Should I have a commissions option on my website even if I don't want to do commissions?

Yes, absolutely have a commissions button on your website, whether you ever intend to do commissions or not. This is one of the single best idea generation machines that exists in the art world. People will say ‘I love your creative eye, but I want this specific thing’—and that gives you incredible insight into what direction people want your work to go. It doesn’t mean you have to take every commission. If someone wants you to paint their dog and you hate dogs, you don’t have to paint the dog. But use it to get ideas and creative input. It’s a little window into what your audience actually wants, and that feedback is fantastic for shaping your direction.

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Asked by general teaching point · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-06-17