Commission or Purchase Art from John T Unger Studio

How to Commission Custom Work from John T Unger

A great deal of my work is done on a commission basis—people see my work and approach me to design and build a piece that meets their needs or desires. Some find me by word of mouth, some via the web and some by chance encounter with me or a piece of my art. Many of the people who commission art will come back again and again for new work.

I view custom work as an exciting collaborative process:
For you, it's an opportunity to participate directly in the creation of a work of art, or to have me create that thing that you can see so clearly but can't find anywhere. It's exciting for me because your input pushes me to explore new ideas or techniques that may not otherwise have presented themselves.

Custom design is a conversation:
I'm only happy if you're ecstatic when you see your new artwork. So the beginning of a commissioned work involves questions and dialog… If you want a fish sculpture, I'll ask you about the species, color, pose, size and so on. We'll talk about materials, cost and timeframe. If you know where you want the piece to go, I'll ask you to send me photos.

The design stage of a project is where I can be certain I understand what you want. It's also the time when I use my experience and expertise to make suggestions about the best ways to make it happen. Each project is different, and requires taking into account the uses, location and environment of a project, technical limitations of materials, and your tastes and budget. Sometimes the strongest elements of a piece of art are based on the constraints of the project.

Cost, schedule and process:
My shop rate is $50/hour, and my installation rate is $60/hour. I require a working deposit of 60%, with the balance due upon delivery, prior to installation or shipping. Deposit checks cover the cost of project development and materials and are not refundable if project is canceled before completion.

The commission process follows these stages:

1. Initial Consultation: We discuss your project and I give you a rough cost estimate.
2. Design: We refine the ideas discussed earlier after I've had an opportunity to research source art, materials and current market rates for materials. After this conversation, I will submit a drawing, fixed bid and contract for your project.
3. Project bid: Project bids are based on estimated time and materials and do not include installation or shipping charges. All bids are final. The cost of a project will not exceed the bid price unless changes are requested after contract is signed. Changes in materials or requirements must be submitted in writing and may affect timeframe and / or overall project budget.
4. Design Approval: If you approve the preliminary drawing, we move forward to a contract and deposit check. If requested, a second set of detailed shop drawings and elevations will be executed at standard shop rate.
5. Work Begins: Project inception begins upon the receipt of all of the following: a) a signed contract; b) the deposit check; and c) signed drawings.
6. Work Concludes: Delivery time varies based on the complexity of the project and my present working schedule, but is usually in the 4-10 week range.

To intiate a project, please Contact me with your questions or ideas.

How to Purchase Existing Work by John T Unger

If you are interested in purchasing work listed as available on the portfolio blog, please contact me by email or phone for pricing, etc. I am more than happy to sell directly, but please be aware that my contracts with galleries do not allow me to offer any discount for buying directly from the artist.

Most currently available work is posted at my Artbuzz blog and can be purchased using secure payment buttons via PayPal. If you are interested in a work which has already sold, sometimes it is possible to commission a similar work. A commissioned reproduction will differ from the original to some degree, and unlike custom work will be billed in full as a custom order.

Comments

[Patty White]

Hi, John. I enjoyed perusing your website and really enjoyed what I saw. I was particularly taken with a table you did for Casa Loca. As it turns out I am unable to contact them directly. They must have gone out of business or moved altogether. I was particularly interested in the table of El Corazon you did for them. I would LOVE to commission a piece for such a table. Naturally, I'd like to choose another image from the Mexican Loteria deck. I was hoping to use it as a card table for game night. First and foremost, I need to know if I could afford it. Please Email me at this Email address. Thank you.

~ Patty White

[Roger Hancock]

Can you fabricate the isoceles fire bowl with a gas ring for natural gas?