Recently on our podcast,  The Messy Studio,  my son Ross and I discussed art commissions-- how to handle them, their upsides, downsides, and logistical considerations. We noted that while some artists actively seek commissions and rely on them for income, others view them with mixed feelings or even refuse them. There are good reasons for all of those responses--artists' feelings about commissions depend on individual goals, economic needs, and just how comfortable they are with making art on demand. It's easy to view that last aspect as too restricting, but working with someone else's input also has the potential to create strong communication between artist and collector and even to open up new ideas for the artist. 

Read More