I used to do them, but stopped a couple of years ago. I find them far more stressful than creating my own work (mostly because I get in my head) and they end up taking longer than an ordinary piece would. I'll occasionally make an exception for the right project, though.

I only accept a strict criteria for commissions now. Anything i know is going to cost me more time than its worth financially or melt my head is a no. People i know on the mooch for a freebie or massive discount for 'exposure', no. You learn the hard way and like everything else in life, setting boundaries brings you peace of mind.

I'm lucky to have an art job that's full time so I don't have to take commissions. People never want to pay enough to justify the amount of micromanaging they will enact on you as an artist in a commission.

Part of my art offering is doing pet portraits so I strive to get commissions. However, I can’t get noticed on IG and the competition is fierce so I don’t get them, aside from occasional friends. I am doing a marketing campaign in surrounding areas but live in the country where only some people can afford art. Will see how that goes.

Few reasons. I want to really enjoy the process in each of my paintings and I can’t always do that if I have to follow many requirements, and that’s not fair to the collector. I do take rare commissions but only from friends who own my paintings and understand my style of working and know that I will need full artistic freedom. I also don’t need the money from commissions - another reason I don’t feel the inclined to accept them.

Been burned so many times with not getting paid after working super hard on a commission.

I’m not ready for that just yet! Slightly nervous about it.

I stopped taking pet portraits because they created a huge amount of anxiety for me - would they like it? Would they think it looks enough like their pet? Am I charging enough/not enough? What if they don’t pay when it’s finished, etc etc etc! Now I just do my own stuff and do prints as well.

Honestly, I have a full time job where I am basically doing commissions all day. My doll shop is for the various ideas I have nothing else to do with. If I went full time, I might start taking commissions.

I used to but don't anymore because it was stressful putting a value on what I did for them... I always felt like I was valuing myself less because the client just wants to be charged for the final product, not the time and thought process and trial and error you had to go through to get there 🙈