Maybe you're interested in hiring an artist to draw your kids, maybe to draw your logo, or maybe even illustrate a book. Artists can be mysterious professionals, we try to accommodate as many people as possible, give the customer exactly what they want (without being able to see what you can see in your head), and keep things affordable while still being fair to ourselves. In light of these things that can cause frustrations on both sides, here's a list of what not to say to an artist you're hiring.
1. "I don't want to pay that much"
I get it, art can be expensive, sometimes unaffordable. But here's one thing you need to understand when hiring an artist: the cost of art supplies can make making art inaccessible to many artists. Here's a simple breakdown of just some of the artist-grade supplies I use for my art and how much they cost:
Prismacolor colored pencils, set of 72: $129.99; or $1.90 for a single pencil
Copic markers: $7.99 per marker
Windsor and Newton Deluxe Pocket Box: $58.99
Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint: $22.99 for 4.65 oz (~$4.87 per ounce)
Plus, even as a freshman in college, I have over ten years of experience, so you would think that I would be paid $20 per hour or so, but no, I only make minimum wage. Even still, I spend on average 7 hours on a piece, which comes out to $51 just in time. So I get it that my art is expensive, but it's expensive and time-consuming for me to even make it. If I cut you a deal and didn't charge enough to even cover my costs I wouldn't be able to stay in business.
2. "I need it done in a week"
Please, never do this to an artist. Even if all you want is a 2x2" pencil doodle. If you were to come to me and ask me to do a painting for you I would want at least a month to get it done. Personally, I am a fast worker and it may only take a week to do the actual artwork, but it can take longer to find the time to fit it in, the inspiration on how to do it, and even longer to figure what the client actually wants.
3. "This isn't what I was thinking"
This statement applies to when I bring a client a finished piece. I follow exactly what I hear from the client. Sometimes they even sign off on the sketches that I've done to show them what I will be doing. But once they see it in person they realise that what they thought they wanted and what they actually wanted were two different things.
It is not the artist's fault that you didn't know what you wanted, it's not the artist's job to teach you what you want, it's not the artist's job to completely redo the piece or create another one until you are happy with it, and it is especially not the artist's job to redo it for no additional cost. And it doesn't help either of us for you to get angry or upset.
The majority of the time, if you ask the artist, they would be more than willing to send you progress photos, and it is perfectly fine for you to ask for a tweak in the process of creating. We're more than happy to ignore that one bump on your kid's nose as long as you tell us to do it.
4. "I wrote this book, will you illustrate it?"
It is not the author's job to hire an artist. Publishers want to see your writing, not a bunch of drawings. Unless you are self-publishing, the publisher will deal with finding an artist.
5. "I like your style, but can you make mine like this?"
It can take years for an artist to develop their own personal style. So thank you for the compliment, but if you don't see what you're looking for in the artist's portfolio, then don't ask. Some artists can and do create artworks in a variety of "styles" but many do no. Do your research before contacting an artist. If you want to hire a student artist who maybe doesn't have a professional portfolio, great! Just be sure to not ask them to do something they are not comfortable with.
6. "Can you paint this?" *Hands artist a photo of another artist's work*
If you are asking an artist to create a copy of another artist's work, why? Why not see if the original artist is selling the original or prints of that work? The artist you are contacting is always growing and being creative, and while copying work in a sketchbook is a great way for artists to grow, it is not legal to copy for selling– whether someone commissioned you to or not. It's fine to ask an artist to use inspiration from another artwork that you like– often I find that showing photos to each other is the easiest way for customers and artists to figure out what the artwork will look like– but don't expect a photocopy.
7. "Here's your check for the exact amount, okay, bye!"
As is typical with most services, it is polite (and often expected) for the customer to tip. Certainly, it is not legally required, but it can be taken as quite rude, especially if you are "so happy" and "just love" the artwork. Do you tip your hairstylist? Do you tip a waitress? If your answer to those questions was "no," then we have another problem. Creating a commissioned artwork is a service that a person does for you. Many artists price their art at the lowest price they can to make it more likely to sell and more accessible to more people, but often this means spending more time or supplies on a piece than the price fully reflects.
Every artist you talk to has a story about a commissioner who has said at least one of these things, so please, don't be that guy. Do your research on the commissioning process. Some artists are better at saying "no" than others, so don't get upset if you hear it. Have an open mind and an open heart, and we'll be sure to hook you up with something you'll love.
