How much does a commission cost?

General commissions start at $200 and increase depending on size and complexity. Reach out to me for a quote for your specific idea. If interested in a portrait, you can use the pricing details here to estimate the cost, but I will still evaluate your order and provide a finalized quote.

How much do I have to put down to secure a commission spot?

General Artwork (Not portraits, not weddings): $50 is required to hold your commission spot. This is a deposit and applies to the total commission price. This is refundable until I begin planning and making progress on the artwork. The buyer will be notified of when we reach this point because I will reach out to clarify details of what is expected, and I could require up to 100% of the total commission price to continue. This is the time where a buyer can cancel their order and receive the $50 refund, or proceed with the next payment for the commission and forfeit the possibility of a refund. The time and material preparation come at a cost, so that is why refunds are available for a limited time.

Portraits and Wedding Artwork: $200 deposit is required. This applies to the total commission price. For paintings solely from reference, this is non-refundable and full payment is required before starting the painting. For live wedding painting, this deposit and any additional payment for the specific order are refundable only if I am unable to attend the wedding as planned. Full payment (artwork + live painting service) is due a minimum of two weeks prior to the wedding.

Do you offer payment plans?

For complex orders only (multiple pieces, detailed designs/compositions, etc.), the generation of the artwork will be broken into phases at specific costs. Each phase (and payment received) will be tracked per invoice from Sam Michelle. Graduating to the next phase of a piece requires the next payment. To meet the desired completion date (if any), payments will be due by clearly communicated dates. Choosing not to meet these dates risks late delivery of the artwork.

How much is shipping? Do you ship outside of the US?

Shipping costs vary depending on the size of the artwork and the location I am shipping to. I only ship within the United States.

How quickly can you finish a commission?

Completion times vary. It will depend on how many other buyers already booked a spot and how many shows I have coming up that I am preparing for. I will not agree to completion timelines that I am not confident I can achieve, so I will be transparent with each buyer during the order process about when their piece(s) can realistically be completed and shipped out to them.

Can I cancel a commission prior to its completion and get a refund?

Once a buyer has sent any payment for their commission and progress has been made, no refunds will be provided. Even if a buyer chooses to end the process early, the initial work and materials come at a cost.

Can I return a commission after receiving it and get a refund?

I do not accept returns of commissions once shipped out, and no refunds will be provided.

What if my artwork starts to fade or yellow in the near future?

I seal all of my artwork with a varnish and UV protective coating. Keeping the artwork out of direct sunlight as much as possible will help them retain their quality. They should not yellow or fade for years to come, but if they do within a few years of purchase, please reach out to me at SamMichelle.Artwork@gmail.com and send pictures showing the state of the artwork. I will work with you to determine the appropriate path forward.

Who owns the rights to the artwork? Can I reproduce something I commissioned?

I retain all rights to all artwork I create, which includes the rights to commissioned original paintings. I reserve the right to make digital and print reproductions of any artwork I create. The buyer may not reproduce commissioned artwork or any other artwork in any way without written permission from Sam Michelle. If the artwork ends up being reproduced in a magazine or other media, I request for credit to clearly be given to Sam Michelle.

To maintain the value of the original paintings, I will not recreate a new “original” to match a previous buyer’s commission. For example, if a second buyer wants the same character as a previous buyer, I will do the character in a different outfit and/or stance to ensure that it is unique.

How do I order a commission?

Now that you’ve (hopefully) read all of my commission FAQs, email me directly using the link below and fill in the requested information. I look forward to working with you to create something beautiful!