What types of customers have you worked with?
I do custom fine art. I really enjoy putting in the personal touches specific to the experience of my client. The painted fish mounts are some of my very special pieces. They cannot be reproduced, so clients have something really unique.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Artists seldom will quote an hourly rate as an estimate for their work.
Art jobs have a lot of variables, so pricing a job is an individualized task. Work with your artist to let them know what you want, and then discuss time, materials, and preservation of the work. All factor in to the total job cost. And don't be afraid to ask questions!
You might be surprised to learn that the work you want is more affordable than you think. A good example is with a mural job. Painting on smooth stucco is so much easier than painting on thickly textured stucco. A smooth surface can lower the job cost considerably.
What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
A lot of requests say "looking for a painter" and I usually won't respond to those requests unless there is a detailed description of what the potential client is looking for. In the eyes of an artist, a painter is just a house painter and not an artist. I am not a painter. I am an artist. Often people looking for painters do not value the time, skill or expertise that an artist provides. Make sure you give us enough details when putting in your quote request! Thanks!
