Welcome to the Commissions Guide:
Commissions are a great way to get a personalised work of art that is unique to you. People commission artwork as gifts for loved ones, personal or professional use for their home, office, interior design accents, statement pieces, or as use for promotional, marketing, or fundraising tools. Artwork is more than just a picture, it can SPEAK and INSPIRE.
"I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the process of completing commissions with clients. It is so wonderful to help actualize and execute in visual form, the conceptual dream of a client, and to see and experience their joy in receiving the finished piece. It is an HONOR every single time." -Melissa Haskin
Lt. General Michael T. Flynn, (ret.) w/ commission pieces painted by Melissa Haskin, from his brother Jack Flynn. Spring '19.
The Process
Consultation (Establishing a clear vision & expectations.)
Artist will walk through a series of questions with the client to gather and discern practical, as well as conceptual goals.
- Budget.
- Size of artwork.
- Examples from artist's body of work or other references altogether.
-(Inspiration resources unlimited!)
- Aesthetic nuances.
- Details and integration with the client, themself.
- Where the art will hang, surroundings, thoughtful interiors. Purpose, etc
Design
Depending upon complication and density of detail of the design, artist will supply concept sketches and drafts until green-lighted by the client; that vision is on the same page. Then the artist moves forward with the actual painting.
Painting
Painting begins once the design is agreed upon. This is the stage where Melissa receives a 50% deposit fee of the total agree upon price of the finished painting (minus shipping and handling, which is additional and separate.) Throughout the painting stage, artist will update client with images of the progress. (Melissa works in acrylic paint and other mediums with a short drying time.) Turn-around time for a commission painting, is typically one week plus or minus a few days, depending upon order in the queue. Shipping happens post final payment received and usually takes 3-7 days to arrive.
Delivery
Paintings are safely shipped via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Client responsible for shipping and handling, but Melissa navigates most cost effective shipping cost and methodology. International shipping possible. If client already has established accounts with delivery couriers, Melissa can ship via client account for most cost effective path. Delivery times are factored in during consultation, to ensure any relevant deadline is met.
Original paintings are safely packaged, very thoughtfully and beautifully wrapped and labelled to protect the integrity of the canvas and the painting. Certificate of Authenticity accompanies each original painting, signed by the artist for client insurance purposes.
Payment
Talking through ideas, "consultation", is free, I want to ensure that you are happy with how the process works, the schedule and that the general idea is a fit for both parties.
Once we are in agreement, painting and design starts when 50% of the total price of painting, is paid upfront. (PayPal.) This is standard industry practice for commission pieces.
There are a few reasons why we do this:
- It secures your place in the queue.
- Ensures Melissa is working with invested and serious parties.
- Covers the cost for materials to begin.
E-mail me today to discuss your ideas: melissa.m.haskin (@) gmail . com
(Thank you to Adam Brimson Designs www.adambrimsondesigns.com for consultation on the verbiage of this page. Please check out his incredible artwork!)