Why Are Art Commissions So Expensive?

 It's commission season! Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduations, Weddings - many people are looking for unique, one of a kind gifts for their loved ones. I was recently approached by a potential client looking to commission a family portrait. After explaining to me exactly what she was wanting, I quoted her an approximate price. After quoting her the price, she ghosted me. I can only assume she wasn't happy with the price given.

 This is not my first time having a potential client do an about face on me. A lot of people don't realize how expensive custom art can be. And I'm on the less expensive end of the spectrum. Why does commissioning an artist cost so much? There's 4 points to consider when answering this question:

1. Time

All the awesome speed painting videos that you see on YouTube, IG Reels, and Tik Tok will have you thinking a masterpiece can be completed in a matter of minutes. Making art takes time. If the artist works in a medium like oil paint, it can take a lot of time, as oil paint can take a while to dry. Also, the more detailed or involved a painting is, the longer it will take for the artist to complete.

 Let's say an artist is working on a 16x20 painting for 4 hours a day over the course of a month. Currently, the federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 an hour. Let's say the artist works on this painting for 5 days out of each week. Based on these numbers, in order for the artist to even make minimum wage, they should be charging the client $580 for this painting. A lot of people would  be appalled at this number. But, those same people wouldn't think about clocking in at a job that paid them only minimum wage. 

You also have to take into consideration that the more experienced an artist is, the more they will charge for their work. A lot of artist spends years, decades even, mastering their craft. They are not willing to just give that expertise away. Using an employee at a typical job as an example, the more experience that employee has in their field, the more they expect to be paid by their employer.

2. Materials

In order to complete a custom painting, an artist has to purchase the necessary supplies. Canvases are not cheap. Well, at least the good quality canvases aren't. And a tube of oil paint can easily run for $5-$10 a tube on the low end. And don't forget brushes, paint medium, varnish, etc. Those things add up. If an artist is not pricing their work properly they could easily be giving away paintings once you adjust for the cost of materials. 

And just to throw this out there, some artists have to pay for studio space if they are unable to work out of their home. I have no idea what studio spaces run for. I'm fortunate enough to be able to work out of a spare bedroom in my house. But with the way rent prices are skyrocketing now a days, I can almost guarantee you that artists are paying a pretty penny for studios. Not to mention, any other additional overhead that is needed for the space (electricity, heating & air, wifi, etc.)

3. Not an Easy Task

Have you ever heard someone say "I can do that!" after witnessing another individual do something they perceived as easy? Have you been that someone? Artists who are good at their job make it look easy but trust me it's not. There's a lot of technique that needs to be learned in order to create something beautiful. Many artists, myself included, spend lots of time researching and brainstorming on the best possible way to make the client's idea come to life. Late night paint sessions turn into early morning paint sessions. Those tears that we cry because the paint brush is just not cooperating with us some days are real. Most artists take pride in their work and want to give their clients their very best. They refuse to settle for anything less. So they will push themselves as far as they need to in order to churn out something they know their clients will love. That can be an exhausting task.

4. Pay More for Quality

We've all heard of the adage "You get what you pay for." This is especially true in the art world. As I mentioned earlier, a more experience artist will usually charge more for their work.  That's because with experience normally comes better quality. This is not to say that a lesser experienced artist cannot provide quality work. Usually lesser experienced artists who can still provide exceptional quality will often times charge less because they are still building up their clientele (but that's a TedTalk for another day).  

Think of it like this - I once bought glue from Dollar Tree. It was a huge glue stick for only $1 (they hadn't added on the 25¢ yet). I thought I was getting a good deal. But, when I got it home, that mess ain't stick to nothing! Anything I tried to glue onto my work surface would fall right off. For all the pain and headache I should have just went to WalMart and bought me some Elmer's glue.

The same thing applies when purchasing art. You may come across an artist that appears to be giving you a good deal because they are only charging you $20 for a portrait. But once you go through the process you realize that  $20 portrait ain't "sticking to nothing."

I hope this gave you a little more insight into why commission/custom art can cost a pretty penny at times. At the end of the day, if you find an artist you truly love and their work really speaks to you, it is so worth it! By supporting an artist, you're helping someone to fully live out their dreams. As an artist, I can truthfully say that completing a commission and making my clients happy is the best feeling in the world. The money is the icing on the cake!