How to Do Art Commissions: A Practical Guide for Artists

Taking your first art commission can feel strangely different from making art for yourself. There is a client to understand, a deadline to meet, a price to agree on, and a finished piece someone is counting on. The drawing is only part of the job.

The good news is that you don't need a huge following or an elaborate business setup to begin. You need a clear offer, examples of what you can deliver, fair terms, and a process that doesn't leave either side guessing. Here's how to do art commissions, from opening your first slots to finding clients and delivering the final artwork.

What Are Art Commissions?

An art commission is artwork created for a client in response to a specific request. Instead of purchasing an existing piece, the buyer pays an artist to make something tailored to their brief.

Common examples include original-character (OC) illustrations, portraits, pet drawings, D&D character art, streaming emotes, book illustrations, and business artwork. Commissions can be digital or physical, personal or commercial. The difference matters: a custom avatar for someone's profile is a different assignment from artwork licensed for products sold at scale.

If you're new, start with a small, repeatable service rather than promising to draw anything a customer can imagine.

Step 1: Decide What Art Commissions to Offer

Choose the types of work that suit both your style and your available time. A character illustrator might offer bust portraits, half-body illustrations, and full-body character sheets. Someone who enjoys painting animals might start with pet portraits in two sizes.

Make the boundaries visible from the beginning:

·   What you draw: subjects, styles, and deliverables you can reliably produce.

·   What you don't offer: projects outside your skills, comfort, or legal permissions.

·   What the client receives: a digital file, a physical original, or both.

·   How much customization is included: background, additional characters, props, and revisions.

One clearly defined service is easier to price and deliver than ten vague ones. You can expand your menu after seeing what clients actually request.

Also decide which commissions are for personal use and which may be used commercially. Commercial projects may require a separate quote and a written license; don't bury that distinction in fine print.

Step 2: Create Your Art Commission Portfolio

You don't need dozens of examples. A tight selection that proves you can deliver the specific work you're selling is more convincing than a mixed gallery of unrelated experiments.

Choose Your Best Artwork Samples

For each commission type, show two to four strong, relevant examples. If you sell character portraits, include different expressions, lighting, skin tones, or character features. If you offer emotes, show them at the small size viewers will actually see.

Your portfolio should answer three questions quickly: What does this artist draw? What quality can I expect? Can they handle my kind of request?

Use finished work, not only sketches. Label personal projects as examples when they weren't commissioned, and obtain permission before displaying private client work. A consistent presentation is more valuable than decorating the page with every piece you've ever made.

Make a Clear Commission Sheet

A commission sheet is a one-page menu: artwork examples, starting prices, what's included, and where to order. It can live on a portfolio site or as a pinned social post.

Include your commission status (open, closed, or waitlist), estimated turnaround, basic usage rules, and a link to full terms. Instead of advertising "portraits from $50" with no context, specify something like "single-character bust, simple background, personal use." This reduces mismatched inquiries.

Keep the text readable on mobile. A beautiful commission sheet that nobody can understand at phone size won't help much.

Step 3: Set Your Art Commission Prices

Your price must account for more than brush strokes. Planning, messages, revisions, preparation, and delivery are working time too.

How to Calculate Commission Prices

A practical starting formula is:

Estimated hours × hourly rate + direct costs + overhead + additional fees = quote

For example, suppose a half-body digital illustration takes five hours at your chosen rate of $24 per hour. Add $15 for administration and software overhead. That gives a $135 base quote before any extras. The rate is illustrative, not an industry standard.

Commission item	Example quote
Half-body illustration: 5 hours × $24	$120
Overhead and admin allocation	$15
Detailed background add-on	$35
Total for this example	$170

Check the result against comparable artists, your experience, the complexity of the brief, and the time you're realistically able to spend. If a project regularly takes longer than estimated, update your menu rather than quietly absorbing every extra hour.

For a deeper breakdown of hourly, cost-based, and market pricing, see How to Price Your Art .

When to Charge Extra Fees

Decide your add-ons before you open orders. Common reasons for a higher quote include an additional character, elaborate scenery, complicated props, a short deadline, revisions beyond the agreed number, and commercial usage rights.

Avoid pretending every request fits a fixed price tier. It's fine to say "starting at" and send a custom quote after reading the brief. For more complicated work, that is often fairer to both parties.

Step 4: Set Your Commission Terms and Policies

Written terms are not about making a friendly creative exchange feel corporate. They prevent avoidable misunderstandings, particularly when a project changes halfway through.

Payment and Deposit Rules

Choose a payment structure you can manage. A small fixed commission might be paid in full before work starts; a larger project may use a deposit and one or more milestones. State the amount, due dates, accepted methods, and when work begins.

Use an established payment method or the commission platform's built-in checkout. Never rely on a screenshot as proof of payment. Spell out your cancellation and refund policy, and make sure it follows the platform's rules and applicable law.

Revisions, Deadlines, and Cancellations

A useful policy defines what counts as a revision. Changing an eye color during the sketch stage is different from replacing the pose after the piece is fully rendered.

Agree on:

·   The expected start and delivery window.

·   How many revision rounds are included, and at which stages.

·   What happens if the client changes the brief after approval.

·   How delays, nonresponses, and cancellations are handled.

For example: "Two minor revision rounds during sketch approval; major changes after approval require a new quote." Give yourself buffer time—especially if you are balancing commissions with school or another job.

Copyright and Commercial Usage Rights

Paying for an artwork doesn't automatically grant every right to reproduce or sell it. Rights depend on the agreement and the laws that apply. In the United States, copyright generally begins with the author, subject to exceptions including qualifying work-made-for-hire arrangements and valid transfers.

State whether the client may use the artwork as a personal avatar, post it with credit, print a personal copy, use it in business branding, or reproduce it on merchandise. Agree separately on exclusivity or transfer of rights when relevant. Also agree on whether you may post the result in your portfolio.

If a request involves someone else's protected character, logo, or artwork, check what permissions are needed instead of assuming the client's request makes every use lawful. For significant commercial projects, a suitable written agreement and professional legal advice may be worthwhile.

Step 5: Where to Get Art Commissions

The best place to find commissions is usually where people already appreciate the kind of work you make. A fantasy-character artist and a wedding-portrait painter won't necessarily find clients in the same spaces.

Art Commission Platforms

Platforms can give buyers a structured way to browse services, send requests, and pay.

·   VGen: An art-focused commission platform with custom proposals and instant-order options. Useful for clearly defined digital art services and a managed request queue.

·   Ko-fi: Lets creators publish commission listings, set available slots and terms, and receive orders from supporters.

·   Fiverr: A broader service marketplace where illustration is one of many categories. Clear deliverables and positioning matter because buyers compare many offers.

Check current fees, eligibility, payout availability, and platform policies before signing up. A platform listing is an ordering tool, not a guarantee of customers.

Social Media and Art Communities

Instagram, X, TikTok, Discord servers, and relevant Reddit communities can help people discover your work. But repeated "commissions open" posts without examples or context are easy to scroll past.

Share the art first: a character redesign, before-and-after sketch, client-approved reveal, or process clip. Then make the next step obvious with a pinned post or link that shows prices, terms, availability, and how to submit a brief.

Respect community rules on self-promotion. In a small fandom or creative community, being a genuine participant matters more than dropping the same advertisement in every thread.

Your Own Website or Portfolio

A simple portfolio page gives interested buyers one dependable place to find your work. Include examples, service descriptions, prices or starting ranges, expected timelines, terms, and one clear inquiry button.

You don't need an elaborate site at the beginning. A confusing inquiry process can lose a client even when the artwork itself is excellent.

Step 6: How to Take an Art Commission From Start to Finish

Once someone reaches out, the most useful thing you can do is guide them through a predictable workflow. Here's a straightforward process you can repeat.

Receive the Request and Confirm the Brief

Before agreeing to a price, ask what you're making and how it will be used. A concise intake form or message should cover:

·   Subject and reference images.

·   Style, composition, mood, and background preferences.

·   Intended use: personal, streaming, print, or commercial.

·   Required dimensions and file format.

·   Deadline and budget, if relevant.

Ask for references rather than guessing important character details. If the project is outside your scope, decline politely or suggest a smaller alternative. You don't have to accept every inquiry.

Send a Quote and Collect Payment

Reply with the exact deliverables, total price, payment schedule, revision allowance, estimated completion date, and usage rights. Don't start just because a client says "sounds good"—get clear agreement to the scope and payment terms.

For example, a confirmation could state: "One full-color half-body character illustration, plain background, 2500 × 3000 px PNG, personal-use license, one sketch review and one minor revision round, delivery within three weeks of payment." Adjust each detail to your actual service.

Create the Artwork and Manage Revisions

For most custom illustrations, it helps to use checkpoints:

1. Sketch: Check pose, composition, character details, and overall direction.

2. Approved draft: Confirm major decisions before rendering.

3. Final preview: Check small corrections and prepare delivery.

Send progress updates when agreed, even when everything is on schedule. Keep versioned files and record approvals in the same message thread or order system so decisions are easy to find.

If a client requests a new composition after approving the sketch, explain whether it falls outside the agreed scope and quote the change before doing it.

Deliver the Final Files or Physical Artwork

Export in the agreed format and resolution, inspect the file, and use a reliable delivery method. A typical digital handoff might include a full-resolution PNG or JPEG plus any other files specifically purchased. Editable source files should be included only if agreed.

For a physical commission, confirm packaging, destination, shipping charges, tracking, and damage procedures in advance. After delivery, send a short completion note with any permitted usage details. Keep the project records and payment confirmation for your bookkeeping.

How to Get More Art Commissions

The most reliable long-term promotion is work people can evaluate easily, paired with a professional buying experience.

Show finished examples and occasional process posts. Pin your current commission information rather than expecting followers to find an old announcement. If you have limited time, offer a set number of slots and open a waitlist when full.

With permission, share client feedback and finished work. Ask satisfied clients if they'd be comfortable referring others. And keep an eye on which inquiries turn into paid orders: you may find that a small, specific service sells better than a long menu of options.

Don't confuse a busy inbox with a profitable commission business. Track hours, revision requests, fees, and net earnings as carefully as the number of orders.

Common Art Commission Mistakes to Avoid

·   Unclear offers: "I'll draw anything" makes scope and pricing difficult. Define the service.

·   Underquoting: Count planning, communication, revisions, and fees—not just drawing time.

·   No written agreement: Confirm payment, deadlines, deliverables, cancellation terms, and rights before starting.

·   Unlimited revisions: Include a specific number or stage, and price extra changes fairly.

·   Overbooking: Set slot limits and delivery buffers you can actually honor.

·   Sharing private work without permission: Ask before publishing client commissions or testimonials.

Most commission problems are easier to prevent at the briefing stage than to fix after the final artwork is finished.

Beyond Commissions: Turn Your Art Into Products

Commission work can be rewarding, but every custom order requires more of your time. Some artists also build collections of original artwork they own or have permission to reproduce and sell those designs as prints, stickers, keychains, or other merchandise.

If that becomes part of your plan, Artiststore  offers a way to build an artist storefront and sell physical print-on-demand products without purchasing inventory upfront. Production, packing, and shipping are handled after an order is placed. It's a different business model from one-off custom commissions, and the two can complement each other.

For the next steps, explore How to Sell Your Art Online  or How to Start an Online Art Store . Remember that client-commissioned artwork should not be turned into merchandise for sale without the necessary rights and permissions.

Final Thoughts

You don't need a perfect commission menu to start. Choose one service you can deliver confidently, show relevant examples, calculate a price you can sustain, and write down how the order will work. Then improve your process with every completed project.

For clients, the best experience is being listened to and knowing what happens next. For artists, it's having enough clarity to spend less time resolving misunderstandings and more time making the work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Start Doing Art Commissions as a Beginner?

Choose one or two services, prepare a small portfolio and commission sheet, set prices and written terms, then open a manageable number of slots. Start with work you can deliver reliably.

How Much Should I Charge for Art Commissions?

Estimate your labor, direct costs, overhead, and profit, then adjust for complexity and usage rights. Compare similar artists for context rather than treating their rates as fixed standards.

Where Can I Find Art Commission Clients?

Try art-focused services such as VGen, commission listings on Ko-fi, relevant social communities, and your own portfolio. Choose channels where your target buyers already spend time.

Should I Ask for Payment Before Starting a Commission?

Often, yes. Full upfront payment or a deposit can reduce unpaid-work risk. Use the structure agreed in writing and permitted by your payment platform and applicable law.

How Long Should an Art Commission Take?

It depends on complexity and workload. Give a realistic range in advance, account for revision time, and notify the client promptly if the schedule changes.

Can I Sell or Post Art That I Made for a Commission?

Not automatically. Check the contract, ownership and license terms, confidentiality promises, and any third-party rights. Obtain permission before posting private work or selling reproductions when required.