A Long Thought-Out Decision on Commissioned Artwork

"Love and Laughter" ~ Commissioned painting in 2010

to contact me directly please e-mail: meganduncanson@yahoo.com

For most of my art career I have always done commissioned/custom artwork for new and old collector's alike. Most of the time it's when someone comes across a painting I have already sold and would like for me to recreate it, and I was always very honored and happy to take on the work. As my art career has grown and branched into different directions, particularly licensing my art to manufacturers for use on their products, commissions have become harder to fit into my overall painting, and work schedule. Towards the end of last year I chose to not take on any more commissions until sometime this year. And it's ironic that once I made that decision not to do any commissioned art I was flooded with custom requests, but unfortunately had to turn them down.

I was thinking that this year I would be able to take on a limited number of commissions, but I have decided that I will no longer be doing any commissions unless it is directly related to a licensing agreement. The reason is because as I focus more and more on licensing and also launching my Lifestyle Brand MAD Outfitters I am required to do more marketing and computer related work. My creative time is much less than what it was two years ago, and I know this is part of building a successful business, but at the same time I still want to be able to 100% thoroughly enjoy the time when I do get to paint and create new work.

I've found that with commissions I am restricted in the creativity I normally have versus creating a new original painting without any expectations from anyone other than myself. I've never had a collector be unhappy with a finished commission, they are always thrilled with the end result, but it's more about me as an artist and having the freedom to create what I want, when I want and I'm at a point in my career where I'm able to make this decision and feel good about it as an artist and business person.

I also feel that because I do still offer originals through my website on a regular basis and have over 500 images available as prints in various styles and sizes that I have art choices to offer to anyone who might like a specific painting or style without the need for a custom commissioned painting. At this point in my art career I want to be able to feel as creative as possible and not restricted with my original artwork :D

Thank you all for understanding my decision and where I'm coming from as an artist looking for the most creative way to express myself.