First off, thank you so much for taking an interest in my work! This page goes through a step-by-step process of what goes into commissioning a piece. If you have additional questions that aren’t addressed here, please feel free to reach out!

PROCESSING

The first steps in commissioning a piece is to communicate exactly what you have in mind. I have over twenty years’ worth of experience in sculpture – at this point, there is no subject that I am uncomfortable rendering.

This process is a back and forth where you send me your ideas, I ask some questions, you send me some answers, rinse and repeat, until you and I have a firm understanding of what you have in mind.

THE QUEUE

Commissions are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. I will inform you of the potential wait-time before we discuss payment.

In terms of sculpting and painting, I can only work on two pieces simultaneously (e.g. while one sculpture is curing in the oven, I can work on crafting another piece). Painting tends to work the same way.

Should you require a piece processed and finished ASAP (e.g. you’re commissioning an anniversary gift for August 30th but you contact me August 20th), I charge double my hourly rate to drop everything to meet your expedited deadline.

PAYMENT

Once we have hammered out the details of your project, I will give you an estimate of how much it should end up costing (this does not include shipping). I require 50% of that estimate as a down payment before I begin construction. Once construction is complete, I will require the remaining 50% plus shipping before I send your product on its way.

NOTE: The estimate I provide may not match the final bill. Sometimes there are unexpected complications and challenges (a piece requires more labor or materials than anticipated). I do my best to be accurate with my estimates, but ultimately, they are estimates.

FACTORING COST

There are three factors that come into play regarding the cost of a given piece: labor, materials, and shipping.

LABOR

I charge $20 per hour for labor. Labor includes anything from researching subject matter for your project to the physical process of making it. This hourly rate is non-negotiable. If you wish to save money on this process, provide as many reference photos and research as possible before I begin sculpting.

MATERIALS

I charge for materials when I do not have something on hand. Given that I have a formidable stockpile of paint and polymer clay (and polymer clay isn’t terribly expensive), I often do not charge for materials.

However, if your commission is large (i.e. requires over 100 grams/4 oz of polymer clay to craft), I will add the cost of materials to the final bill.

SHIPPING

Due to the wide range in sizes for these sculptures (not including your location in relation to me), I cannot precisely calculate shipping beforehand. The best I can do is give you an estimate up front. That estimate may or may not be the final cost for shipping.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE BUYERS

- Be descriptive and precise -

If you have a specific vision, please be as descriptive as possible! There is no such thing as “too many details”. The more descriptive and precise you can be for your project, the more it will save you in the long run. The more concept art and visual references you provide (online sources are fine – you don’t have to generate your own), the less time I’ll spend doing research, which will ultimately save you on costs of labor.

- Be patient -

Unfortunately, I do not yet have a large enough client base to do this full time, so I have to supplement my income with a part-time job. I am very responsive and communicative with my clients in terms of my progress and schedule. In return, I ask my clients to be understanding of the fact that I have other things I must tend to outside of their commission.

- Be communicative and responsive -

Please convey your needs, questions, or concerns as soon as you have them. No question is off-limits, no concern is too trivial.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I saw a piece of yours through Games Done Quick – do you plan on making another one for your etsy shop?

No and yes, but mostly no.

Each piece I donate to Games Done Quick are one of a kind. These pieces are laborious and unique challenges that help me grow as an artist. I do not spend my own time, unpaid, making duplicates of work I have already completed.

That said, I am always happy to do commission work. If you really enjoyed some of my work I’ve done in the past, I am certainly willing to make you another one.

How long does it usually take you to build something?

I’ve been told by other artists in the field that I apparently work quite fast. That being said, how quickly an order is completed is in direct relation to its complexity. For example, this piece took a little over 40 hours to sculpt from start to finish, whereas this piece took over 80, and this piece took four hours.

Why do you charge $20 per hour?

In America, minimum wage adjusted for inflation and productivity would be over $20.00 per hour. Artists (or anyone with a mastery of a specialized skill or trade) charge $40 or more per hour.

I have over twenty years’ worth of experience in figurative sculpture and could ask for far more than $20 per hour – however I know that would price many people out of being able to afford my work. I believe everyone has a right to possess quality art, not just the wealthy and privileged. I also believe that I have a right to be compensated properly for my time.

My piece arrived damaged – can I get a refund?

I package pieces with the utmost care (I use a double boxing method fit for shipping porcelain statues). Unfortunately, accidents happen in transit. I cannot be held responsible should the postal service decide to treat my shipment with extreme prejudice.

HOWEVER – I have been repairing sculptures for two decades, and I am happy to repair any piece at no charge for labor or supplies. I will not pay for return postage, but I understand that these pieces can be delicate and difficult for some to repair.

To be eligible for free repairs, I will need photo documentation of the damage (photos dated from the day of arrival), and the piece must be returned using the same method I used (i.e. double boxing method).

Can I change my mind about a project I’ve commissioned?

Ideas and desires can change over the course of a project. If you’ve come across a new idea and would like to see it added to a piece, I can work with that, but only before paint has been applied. Once I’ve begun painting a piece, it is exceedingly difficult (sometimes outright impossible) to make significant modifications.

Should you desire to make some drastic changes or modifications to your project, I will provide an updated quote of the final cost.

The smaller the project, the cheaper it will cost, right?

The cost of a project is in direct relation to its complexity. Something simple will take less time and something complex will take more – regardless of size.

Is the down payment refundable?

The down payment is only refundable if I have not started constructing your project. If you decide halfway through that you no longer desire your commission, I cannot offer you a refund.