Commission: what is a commission?

When you commission an artist you are in effect employing them to carry out a job for you, similarly to organising any other trade person.

Therefore, when you commission an artist to do a portrait or other work you are 'buying' their time and skill. Most artists give estimates based on the number of days or hours it will take them to complete the work and price it accordingly.

A professional artist will give you an estimated time for the completion of the work, e.g three days. However, due to waiting times and other projects the work you have commissioned may be placed in a queue. The artist will therefore give you an expected delivery date for the work to be completed and handed to you for approval.

When you employ an artist to commission a piece of work, you are getting in return a unique, professionally executed piece of work that will last a lifetime. It will never fade or break and as long as it is looked after it will provide a lifelong memory of the treasured animal or pet.