Should I offer commissions, and how does that help my business?

Absolutely put a button on your website saying you’re open for commissions. This is incredibly important because commissions provide valuable market feedback. When someone requests a commission, they’re telling you ‘I love your creative eye and your skill, and even though I’m not buying what’s currently available, I trust you enough to create something specific for me—here’s my credit card.’ This validates your artistic vision and often reveals directions you should explore further. Commissions also provide income while you’re building your body of work and learning what sells. They’re a way to shorten the feedback loop—instead of working on a body of work for six months in isolation and then showing it to everyone, you’re getting real-time market signals about what resonates. Many successful artists generate significant revenue from commissions, especially early in their careers.

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Asked by synthesized from teaching · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-07-08