Introduction to the Commission Process
I LOVE LIVE to create unique, one-of-a-kind art pieces that clients request! It gives me the chance to make something very personal based on the story I’m given. As I work in a wide range of mediums (and like to combine them), I’m able to dig into many techniques to design and build a piece my client will love.
Let’s create something extraordinary for your space—reach out today to start the conversation!
Steps to Commission an Artwork
Commissioning artwork is actually a very easy process! First, you need to contact me and give me an idea of what you’re thinking about. From there, we’ll toss some ideas back and forth, and then I’ll ask the ‘tough’ question: “What is your budget?” This gives me a starting point for how involved the piece will be. In simple terms, the higher your budget, the more time I can spend on your project. A lot of times I work with recycled materials, so those costs are usually low. Once a budget is established, I can start presenting clear ideas to move the project forward until we’re ‘on the same page’.
Depending on the cost of the project, I will either ask for 100% upfront, do a 50/50 split at start and completion, or on bigger projects, work out milestones to be met for payment.
Types of Art Available for Commission
You can commission me to create almost anything! If you’ve looked through my portfolio, you’ve seen that I work with almost any medium from micro carvings to huge murals and everything in between. If you see something you like on my website, you can ask for that or something similar – or go with any ideas you might have. I’m flexible in my approach, and LOVE to learn new techniques to get a project made.
Timeline Expectations
My schedule is usually in a state of flux and projects are always on the go, or I may (rarely) be between projects. Once we have a project planned, I will give you an idea of how long it should take me. If you need something by a specific date (birthday, anniversary, etc) I will do everything I can to accommodate that. I will be realistic in my scheduling and do my best to make sure we have a timeline we can both live with. During the project, I keep an online webpage active to show the progress from start to finish, so you can follow along.
Shipping and Installation
Shipping is usually extra on custom projects unless it is small enough not to affect the price too much. I can usually give an estimate as part of the quoting process and can also make special arrangements if needed. If I need to install or finish a piece in place at your location, we can arrange that.
Interested in learning more?
Since I work long, late hours, email is usually the best way to get a hold of me. But whatever works best for you is always a good choice 😉 Here is my contact info.
Case Studies
Here are a few examples of work that was commissioned by my clients.
CRANE SCULPTURE
This crane was commissioned by my client as a gift for her brother’s 25th wedding anniversary. Originally, the client was thinking about having it made from brass and copper, but my idea was to use cutlery in honor of the “Silver” anniversary!
I had never made a cutlery sculpture before, so this was a new one for me! 😀 I ended up using over 1500 pieces of silverware. As the last wing was being built, I was running low and raided many local thrift stores to stock up!
Here in Nebraska, the Sandhill Crane is a huge draw for visitors during their annual migration. This crane is staying put and has started to get a slight tarnish as I had planned. It sits in a garden, mounted in concrete, and has stood up to the Nebraska weather for a few years now. View the “making of” this project here.
BRASS AND COPPER WALL SCULPTURE
I had done a small wood carving project for this client previously, and she contacted me about a large piece she wanted me to build for her master bedroom. She loves the look of copper and has some wonderful pieces in her home, and wanted to add something special. I have worked with copper and brass on smaller scales in the past, but this was a big project! It involved a lot of measuring, designing, and hard work – but most of all, it tells a wonderful story of her grandchildren out in the forest picking morel mushrooms! This was a case of me building a project at my studio and then installing it on site. I painted a cloud mural to go behind the sculpture for added depth. I can’t remember HOW many leaves I hand-formed for this project, but it was worth the pain! View the “making of” this project here.
LIBRARY MURAL
I was asked to create a mural for a new local mural and was told it would be a “reading area” for small children. How fun! This was a great project that also allowed me to involve another local artist and some kids I was teaching at the time. This mural is a mix of onsite painted and installed canvas paintings (the two sides). I sketched out a ‘storybook’ theme and went with my usual bright colors. I also designed and had the lettering made (Once upon a time…) and installed those. View the “making of” this project here.
A STORY IN GLASS
This was an interesting project! The client came to me with a concept of telling the story of her great-grandmother’s journey through life. She wanted a visual piece to help the younger children see this journey throughout history. We discussed a number of mediums but settled on doing this piece in glass. For this project, I learned how to fuse, etch, and paint glass and combine both into this project. I had a great time learning new things and researching (and of course, buying new tools!). I created sample pieces to show the client what my vision was. We agreed on the direction and off I went! The result was a large wall sculpture made from glass and framed to include edge lighting. I produced a companion book that contained the images and text for each state. This piece is about four feet across. View the “making of” this project here.
CUSTOM METAL ARTWORK
I’m also known as “the Saw Lady” and have made over 4000 saw art pieces with my plasma torch. I’ve also done a series of barnyard portraits and worked on many other scrap metal projects. If you want anything in scrap metal, just let me know!