Reasons Why Artists Reject Art Commissions
Have you ever been told by a wood artist, or any artist, no for an art commission? You are willing to pay for a commissioned piece but they find a way to back out of it and say no.
As a consumer or collector you do not understand why any artist would do that. Here the various type of artisans in the world struggle to explain artistic creation and limitations.
I want to help break down the coded talk and what is happening. No one wants to be left on the wrong side of a misunderstanding feeling bad or as if the project wasn’t good enough.
One of the most difficult parts of approaching an artist is knowing that most do not consider themselves a business. When is the last time you have heard someone say they run an art business? Maybe selling art supplies then yes but not as an artist.
Some artists can be temperamental and often do no do well in business approaches. In history art galleries and guilds have helped fill this business gap. Yet the world is changing faster than the art community can keep up with.
Having brought the most common flaw to the forefront I want to walk you through what is often going through the mind of a wood artist. It may help you get the project you desire done. While I wish I could step through commission process of all artists in the art community I cannot. My experience is within the wood art community.
Wood Artists are not General Carpenters
A major problem wood artist run into is that immediately someone will think this artist can build custom cabinets, table, or whatever is in the mind. Added to that idea is that this artist can not only build said item but it will have art inlay and be amazingly beautiful. They approach the artist and are told no.
Generally speaking wood artists are very selective in what they do. Typically any shop or studio will be tooled for certain types of work. For example I have many of the tools needed for cabinetry but I do not own others that would be needed. That is not what I do.
General carpentry is much the same way. I have a skilsaw but its in my garage, not my studio. I think I used it sometime three years ago and needless to say I do not plan on using it again unless I have to.
My contractor style table saw is also in the garage collecting dust. I use it only when making renovations to my home and I prefer not to run my nice blades from my SawStop on plywood or other lesser materials. Not all woodworking is equal nor the same.
Please understand when you approach a wood artist for something it might not be in their wheelhouse of what they can do, or want to do. It is not a personal matter.
Yet if they are hungry enough and if you catch them at the right time you might can talk them into something. Nevertheless know up front that if it is general carpentry the answer will usually be no.
Tooling for Wood Art and Time
I have two major issues when people request something. First is tooling. Am I tooled for doing what is requested? If I am then then that’s a plus.
Secondly where am I in the process of my present work? This is where you may have to wait. It is not always because your requested art commission will take so much time but rather getting what you requested into the work flow.
Understand that wood artists like me do not work on templates. Nor do those like me chase trends which evolve in time. Whatever I make it came from rough timber boards and the wood had to be processed all the way to the finished product.
For real wood artists there are no cheats or precut pieces. Each cut is individually measured just for you and only for you. You are not one of 100 that day. This goes back into the beginning of this blog post of attempting to explain artistic creation.
Additionally most real artists do not have a warehouse of employees that are mass producing for them. Getting a custom art commission done is a very different beast than ordering from a place that can manufacture said piece. While this is commonly known and accepted it can be easy to forget at times.
Changing the tooling on a whim or at a request takes away valuable time. Going back to square one with rough timber to start at scratch requires the entire studio to move back to square one in order to progress forward.
It is not just one machine that must be reset. Table saw blade change with jig for cuts, band saw blade change for resaw, planer, table saw again for sizing and squaring and the list goes on. Genuine wood art takes time.
New Art Ideas Can Scare Some
The next major issue for many wood artisans is fear. Do they want to invest in that artisan creation of the unknown? What would make them say no? That answer is pretty easy.
If what you requested requires that they redesign a work flow or they must learn something new, whether a new process or the very design itself, they may say no.
No artist wants to give someone their first run or first attempt at a new artistic creation that has not been refined. Often if they accept what you have requested then there will be a couple other pieces which are made that you know nothing about.
These additional pieces are the prototypes. All of this takes considerably more time and effort. It is difficult to know what to charge for your work when you are educating yourself. This brings back up the earlier point of time itself. Time to do and invest, explore and refine is everything. Is it really worth that time?
Know that this is not a bad thing. In fact it is just the opposite, its a very good thing. If the artist accepted your art commission and he is in this process then he has furthered his value in art and what can be offered. That means you had a good idea for him to expand his artwork into.
Do not worry that you will be handed something which is inferior just because it is new. The benefit of a wood artisan doing the work as compared to a carpenter is how the artist will obsess over the work.
If its not right then it will most likely be smashed into the floor without you ever knowing while he starts over. This is also why wood artists hate general carpentry. The end result is never good enough and the project would drive them insane.
Often a hidden element you do not see is cash investment by the artist into new tooling for your project. If that is needed then it really needs to be a good idea. It means he will usually make nothing from your art commission.
Most will not admit to the fear aspect holding them back but rather cite time being the problem. That too is reasonable. Most artists also work a real job even if they do not wish for you to know. Then they have family with all that brings, yet then add onto that our art.
A new process requires something be sacrificed to do it. Yet keep in mind it can be a good thing.
Artists are Like Musicians
Artists are very much the same as musicians in that we tend to all be a little crazy. I say that jokingly but also with some sincerity. There are some artists I have known that you would have to convince them that they want to do the work.
Fortunately this is not an issue with me but I do know some that this is true about. I do not fully understand why they have turned down some projects or how to interpret “wasn’t just feeling that one”.
On the other hand some musicians just love to play music no matter what kind it may be, some artists love to try and make anything they can. I have always fit more into this category as long as my tooling and time allow along with my experience.
Exploring new territory is exciting. Yet if something is requested be willing to be patient if needed. This is especially true if it is new territory or outside of the standard work the wood artist makes.
An odd quirk I have found is that some artists I have met refuse to do any commission art. This I have never understood. I feel that part of this is due to the lack of business confidence they may have.
To add to this, some have issues with selling their work and secretly would rather keep it themselves. Artists can definitely be of a different breed than the typical wood shop business.
Artists Are People Too
This statement “Artists Are People Too” came from a post on Twitter where a friend who does pencil and painting was complaining. The complaint was twofold. First not respecting the artists time. This one we have already covered to various degrees. The second part of the complaint is be willing to pay. It would shock some people to know I have cut boards worth $500 usd just for the raw plank.
To this day this friend still undercharges for the work they do. The business model they have chosen to follow allowed for more work but it takes a toll on the artist. Here the artistic value and the value in art do not meet.
People can begin to undervalue the artwork and the artist. My model is quite different than my friends. I set the price I want and wait. I am in no rush nor am I going anywhere. Nevertheless the point remains, paying for someones skill and time out of their life is to be expected.
This topic is an area where the artists within the world need more help when it comes to business and marketing. While this issue exists from the artists perspective the culture we live within today also holds some responsibility.
Our culture has become a fast food with cheap prices world. Made in China can be found on almost any product within any store. Just know what you receive from an artist was made by them, often piece by piece, cut by cut, finished for your wood art.
This is not an issue of “made in the USA”, rather than it is made by a specialist that is one of a kind and cannot be found anywhere else. To want the best, or unique, and even beautiful, requires a lot more than made in China will command.
Some artists fear saying things such as this as if it will scare people away. I rather say it with pride in that I know my work and what it took for me to get this far. There is no shame in recognizing ones own value.
Should Price Be Negotiated for Artwork?
I bring this up for those who love price negotiation. I understand there are many people who just love doing this. It is a business art form in of itself, I get it.
For some in the world they feel as if they have not obtained the full shopping experience if they did not try to haggle the price. Yet when an artist lists a price that often is the price. I very rarely negotiate. Why?
If I were to charge for the actual time involved in each piece of wood art I would already need a 1/3 increase in price of each piece.
There must be a balance between what one asks to what can be reasonably commanded in the market. This is true for artists no matter the medium they use for their work. There are not many rich artists in this world. Like writers we can become famous but often after we are dead.
Generally speaking artists hate it when people attempt to negotiate and some take it as a personal insult. I never take it as an insult as I understand the business world more than many of my like breed. It is just a number an individual is willing to offer yet there are many more behind that individual to come.
Never Be Afraid To Ask, Or Say No
As a prospective buyer or collector never be afraid to ask if your commission art can be done. Also either side should never be afraid to say no if things just do not work well together.
This next part is more for the stray artist reading this, try not to take things personally. Artists can tend to take too many things far too personally.
Most importantly just have fun with the whole experience. Creating new work for an individual gives new value in art through art commissions. While some artists may disagree, I feel that it can be the most fulfilling work I have done.
It has more meaning to me and the buyer. Never let fears get in the way of your work for others. Fear can get in the way of the greatest works within life, including our art.