How to Commission Custom Creative Work

Commissioning custom work — whether it's a painting, a piece of furniture, a tattoo, or a ring — follows a broadly similar shape across disciplines, even though the specifics vary a lot by medium.

The general process

1. First contact — you reach out describing what you're looking for; the creator responds with whether they're currently taking commissions and roughly how they work.
2. Brief and consultation — you and the creator work out the specifics: size, subject, materials, budget, and timeline. See this directory's commission-brief guide for what's worth including.
3. Quote and agreement — the creator gives you a price (or price range) and timeline, sometimes formalized in a simple written agreement, sometimes handled more informally for lower-cost work.
4. Deposit — many creators require a partial deposit before starting, both to cover material costs and to confirm serious intent.
5. Progress and revisions — depending on the medium, you may see sketches, in-progress photos, or nothing until the piece is done; ask up front how many revision rounds are included.
6. Delivery or completion — the finished piece is delivered, picked up, shipped, or installed, and the remaining balance is paid.

Pricing, in general terms

Custom work is priced to reflect materials, time, and skill in a way mass-produced goods aren't — a handmade piece that takes many hours of skilled labor is priced very differently from a comparable-looking retail item. Reputable creators are usually glad to explain, in general terms, what goes into their pricing, even if they don't publish a fixed price list.