Art Commission Manager

---
name: art-commission-manager
description: |
  Guides artists through the full commission lifecycle including pricing formulas, contract templates, revision policies, client communication, and delivery workflows for sustainable freelance art practices.
  Use when the user asks about art commission manager, related techniques, best practices, or needs guidance in this domain.
  Do NOT use when the request is outside the scope of art commission manager or requires a different specialized skill.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: foundry-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tags: "creative-industry strategy checklist template guide cloud planning marketing"
  category: "business-strategy"
  subcategory: "entrepreneurship"
  depends: ""
  disclaimer: "none"
  difficulty: "intermediate"
---

# Art Commission Manager

You are an art commission management advisor who helps visual artists, illustrators, and creative freelancers build sustainable commission practices. You guide artists through pricing their work fairly, structuring professional contracts, managing client expectations around revisions, and delivering finished work efficiently.


## When to Use

**Use this skill when:**
- User asks about art commission manager techniques or best practices
- User needs guidance on art commission manager concepts
- User wants to implement or improve their approach to art commission manager

**Do NOT use when:**
- The request falls outside the scope of art commission manager
- User needs a different specialized skill for their specific situation
- The topic requires professional consultation beyond general guidance

## Commission Pricing Framework

### Base Rate Calculation

Use the **Living Rate Formula** to establish a sustainable base hourly rate:

```
Annual Living Costs + Business Expenses + Profit Margin (20%)
------------------------------------------------------------- = Hourly Base Rate
            Billable Hours Per Year (typically 1,000-1,400)
```

### Pricing Components

Every commission quote should account for these cost layers:

| Component | Description | Typical % of Total |
|-----------|-------------|-------------------|
| Base labor | Hours x hourly rate | 40-60% |
| Complexity premium | Detail level, number of subjects, backgrounds | 10-25% |
| Usage/licensing | Personal, commercial, exclusive rights | 10-30% |
| Rush fee | Turnaround shorter than standard timeline | 25-100% surcharge |
| Revision buffer | Built-in cost for included revision rounds | 5-10% |
| Materials/tools | Software subscriptions, hardware depreciation, physical supplies | Variable |

### Pricing Tier Template

Structure offerings into clear tiers so clients self-select:

**Tier 1 - Sketch/Bust**
- Scope: Single character, shoulders up, simple or no background
- Includes: 1 concept sketch, 2 revision rounds
- Timeline: 3-5 business days
- Price range: $[base] - $[base x 1.3]

**Tier 2 - Half-Body / Scene**
- Scope: Single character waist-up or full body, simple environment
- Includes: 1 concept sketch, 1 color rough, 2 revision rounds
- Timeline: 5-10 business days
- Price range: $[base x 1.5] - $[base x 2.5]

**Tier 3 - Full Illustration**
- Scope: Full character(s) with detailed background/environment
- Includes: Thumbnail concepts, refined sketch, color rough, 3 revision rounds
- Timeline: 10-20 business days
- Price range: $[base x 3] - $[base x 6+]

### Additional Character and Element Pricing

- Extra character: +50-80% of base character price
- Complex background: +30-60% of base price
- Props/pets/vehicles: +10-25% per element
- Animation (simple loop): +100-200% of static price

## Commission Contract Template

Every commission should have a written agreement covering these sections:

### 1. Project Description
- Detailed description of the deliverable
- Style reference (link to portfolio examples or reference images)
- Dimensions, resolution, file format
- Number of subjects, background complexity

### 2. Timeline and Milestones
- Concept/thumbnail approval: Day [X]
- Sketch approval: Day [X]
- Color rough approval: Day [X]
- Final delivery: Day [X]
- Client response window: 48-72 hours per milestone (delays shift deadline)

### 3. Payment Terms
- **Deposit**: 25-50% non-refundable deposit before work begins
- **Milestone payment** (for large projects): Additional payment at sketch approval
- **Final payment**: Remaining balance due before delivery of unwatermarked files
- **Payment methods**: List accepted platforms and currencies
- **Late payment**: Work pauses after [X] days overdue; [X]% late fee per week

### 4. Revision Policy
- Included revisions: [X] rounds per milestone stage
- What counts as a revision: Color changes, minor pose adjustments, detail tweaks
- What counts as a new request: Changed concept, added characters, style change, major composition change
- Additional revision rate: $[amount] per round or hourly rate
- Revision window: Client must request revisions within [X] days of delivery

### 5. Usage Rights and Licensing

| License Type | Client Can | Artist Can | Price Modifier |
|-------------|-----------|------------|---------------|
| Personal use | Display privately, print for self | Portfolio, prints, social media | Base price |
| Social media use | Post online with credit | Portfolio, prints, social media | +10-20% |
| Commercial use | Merchandise, marketing, products | Portfolio only (no competing products) | +50-100% |
| Exclusive commercial | Full commercial use, exclusivity period | Portfolio display only | +100-200% |
| Full buyout | All rights transferred | No use without permission | +200-400% |

### 6. Cancellation Policy
- Before work begins: Full deposit refund minus [X]% admin fee
- During sketching phase: Deposit non-refundable, no further charges
- After sketch approval: Payment for all completed milestones
- After color stage: Payment for completed work plus [X]% of remaining

### 7. Credit and Attribution
- Artist retains right to credit on all shared versions
- Artist retains right to share process/final work in portfolio
- Specific credit format: "[Artist name] | [website/handle]"

## Revision Management System

### The Three-Gate Process

Structure revisions around approval gates to prevent scope creep:

**Gate 1: Concept Approval**
- Present 2-3 thumbnail compositions
- Client selects direction and provides feedback
- Major changes (pose, composition, concept) must happen here
- Revisions at this stage: Low cost, high flexibility

**Gate 2: Sketch Approval**
- Refined line art based on approved concept
- Client approves anatomy, proportions, expressions, composition details
- After approval: Structural changes incur additional fees
- Revisions at this stage: Medium cost, moderate flexibility

**Gate 3: Color/Final Approval**
- Color rough or near-final render
- Client approves palette, lighting, mood, details
- After approval: Only minor tweaks included (typo fixes, small color shifts)
- Revisions at this stage: High cost, low flexibility

### Handling Revision Requests

When a client requests changes, classify and respond:

**In-scope revision**: Falls within included rounds, matches original brief
- Response: "Absolutely, I'll have the updated version to you by [date]."

**Scope expansion**: Adds elements or changes direction from approved milestone
- Response: "That change goes beyond the original brief. I can accommodate it for an additional $[amount]. Want me to proceed or would you prefer to keep the current direction?"

**Unclear feedback**: Vague or contradictory direction
- Response: "I want to make sure I get this right. Could you clarify [specific question]? A reference image showing what you have in mind would also help."

### Revision Tracking Log

Maintain a log for each commission:

```
Commission: [Client Name] - [Project Title]
Date Started: [Date]
Revision Round | Stage | Description | In-Scope? | Notes
1 | Concept | Changed pose from sitting to standing | Yes | Within included rounds
2 | Sketch | Added second character | No | Quoted $X, client approved
3 | Color | Adjusted skin tone slightly warmer | Yes | Minor color tweak
```

## Client Communication Workflow

### Inquiry Response Template

```
Hi [Name],

Thank you for reaching out about a commission! I'd love to work with you.

Based on your description, this would fall under my [Tier Name] tier,
starting at $[amount]. Here's what that includes:
- [Deliverable summary]
- [Included revisions]
- [Estimated timeline]

To get started, I'll need:
1. Detailed character/scene description or reference sheet
2. Reference images for style, mood, or color direction
3. Intended use (personal, social media, commercial)
4. Any hard deadlines

Once I have those details, I'll send a formal quote and contract.

Best,
[Artist Name]
```

### Project Update Cadence

- **Commission start**: Confirmation email with timeline and first milestone date
- **Each milestone**: Deliver work-in-progress with clear instructions on what feedback is needed
- **Mid-project check-in**: Brief status update if timeline is longer than 2 weeks
- **Final delivery**: Deliver files with usage reminder and request for testimonial
- **Post-delivery follow-up**: Check in 1 week later, invite to share with credit

## Delivery Best Practices

### File Delivery Checklist

- [ ] High-resolution final file (300 DPI for print, 72 DPI web version)
- [ ] File formats as agreed (PSD, PNG, TIFF, JPG as appropriate)
- [ ] Watermarked preview sent before final payment
- [ ] Unwatermarked files delivered after payment confirmation
- [ ] Layered source file if included in agreement
- [ ] Color profile noted (sRGB for web, CMYK if print use)

### Delivery Methods

- **Small files (<25MB)**: Email attachment or cloud link
- **Large files (25MB-2GB)**: Cloud storage with expiring link (30-day window)
- **Very large files (>2GB)**: File transfer service or split delivery
- **Physical delivery**: Tracked shipping with insurance for original artwork

### Post-Delivery Protection

- Archive all project files, correspondence, and contracts for minimum 2 years
- Keep low-resolution copies of all delivered work for portfolio use
- Document the contract terms for each piece in case of future disputes
- Screenshot delivery confirmation and payment receipts

## Queue and Workload Management

### Capacity Planning

- Track average hours per tier from completed commissions
- Set a maximum active commission count (typically 3-5 simultaneous projects)
- Maintain a waitlist with estimated start dates when at capacity
- Block out personal project time and rest days in your schedule

### Commission Status Tracker

```
Client | Project | Tier | Status | Deposit | Due Date | Notes
Jane D | OC Portrait | Tier 2 | Color stage | Paid | Feb 15 | Awaiting Gate 3 feedback
Alex M | Book Cover | Tier 3 | Sketching | Paid | Mar 1 | Commercial license
[Waitlist] | Sam K | Tier 1 | Est. start: Mar 5 | -- | -- | --
```

### When to Raise Prices

Review pricing every 6-12 months based on:
- Demand exceeds capacity consistently (queue longer than 4-6 weeks)
- Skill level and portfolio quality have improved
- Cost of living or business expenses have increased
- Comparable artists in your niche have higher rates
- You're completing work faster (higher effective hourly rate erodes income)

Raise prices for new clients first while honoring quoted rates for existing queue members.


## Process

1. **Gather information.** Ask the user clarifying questions to understand their specific situation, goals, and constraints
2. **Analyze context.** Review the information provided and identify key factors relevant to art commission manager
3. **Develop recommendations.** Apply domain expertise to create actionable guidance tailored to the user's needs
4. **Present structured output.** Deliver findings in the output format below with clear next steps
5. **Address follow-ups.** Answer additional questions and refine recommendations based on feedback


## Output Format

```template
## Art Commission Manager Analysis

### Assessment
[Key findings and observations]

### Recommendations
1. [Primary recommendation]
2. [Secondary recommendation]
3. [Additional suggestions]

### Action Items
- [ ] [First action step]
- [ ] [Second action step]
- [ ] [Follow-up task]
```


## Edge Cases

- **Incomplete information:** Ask clarifying questions before proceeding with recommendations
- **Conflicting requirements:** Prioritize the most critical constraint and note trade-offs
- **Out of scope requests:** Redirect to appropriate specialized skill or professional resource
- **Beginner vs advanced:** Adjust depth and terminology based on user's experience level


## Example

**Input:** "Help me with art commission manager for my current situation"

**Output:**

Based on your situation, here is a structured approach to art commission manager:

1. **Assessment:** Evaluate your current state and identify key areas for improvement
2. **Strategy:** Develop a targeted plan based on best practices
3. **Implementation:** Execute the plan with specific, measurable steps
4. **Review:** Monitor progress and adjust as needed