally different animal. A person or business wants your art. You meet with them, propose an idea or two or three or ten. There is some back and forth. You decide on a final direction and you move towards planning that piece. It's like art sharpshooting. And if I'm really honest with myself, some of my most successful pieces have been commissions. The pressure just elevates my game.
Sometimes a commission can just be more challenging. Which is why I always like to try and do something that seems really hard to achieve. A commission can pull the best out of you, make you uncomfortable, cause you some anxiety and totally remove you from your comfort zone.
Here's a thought. If you are a small scale portrait artist, take on a commission to do a mural. Hell ya you'll be scared, but something great might happen. You may grow and surprise yourself. That's exciting.
I think most of us art makers start out as children just loving to draw or paint or make things with our hands. Then somewhere along the line it hits us, “this is what I want to do for a living.” And if you work hard enough, get good enough, meet enough people who like what you do, the art slowly begins to support your life. It puts food on your table, shelter over your head. You are successful.
Don't be afraid to take on commissions. People may love what you do, but they might just want something that's a bit more custom for their home or business. Take it on, stretch and open up the highways of your art career.
