Why Are Art Commissions So Expensive?

Originally written for Kirke Social, published. Republished here with permission.

You’re scrolling through your favorite artist’s social media page, thinking: “I would love if they drew a portrait of my family.” So, you click on the commission link in their bio, find the appropriate tier for your family portrait, and freeze.

“One million dollars — for a drawing?”

That’s the first thought that goes through your head. The second thought being, “Why are art commissions so expensive?”

One million dollars is a slight melodramatic exaggeration. However, it is not a rare occurrence to be shocked when you see how much an art commission really costs. Doubts of value may cross your mind or deter you completely, you may be thinking: “I just don’t understand.”

In reality, there are a multitude of factors that go into the price of artwork. As a working artist myself, I was surprised at my own prices after calculating their true value for the first time. 

Let’s break these factors down so you can understand the true value of artwork, not just the price tag.

The Real Answer: You’re not just buying a drawing.

Despite the fact that your final product may be nothing more than a .PNG file in your inbox — you’ve purchased so much more than that. 

A custom piece of artwork is an investment of hours of labor, years of skill, and a concept of visual storytelling unique to you. 

Each commission is a unique experience for the artist. It takes an elevated level of skill to not only represent a person or idea, but to translate it into a piece of artwork.

Commissions are personalized, one of a kind, and delicately crafted by hand. A custom artwork is incomparable to a monogrammed piece of jewelry. You are paying for original, authentic craftsmanship. 

Why are art commissions so expensive? What goes into the pricing of an art commission?

Time and Labor:

✶ The average hourly rate is $25–38 USD per hour for artists and designers. (US Department of Labor Occupational Labor Statistics for 2020)

✶ Illustration is a multi-step process (e.g., composition, sketching, color, and rendering.) 

✶ Some pieces may take 10+ hours to complete, depending on complexity. 

Years of Skill Refinery:

✶ It takes years of practice, studying, and education for an artist to become sufficient. It takes decades to become an expert.

✶ Personally, I’ve been taking art seriously for about 10 years (I’m 22 years old), have acquired a bachelor’s degree in art, and I still consider myself an emerging professional. It is a long road to expertise!

✶ Art education is intense — it may seem as though art students spend their time frolicking in meadows. But, as someone who pursued two degrees (one in business, one in art), I can say with full confidence that my art degree was notably more difficult, time consuming, and exerting than my business coursework! 

✶ At the end of the day, art is a trade — much like tattooing or photography. These services are pricey — but justified in their value as a luxury service, with years of craftsmanship behind it. Art deserves to be treated as such.

Materials, Software, and Equipment:

✶ If you, or a loved one have ever shown an interest in art, you’ll know that it is an expensive hobby. Good quality art supplies are not cheap — and neither is digital art software and technology. 

✶ Mastering a new medium or software is like learning a language — you may know how to speak well, but can you speak the same in German or Mandarin? The answer is likely no — you would have to invest in learning the relationships between familiar sounds in a different context. Learning a new art medium is no different — artists specialize in a specific medium because mastery is a patient process.

Selling Artwork is a Business:

✶ Most artists would love to do nothing but create all day, but that’s only half of the job. Much of our time is spent running a business.

✶ Like all freelancers, we are our own boss, marketing team, and customer support. 

✶ The cost of marketing, budgeting, accounting, etc., are all factors that are folded into the price of your commission.

Pricing isn’t random. Here’s the Math.

If you’re interested in a thorough breakdown of how custom art commissions are priced, I also wrote this article for artists to educate emerging professionals on the process of determining the value of their work. 

It comes down to a simple formula:

Base Price = (Hourly Wage x Time) + Cost of Materials

A skilled artist with 10 years of professional experience has an equal value to, say, a marketing professional of the same caliber. The marketing professional may make a salary of $100k, and for this example, so will the artist.

Working full-time, (with two weeks of vacation), the artist will be working for a total of 2000 hours in a year. [$100k / 2000 = $50 per hour]

If a commissioned portrait in particular is expected to take 5 hours:

✶The price of that piece is $250

✶ $20 is the cost of the canvas

✶ $10 worth of paint was used

✶ 7% of revenue goes to the platform they sell on

✶ $50 fee may be applied to include an add-on, like a family pet (It will take an extra hour of work)

Now, our total is $353 for the commission. 

When an artist has high rates, they are charging at that rate for a reason. The example above does not even include added costs such as ad spend, behind the scenes work like marketing and accounting, or extra labor for revisions and customer service. 

What you DO get when you commission an artist: 

✶ 100% authentic, original work. It will never be mass produced, or AI generated.

✶ Full creative control — we are dedicated to make your concept a reality. You are the captain!

✶ A physical representation of a concept that you simply may not have the skills to execute. 

✶ An investment that can only appreciate in value. (There is a reason art collectors will spend a fortune on a piece — it doesn’t lose worth over time!)

Artists Aren’t Overcharging — They’re Just Charging Fairly

Art is a luxury. It always has been. Michaelangelo didn’t paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for free.

At the end of the day, artists are creative professionals, just like a top tier designer, animator, or actor. 

The myth that all artists are poor, hungry, and out of work has never been true. Throughout all of history, some of the wealthiest individuals in the world have been artists who have valuable skill, a strong understanding of their worth, and outstanding marketing skills. 

It is a poor line of thinking to compare artists by the price of their work, because each professional’s work serves a different purpose. 

The bottom line: Custom art is a premium experience, that’s the whole point.

Why are art commissions so expensive? When you commission an artist, you’re not just paying for a drawing. You’re investing in time, talent, tools, and a deeply personal creative process.

 Custom artwork reflects years of education, hours of labor, and the emotional nuance required to turn your vision into something tangible. While the final price might catch you off guard, it’s not inflated — it’s a fair reflection of the skill and soul behind it. 

So, the next time you see a “high” price tag, remember: you’re not just buying a picture. You’re investing in something real, everlasting, and uniquely yours.

Thinking about commissioning art? Check out Kirke Social, the anti-AI, AT Protocol, one-stop-shop for expert quality art commissions. Or check out this article to see our list of the top 5 commission platforms to buy quality custom artwork!

About the author: Cjrisami

CJ (she/her) is a Chicago based marketing professional by day, illustrator by night. 5+ years of professional experience in this rare combination have allowed her to refine an expertise in illustration, digital marketing, and all of the design elements in between. Check out CJ’s work here: Cjrisami