The Art of Commissioning: A Guide to Bringing Your Vision to Life
Commissioning your own, unique artwork is the best way to bring your creative vision to life. While it might seem like a daunting experience, the process can be an enriching and rewarding one. In this guide, I’ll take you through the steps that I work through to achieve a successful collaboration.
Define your vision
It’s essential that you clearly define your vision for the artwork. Consider the style, medium and size that best suit your needs and aesthetic preferences. Collecting inspiration from existing artworks will help you flesh out what you really like. If you’re still unsure then I’ll work with you to refine your vision.
Choose your artist
Your vision will help you narrow down what you want, now you need to find an artist who’s work resonates with you. You should look for artists who have experience with the commissioning process and show a willingness to help bring your vision to life.
Meeting the artist
Developing a strong personal rapport is essential so meeting the artist is the next step for you. This stage is vital as you need to be comfortable that the artist is a good fit for you. You’ll need to share your vision or get the artist to help narrowing down your objectives. The artist will want to know your budget, timeframe, material and any other specific requirements.
Concept development
You’ve chosen an artist and have agreed to move forward, now you get to collaborate, this is when the magic begins! During this stage, you’ll share images and be involved in the initial brainstorming process. Once I have a good understanding of what you want, I’ll develop preliminary sketches and concepts. You’ll then get to provide feedback on these ideas. This feedback informs any changes that get re-presented. It’s important that you are 100% happy with the chosen design. Bringing your vision to life is essential in a successful collaboration.
Agree on the terms
Before the commission begins, we both need to agree on the terms of the project. This includes scope of work, timeline and payment details. For larger works, I prefer to have a written contract to prevent misunderstandings and ensure a smooth collaboration. Before I start, and to help cover initial costs, I ask for a 20% deposit. With all this sorted, the artwork can start.
Stay in contact
This is your artwork so having you involved is vital in the collaboration. You may want regular catch-ups, regular work-in-progress images, have questions or feedback; all of which ensures the final artwork meets your vision and expectations.
Celebrate & review
Once the artwork is complete, take time to celebrate the collaboration. Cherish the fact that your vision has been brought to life by the artist’s creativity. All going well, the artwork is everything you’d hoped for. If this is the case, I’d love to know. Better yet, a testimonial would be amazing. Testimonials are pure gold that I can share with potential customers.
Commissioning an artwork is a collaborative journey that allows you to play an active role in the creative process and acquire a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects your personal taste and vision. By following these steps and fostering open communication, you can ensure a rewarding and fulfilling experience from start to finish.
“We wanted an artwork to commemorate our engagement, which also tied in with our love of New Zealand and its landscape. We chose Hamish because we’d seen his artwork before and really loved the aesthetic of your charred timber pieces, the fact that you work using reclaimed materials and that a lot of your work is a response to NZ’s natural world.
Hamish talked us through the process really well for people who had never bought original art before, let alone commissioned it! We felt able to give enough input without stepping on Hamish’s toes, and really enjoyed that he gave us a range of possible designs. The only problem was choosing which was our favourite!”
‘Bealey high’ - Artwork commissioned by Ed Millington