Should I pursue commissions even if I'm not sure I want to do custom work?

Yes, absolutely open yourself up to commissions even if you have no intention of actually painting every request. Commissions are your market research - people are literally holding up a credit card and telling you what they want in your style. You gain invaluable intel about potential directions for your work. For instance, you might discover an entirely new subject matter through a commission that becomes wildly popular and opens up a whole new niche you never would have considered. Even if you only do select commissions, the information you gather about what people want is incredibly valuable for understanding your market and potential future directions.

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Asked by artists uncertain about commissions · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2024-11-14