How to Open Art Commissions Without Losing Your Mind

As an artist, opening your commissions could provide a good opportunity for creating and earning. That’s great! But managing commissions can be a tight rope balancing act if you’ve got no specific template to follow—pricing, client communications, deadlines, and the actual crafting of the art can create tension.

No need to panic! I have your back. Setting up art commissions will be simple under the instructions provided across the rest of this article—you’ll avoid stress filled explosions.

1. Set Clear Commission Terms (Before You Even Start)

Ground the following rules before you start letting the crowd in. Protect yourself and clients with defined rules, for example:

What You Will & Won’t Draw

The artistic bracket needs to be set (NSFW, complex armor, furries—if you draw those).
You may add styles you can do such as (chibi, realism, anime, etc.)

Pricing Structure

Do you charge an hourly fee or flat rate?
Revision, background changes, and complicated designs will charge additional fees.

Payment & Refund Policy

You need to outline what level of payment is necessary before the service commences (we recommend a 50 upfront & 50 post-completion industry standard).

Refund Policy: Would you consider giving partial refunds if a customer decides to opt-out during the process?

Turnaround Time

What is the expected duration to complete each piece?
Can I place a rush order for additional payment?

Pro Tip: Put every piece of information in carousel posts or documents to allow clients to review before contacting you.

2. Price Your Art Right (Good No Guilt Pricing, No Undercutting)

Pricing is the most stressful part for artists. If you charge too high, no one buys. If you charge too low, you burnout. This is how to strike a balance.

Determine What Needs to Be Paid

Time spent (hourly rate)
Costs incurred (software or hardware like Procreate, Photoshop, and tablet, plus wear and tear)
Skill level (beginners can charge lower but should not undercut)

Examine Competitor Pricing

Look into pricing of other comparable artists for benchmarking, not to copy.

Set a few pricier options at tiers:

Sketch: $20
Flat Color: $40
Full Render: $80

This approach helps manage client expectations while giving you more control over your workload.

3. Streamline Your Workflow (So You Don’t Drown in Requests)

Ever taken on too many commissions at once? Me too. Here is how to keep your sanity:

Implement a Waiting List

Only allow a specific number of people in a given time period (e.g., 5 slots).
Make a public announcement on where you stand (e.g., “3/5 slots available”).

Watch Submission Dates

Track deadlines using a simple spreadsheet, Trello, or Notion.
Group Worksheets into Sets
Saves mental resources! Do all sketches first, then line art, then colors.

4. Effective Client Communication (Avoid Horrendous Scenarios)

Horrible communication results in endless revisions, walkout clients, and a bunch of stress. Avoid this using:

The Approval Process

The client must approve the sketch before moving forward — a no-go for sketches without client feedback.
Final Approval — This is the last call at this stage and no major changes unless they cough up for extra.

Establish Boundaries

No more “last-minute” changes, minus payment.
No client harassment, politely fire troublesome clients when deemed necessary.

Standard Query Response Templates

When is the commission going to be done?

“No, I can not refund Commission Name.”
Pre-written messages saves time.

5. Advertise Commission Work (Clients Don’t Come Out of Nowhere)

Advertise yourself. Great, how do you get customers?

Your Best Pal is Social Media

Post WIP pieces, finished pieces, and shout out “OPEN” on Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok.
Utilize hashtags like CommissionsOpen and ArtistLookingForWork.

Introduce Limited-Time Offers

“10% discount for first three commissions!” invokes more interest.
Being Shared By Other People Is A Blessing

Clients who are pleased are free advertisement and they will share your work.

6. For Your Own Good (When Dealing With Scammers)

Not everyone can be trusted. Safeguard work and payment by:

WIP Watermark

Watermark all WIPs with low resolution until paid in full.

Use Secure Payment Methods

PayPal is great for transactions aside from potential chargebacks.
Ko-fi, Stripe, or direct bank transfers work for trustworthy clients.

For Big Projects, Contracts Are Helpful

For high budget work ($200+), having a simple contract ensures that there are no ambiguous gaps.

Everything Should be Organized, which Ensures Sanity

Opening commissions should be fun rather than stressful. You’ll have a profitable system if you set rules, manage your workflow, communicate efficiently, and price fairly.

It’s time to create amazing art, and receive fair compensation all while keeping your sanity.

TL;DR Checklist For Zero Stress Around Commissions

✅ Clearly define terms and set pricing.

✅ Implement a queue system to manage workload.

✅ Clearly outline deadlines and how many revisions are allowed.

✅ Promote using social media and word of mouth.

✅ Protect against scams.

What do you struggle with the most when it comes to commissions? Let me know in the comments.