Art commission questions

It depends on size, medium, detail and the artist. Many painters price by the square inch: Skillshare's worked example is $3 per square inch, so a 12 × 12 in painting is $432 before materials. Others charge hours × an hourly rate plus materials. Use the estimator for a ballpark, then post your brief free and compare real bids.

Write a short brief: what you want, the size, the medium, reference photos, your deadline and a budget. Post it once on The Spool List, compare the bids and portfolios you receive, ask about sketch approval and revisions, then accept the bid you want.

Not to an artist directly. You pay the bid when you accept it, and the platform holds that payment. The artist isn't paid until you confirm delivery, so you're never sending a deposit into a DM and hoping.

Ask for it in your brief. Most artists share a thumbnail sketch, colour study or small maquette first, and include one or two rounds of changes at that stage. Agree what's included before you accept the bid.

It depends on the piece and the artist's queue. Each artist states a timeline in their bid. Oil paintings need drying time before varnish, and cast sculpture goes through several foundry stages, so post well ahead of a gift date.

Usually not. Under US law the artist keeps the copyright to commissioned artwork unless it is transferred in a signed written agreement; you own the physical piece. If you want prints, merchandise or commercial use, say so in the brief and agree it in writing.

Yes, that's how most portraits and pet portraits are made. Send sharp photos in good light, ideally several, and say which one shows the expression you want.

Yes. Sculptors work in clay, resin, plaster, wood, stone and bronze, and some combine digital sculpting with 3D printing. See the sculpture guide for materials, costs and how to brief a sculptor.

Yes. Give the size, colours, scent if any, quantity and the date. Small batches for weddings, events and corporate gifts are common; ask about sample pieces before the full run.

Yes. Potters make one-off pieces and matched sets: mugs, bowls, plates, vases, planters, tiles and urns. Say how many pieces, the sizes, the glaze colours and whether they must be dishwasher- or microwave-safe. Published retail examples run from about $25–$120 for an everyday handmade mug or bowl to $195 for a handmade four-piece place setting; custom work varies by potter. Handmade pieces differ slightly from each other, and a set usually takes weeks, because every piece is dried, fired, glazed and fired again.

When you confirm the piece was delivered. Until then the payment stays with the platform. If something goes wrong, there's a dispute process that looks at the agreed brief, the progress photos and your messages.

Ask before you accept a bid. Paintings are usually wrapped and boxed with corner protectors, large canvases may be crated, and sculptures are packed in foam inside a double box or a crate. Ask about insurance for valuable pieces.