Commission Policy
Generally, I'm not looking for commissions. Because I do not depend on income from my art, I carefully guard the time that I have to work on it. If I'm trying too hard to figure out what someone else might like . . . it becomes a lot less fun. And I'm wary of spending the limited time and energy that I have to make something that might not be what someone else wants. Each thing I make -- literally -- takes something out of me. I don't use a cookie cutter.
That being said, I do like challenges and I'm open to listening to interesting ideas. I don't want to shut myself off from projects/ideas that might be fun and beneficial to both you and me. Here are the main points of the commission policy that I came up with. If you're interested in discussion a commission project under these terms, please send me an email ([email protected]).
That being said, I do like challenges and I'm open to listening to interesting ideas. I don't want to shut myself off from projects/ideas that might be fun and beneficial to both you and me. Here are the main points of the commission policy that I came up with. If you're interested in discussion a commission project under these terms, please send me an email ([email protected]).
Money
- Estimated Price. Estimated price will be based on an hourly rate. I've made enough sculptures now to have a good idea of how long (in terms of hours of work) a piece of a given size/complexity will take me to make. Based on what my pieces have sold for, I currently value my labor at $100/hour.
- Deposit. The buyer will put up 20% of the estimated price of a piece up front as a non-refundable deposit. If I estimate a piece will take me 20 hours to complete, for example, the buyer pays $400 to get the project started.
- Final Price. If a piece takes me less time than I originally estimated, the final price is calculated based on the actual time it took me. If a piece takes more time than I estimated, the final price is based on my original estimate. In other words, the buyer won't pay more than he/she originally agreed. The deposit goes toward the final price.
- Rejection. If the buyer doesn't like the completed piece and doesn't want to pay the balance, I keep the piece and the deposit.
- Shipping. The buyer will pay for all shipping costs. Shipping costs are not included in the price of the piece.
Time
- Time to Completion. Given that art is largely a "spare time" pursuit for me that depends somewhat on the vagaries of found materials, I'm generally not in a position to sharpshoot a completion window for any particular project. I usually have a few hours to work each weekend, though, so I can anticipate that a 20-hour piece will take me at least several weeks to finish. If we discuss a commission project, I will be able to give you a time horizon within which I think I'll be able to complete the piece without stressing myself out or putting extra strain on my family.
Special Arrangements
- Delivery and Installation. Arrangements for delivery and installation (i.e., in the case of a large piece or one that needs to be re-assembled on site) will be negotiated separately from the price of the piece.
