Making changes in accordance with client's wishes

[dashinvaine]

How ready should one be to change artworks in accordance with customer's wishes? Say you've completed a painting and you're happy with the way it all works, and then someone says they would want it if the colour of this or that feature was changed? Just to get a sale, should one be as ready to change fine art pieces as one would illustrations commissioned by specific clients for specific purposes?

[Line]

If the art was ordered, you should talk these things beforehand, sign the contract and if they want something changed, ask for more money based on a new contract that covers the new work you are going to do over the old work (I guess).

If it's something you made on your own, well no, don't change it. Try to sell it with some artistic philosophical mumbo jumbo explaining why it's the way it is (I guess this is how fine artists do it :) ) and just hope they buy it.

Also, from what I understand, salesman skills can be improved :).

[Jason Rainville]

Generally it's accepted that whatever semi-comp the client selects as their choice, the final product should be as close to that example as possible. This way you don't have client's saying "Oh but I want this to be this way and that and that..." since they approved the semi-comp with no other suggestions (if they did have suggestions, work them in as best you can)

If they require changes after the fact, by all means change it, but bill by the hour. Like line said, have it in the contract.

[Elwell]

Your terms are confusing. If it's an already completed piece that they are interested in purchasing, I wouldn't call them a client, but a buyer or customer. (Like many things in English, the shadings are subtle and overlapping, but client is used more for the purchaser of services, not goods.)
And, as with all things in the fine arts market, it's completely up to the individual. How much do you want to make the sale? Would you be willing to paint (and would they be willing to buy) a new version to their specs? Etc.

[DavePalumbo]

it sounds like you're talking about the sale of already completed work (not commissioned), and in that case it's really a matter of personal preference. I myself wouldn't likely do it, but I'm sure it's sometimes done. If you really need the money, if you think the change might actually make the painting a better painting, if you think it might lead to future sales or commissions... just decide what would make you happy

[CCThrom]

I wouldn't be likely to go back into an already-completed work to change it for sale... all though I did do that once. Depends on the situation.

Commissioned illustration though, absolutely... you give the client what they want even if it's inconvenient. Of course if it's really really inconvenient... like a client that changes their mind too many times, they might start getting charged for alterations.

[Frublz]

Ah, when I was fourteen, I had a dream's salary for that age when working in graphics design of websites, the youngest of the team which I quit in the end because I couldn't handle having to change a piece where I was content which each time to some-thing I outright hated but the art director loved.

The secret to this is to mainly work with people who have good (read: your own) taste in art. Various sites I design nowadays are almost completely made ad libitum, I simply tell them in advance what my plan is and they green light it or not and are pleased with the result.

Of course, if some-one orders a certain asset and it wants the end result changed, then obviously you have not yet lived up to the order and indeed the commissioner can expect of you to change it then. Unless said wasn't that clear.