A commission begins with a conversation about an idea of what you are looking for in the work you imagine. You may have a particular subject, style, size, color, or use for your custom sculpture. The more information you can provide to help me understand your idea, the better. I can help by asking you lots of questions and discussing your answers in our conversation together. We can talk over the phone, a video call, or, if convenient, sit down together in the same room or restaurant to explore your idea. 

A great help in the discovery process is any reference material you can provide. Pictures of similar subjects or styles are particularly helpful for me to understand what you are thinking. The internet is full of reference photos of just about any subject through a simple search for images on your browser.

I will be completely honest with you about whether I am capable of creating the piece you imagine with my current artistic abilities. 

Unlike a sculpture I create in hopes that it will appeal to a broad audience with an appreciation for a particular subject, a commission is a truly unique piece of art with a very personal meaning for a client. Oftentimes, its appeal and significance is unique to only one client. A contract allows both the client and the artist to honor their commitment to each other for this very personal arrangement.

Before any work begins, we will discuss and agree to details like subject, style, size, color, time frame, and price. I will share with you the many particulars that influence the final price of a sculpture such as armature, clay, maquettes (models), molds, bronze, foundry costs, base price, packing, shipping, and taxes that all figure into the final price of your purchase.

A down payment will be required to begin work of your custom artwork. You will be provided a receipt of any deposits you make toward the agreed upon sale price.

After we have agreed to the design for your piece and established the contract for our project, I will begin work on your sculpture. I am committed to keeping you updated on my progress with photos and conversations along the way. We can make any adjustments or changes as necessary for your satisfaction throughout the process. 

Typically, I’ll take some time to get a basic rendering of your piece done so that you can see a rough idea of where we are headed. For larger works, we may agree to provide a maquette of the sculpture. A maquette is a small rendition of the piece more focused on basic design rather than exact detail. A rough draft, of sorts.  We will then confirm that you are happy with the initial proposal.  As I continue my work, I’ll provide you with photos of any significant changes to the piece along the way.

You will have the final approval for the piece before I head to the foundry to begin the casting process. Other than perhaps the color of your sculpture or the style of base it will be placed on,  changes can not be made once the foundry has started making the molds for your piece. In essence, this is the point of no return. Your careful inspection of the clay sculpture is paramount before it becomes cast in bronze.

Once your one of a kind sculpture has been completed, we will agree to the best arrangements for getting it into your hands. 

When possible, I love to personally deliver a completed Paul Wilson sculpture to a client. Getting to meet clients and see where their sculpture will reside brings me a tremendous amount of enjoyment as an artist. A road trip every now and then is an exciting adventure that allows me to meet new people, visit different places, and get outside the studio now and then. 

Packing and shipping a bronze sculpture can be a pretty involved project in and of itself. Depending on the size and shape of a sculpture, custom packing needs to be created in order to ensure the safe arrival of the work to its destination. Even small or medium sized sculptures can be very heavy. Weight is a significant factor that influences the price of shipping. We will work with the best vendors who can help us deliver your sculpture in the safest, most reasonably priced method possible.

A sculpture can take months to bring to completion and represents a lot of hard work. It takes a fair amount of patience for both the client and the artist to finally have a finished work of art in their hands. So, when it arrives at its final destination, it is an exciting occasion worth celebrating. That celebration could be anything from posting photos on your social media pages like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to hosting a party in your home or office inviting your friends to have a look at your new work of art. Certainly any shout outs and kudos you can direct my way as the artist helps with the opportunity to serve other clients who may be interested in my work. “Satisfied customers” is the best marketing strategy out there. 

If you have an idea for a custom sculpture, I’d welcome the opportunity to explore it with you. Complete the following contact information, schedule an appointment for a phone call, and I will reach out to you.