Process

What is the process of commissioning?

This is best summarised through these steps:

1. Client formulate their need or ideas. They may not know what they need but will know what they want.

2. Client decides to pursue this through the making of a sculptures

3. Client may:

choose to look at sculptures that resonates with what they want or their ideas
Check portfolios of sculptors
Discuss their needs with the manager/ agent and be informed about options / recommendations

4. Discussion needs to address any time constraints or budget constraints including:

Realistic costings – generally sculpture costs are of the order of $K’s
The staged payment method

5. Decide on the sculptor or sculptors whom you feel may meet your needs.

6. At this stage the artist commits skill, time and energy to the process and a design fee may need to be agreed to. This is usually incorporated into the final fee but may be called upon should the process fail after serious attempts by the artist and manager.

7. Dialogue with the sculptor(s): you each have a role- you have ideas and needs. They are the interpreter through the artistic process.

8. Agree to work with the sculptor. Make sure you and the sculptor are on the same page. This may take some time but at any stage you can talk to them.

9. The sculptor interprets your ideas or want using their artistic abilities into a sculptural form. They don’t just make what you want – they interpret your ideas and arrive, with your feedback, at a solution that meets your needs. At times this may be different to what you want but it has to be that ‘AHA’ right solution.

10. The sculptor will present you with ideas at one or more stages so the concepts can be refined. This may be through drawings or marquette (drawings in 3D).

11. Through this dialogue a final concept arrives.

12. An agreement/written document will outline agreed issues:

· Final design ( image of maquette/ drawings)

· The stages of making

· Installation methods and costs

· Any other contingencies

· Time line

· The final budget, payment schedule

· Approval of each stage will be met with the need to make a progress payment

· Contract for delivery