Artists Looking For Commissions From Clients

A trend today can be found that is not unique from history, yet its volume is unlike any other period of time. An artist that is seeking out clients for art commissions can be found everywhere.

Notably these artists are often located on social media. This focus brings a few questions to mind that beg to be answered.

How does this impact an artists development? Will a constant search for work hinder or strain the direction of the artist?

Also one must ask how successful these attempts to find clients for commissioned art really are? If successful be sure to set appropriate policies such as returns for this kind of business model.

I wish to look into this issue from what I have observed across time, and from my personal experiences.

Pro’s Of Seeking Out Clients For Art Commissions

The pro’s of seeking out clients for art commissions are obvious. You achieve paying work. Additionally you are able to cultivate a following on the social platforms that you use.

In terms of self representative art marketing there are benefits by word of mouth as it is shared. The benefits can also reach into local businesses and culture as your name becomes known.

The pro’s behind a core focus of obtaining clients for art commissions end here. There is little else that it offers when your time and energy is directed in this manner.

In terms of making money with art one should weight the pros and cons of focusing their efforts to this end.

Con’s Of Seeking Clients For Art Commissions

The downside of focusing your marketing for seeking clients for art commissions are wide and varied. The greatest detractor is how your public relations and marketing becomes geared towards one thing alone.

Further complications exist in how your art portfolio becomes will lack diversification and depth. For many no portfolio may even exist.

Due to this issue a broader spectrum of possibilities within the market are missed. The issue here runs parallel to hindering your artwork and development as an artist.

Factors such as cultivating your unique artistic expression become lost. This can be seen within the marketing platforms which the artist will use.

Each media post becomes a sales pitch rather than about them or their work. There is little value beyond the art outside of the vending product line.

The artist will miss the real power of a platform which will support them and their work.

Where Should Artists Find Balance In Seeking Commissions And Their Art?

After reading the pro’s and the con’s behind seeking clients for art commissions one may wonder how to balance their work. The key is to not place too much focus on one path.

Know there is nothing wrong with searching out clients. It is an integral part of the art market. Having said this do not believe I am against these methods.

Balance to your art marketing methods is required. Alternative ways to focus outreach to different people within different markets is needed.

Consider this to be like fishing. It is similar to having multiple rods with different kinds of bait in the water at once.

I will note here that some artists attempt to use E Galleries to find commissions. Personally I would not advise this, but much depends upon the E Gallery selected.

Too many of these locations do little to actually help the artist. What takes place is driving more attention to the gallery brand instead.

What Is The Best Way To Find Art Commissions?

I can attest from other artists, and my personal experience, that the best way to find art commissions is to simply let people see your artwork. Allow me to further qualify that statement.

People need to see your genuine art, your artistic expression, not what you created for other people by their commission. In other words you must be able to display a wider range of artistic creation.

In this process never become tied down by competing against other creatives. Stay true to your art and how you represent yourself.

If you achieve this then you will appeal to a greater number of people across different themes, markets, and genres. To achieve this requires that you place focus on your development and work more than finding clients.

Historically I have had more commissions come from this avenue than attempting to find them on my own. Prospective clients will reach out to me on their own when I am not seeking them.

Additionally some of my best clients have come from this avenue. It seems to attract fewer problem clients and requests for higher quality artwork.

What Platforms Work Best In Finding Commissions?

We each have accessible to us the same platforms. Naturally social media jumps to mind. Nevertheless it is important to not forget your local hometown market.

While I am a huge advocate for every artist having an online gallery, this platform typically does not perform as well for finding art commissions. Locations where more interaction takes place is the likely target.

I have had more requests for art commissions come from local people in my hometown than anywhere else. These interactions are by phone or face to face in person. In my mind there is no doubt nothing beats this method.

In terms of using online platforms, social media can work. I have had requests come from these platforms. How successful you are at this will depend upon how you interact with people.

How To Use Social Media To Find Art Commissions

Allow me to make a few suggestions for real artists. You do not need to look like those who are constantly pushing fan art. There should never be a tag line in your profile saying “coms open”.

This looks tacky and it feels pushy. It also does not attract many new people to follow you. Another approach is needed.

The best way to find people who appreciate your work and will pay for it, is to be genuine. Interact with people in a real way.

Seeing your artwork is obviously needed. Nevertheless your time line should not be flooded by only your art. Keep in mind you should interact with people.

What Is Your Greatest Selling Point For Generating Art Commissions?

Your greatest selling point behind your work is actually not your artwork. The greatest point to selling your artwork is you.

How you interact with people, the personality you share, and how you approach others is critical. There is no better sales pitch than someone who is not trying to sell, but rather they are simply authentic.

Unfortunately this point is often missed in the business world. Listening to others, helping them, and especially if you can solve problems for them, is where its at.

At What Ratio Of Focus Should You Be At In Finding Art Commissions?

I place this here to attempt giving an idea of how much focus an artist should have in trying to find clients for art commissions. To better understand this lets look at one other metric.

Most artists will spend near 60% to 80% of their time in marketing of some kind. The rest of their time is focused on creating art.

At first this can seem disproportionate. Keep in mind that new artists can at times spend 3 to 5 years building their platform with very little focus on their art.

It takes a lot of time and energy to get moving early on. Once you are moving forward, building and maintaining momentum is required.

Having said this, how you divide your time in seeking out clients becomes a balancing act. How you divide that time will greatly depend upon the type of artwork you create and the purpose it serves.

Traditional artists will place less time into this endeavor. Others will spend near half of their “marketing time” and efforts to this end.

Personally within my art, I never reach out to find commissions. Considering that my focus is within wood art it is highly unusual that I do this. Near all woodworkers focus on finding specific clients at much higher ratios.

The answer to this question is one that only you can ultimately define. What I will advise is that if you are spending more than half of your marketing time searching for commissions, it is too much time invested.