PAINT TALK: Top 5 Problems with Taking Painting COMMISSIONS and How to SOLVE Them

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Hi, I am the son of two artists and began painting in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia before I could walk. I was a rare combination of artist and athlete so I moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to play football for USC. I left the team my sophomore year to focus on painting and filmmaking, applying the same focus and discipline from my football career to my art. I primarily work in oils, and spend most free days painting "en plein air" in my new home of Sarasota Florida.
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Chris this was very informative and very thorough. I did commissions for many years. I always said the most important thing I needed to do was figure out the painting the customer has in their head and paint that painting. Whatever it takes to figure that out, the better you do that, the happier your customer will be. And for the customer is is so important they allow the artist the freedom to paint once the painting starts. I had one customer that kept worrying and changing her desires and I was already into the painting! With that customer I did give her the two full size prep charcoals of her children, returned her deposit and walked away. I would have been a wreck trying to make her happy and my painting would have looked like a 5 yr old did it. I had a very detailed form to fill out with the customer, right down to what color are the eyes? When the painting was to be complete? Could I talk to anyone who answered phone or is this a surprise gift? The colors I saw and the color the customer saw could be different I discovered the hard way.

paulaelliott

The sound when 'dealing with the clients' came up, I can't 😂😂😂
Thanks for your advice btw, your videos are really helpful to me 😊

Monsterflosse

You should rename this to “Things They Don’t Teach You in Art School About Taking Commissions”
Honestly this was super helpful! And I love that you mentioned to paint where you can be seen, like outdoors because this is how I got my first commission! I was painting some very large panels for a float that was of The Tomb of The Unknown Soldier for the Memorial Day parade and I had to paint them outside because they were so large. One of my neighbors from down the street drove by and stopped to ask me if I painted other things. I told him I did, but never sold one before. He asked me to paint him a picture of an old general store that he loved to visit. He said he’s go home to go get a phot of it but I honestly didn’t think he’d return, but he came back not even 15 mins later. I was surprised, but told him I had no idea at all what to charge him. He told me that we’d work it out in the meantime and I went to work painting it. It took me about two weeks to do so off and on. When I was finished, he came by to pick it up and paid me well for it. He left and ended up coming back not even a half and hour later and told me that he went to show off his new painting to another local business he went to frequently and was friends with that business owner. The guy he showed it to was so impressed that he said he wanted one as well if the same store. He told him that if I was willingly to do it that he would tell him that I would charge me double of what he paid for his painting! The guy immediately agreed on the spot and came by to ask me if I was willing to do so. I quickly agreed and sold my second painting just like that!! And this was all because I was out in the open painting where I could be seen! Basically free advertising!! I did learn a few things from this. Even though I was paid very well for my work and made double that for a second painting, it does help to have a mainframe of what you do plan to charge for your work so you’re not guessing what you should/could charge for your time for those who are interested. It makes you look more professional and have people take you seriously. I could have lost that sale, but I got lucky that day. I could also tell the guy admired my work and appreciated my time and did paid me well and now my artwork sits in a business where it can also be seen by others! It also does help to have a portfolio of your work on hand to show others what you are capable of doing when showing others your work.

Lacroix

Always amused by your own amusement at your 'sales pitches'...and i love your Youtubes...because (as a professional myself)they always, indeed, GET ME PAINTING❣️

jadar

Excellent. I’ve done several commissions of pets. I find it fascinating that some people want quality but find it hard to justify the price. I run when someone’s says oh that’s a lot. There is always someone out there that loves the painting and price is no problem. I’ve given a lot of free and discounted to get to where I found a circle who doesn’t mind paying well whew! Now that I’m learning oils I’ve found a new learning curve. I was painting watercolor pet portraits. Maybe someday in oils too. Thank you for great content and I love your style of teaching. ❤️🖌🖼

BarBaraWhorleyCrawfordESS

Thank you for this through, thoughtful, advice on commissions. Don't know of any one with your talent for giving these lessons for everything connected with oil painting.

marcyperrier

Great, now all I want to paint is someone with a sword on a unicorn flying over a volcano, fighting a dragon for a twinkie!
Seriously though, great video, so much sense, thank you !

patrickflynn

Your work is amazing! I painted in oils in college but just work in acrylics now. This was so helpful and I'm glad that I've already learned some of these. I like how much you talked about honesty with the client. And so true about some photos not being great for paintings, I have received some that I just couldn't do much with and had to ask for other photos of better quality.

CreatedbySusanMontgomery

I'm literally just dealing with a difficult client 😅 they get one more alteration before I give them their money back and keep the painting or they take it and pay me the rest. Wish me luck 🤞🏼

anyaconda

Haha Twinkie in your hand…great video! Thank you!

EskayStudios

Great video Chris. I’m looking forward to more videos concerning the business side of art.

chriscallen

"And you get exposure!" I didn't know that artists got paid with exposure bucks, too. I'm a musician and waster of perfectly good paint, and those exposure bucks are just what we need. Haven't figured out how to turn exposure bucks into real ones, though.

aprilkurtz

Great paint talk, I gotta say I love it when you put those little comedy bits in there. It really cracks me up. Very relatable.

smekaa

I set my price by size. A very simple structure my clients can quickly understand. If the client wants a complex, difficult piece, I’ll insist on a larger size or just refuse the commission.

figurativeartistbenjaminel