How to Do Art Commissions on Instagram

Turning your passion for art into a paycheck on Instagram is entirely possible, and it all starts with mastering art commissions. Forget the starving artist trope, a well-run commission business can provide a steady stream of income right from your profile. This guide breaks down the entire process, step-by-step, from optimizing your page to getting paid, so you can start attracting clients and focusing on what you do best: creating amazing art.

Set the Stage: Optimize Your Instagram Profile for Business

Before you even announce that commissions are open, you need to turn your Instagram profile into a professional, welcoming storefront. Potential clients should land on your page and immediately understand who you are, what you offer, and how to work with you. A disorganized or confusing profile is a major red flag that might send them clicking away.

Your Bio is a Tiny, Powerful "Hire Me" Sign

Your bio is prime real estate. You have just 150 characters to convince someone you’re the artist for them. Make every word count. Here’s a simple formula to follow:

• Who you are &, what you do: Briefly state your artistic niche. Are you a "Character Illustrator," "Pet Portrait Artist," or "Fantasy Concept Artist"? Be specific.
• Commission Status: Add a clear, easy-to-update line like "✅ Commissions: OPEN" or "❌ Commissions: CLOSED." Using emojis helps it stand out. This single line saves you and your followers a lot of time and DMs.
• Your Call to Action (CTA): Tell visitors exactly what to do next. "👇 DM for inquiries" or "Order a commission below!"
• The All-Important Link: Your “link in bio” is your gateway. Use a tool like Linktree or Carrd to house links to your full portfolio, commission request form, and terms of service. Don't make people hunt for information.

Here’s an example:
Jane Doe ✨ | Character Illustrator
Creating vibrant heroes &, villains.
✅ Commissions: OPEN | 2/5 Slots Left
Order your character art here! 👇
[your linktr.ee/jane_doe_art]

Curate Your Feed Like a Gallery Wall

Your Instagram feed is your portfolio. It’s the visual evidence that you can deliver what you promise. Stop thinking of it as a personal scrapbook and start thinking of it as a professional gallery.

• Showcase Your Best Work: Post high-resolution, well-lit images and videos of your strongest pieces. This isn’t the place for rough sketches or abandoned ideas unless they are part of a compelling behind-the-scenes post.
• Consistency is Queen: A consistent style helps clients know exactly what to expect. If your feed jumps between hyper-realism, anime, and abstract painting, a client looking for a specific style might be confused about your core skills.
• Highlight Commissioned Pieces: When you post a finished commission (with the client’s permission!), explicitly state it in the caption. For example, "A recent commission for @client_name! Had so much fun bringing their original character to life." This acts as social proof and shows you’re actively working with clients.

Use Story Highlights as Your FAQ Section

Story Highlights are perfect for organizing need-to-know information that your followers can access anytime. Create dedicated highlights that answer common questions before they’re even asked.

• “Pricing” or “Commissions”: Post your Commission Sheet here (more on that below). This is the single most important highlight.
• “Process”: A simple 3-5 slide Story showing your typical workflow. (e.g., Step 1: Sketch &, Approval → Step 2: Line Art &, Colors → Step 3: Final Details → Step 4: Delivery)
• “Reviews”: Screenshot positive feedback from DMs or comments from past clients and share it here. Testimonials build trust immensely.
• “FAQ”: Answer questions like "Do you draw X?", "What's your turnaround time?", or "What are your payment terms?"

Create a Flawless Commission Process

A crystal-clear process is your best friend. It protects you from scope creep, manages client expectations, and prevents the headaches of endless revisions and misunderstandings. Get this right, and you’ll look like a seasoned professional.

The "Commission Menu": Define What You're Selling

Vague offers like "I'll draw whatever you want" are a recipe for disaster. Instead, create a "menu" of specific commission types you offer. This makes pricing straightforward and helps clients choose what they can afford.

Examples could include:

• Portraits: Sketch, Line Art, Flat Color, Full Render. Then offer variations like Bust, Half-Body, and Full-Body at different price points.
• Character Art: Pre-made Character Sheet Template, Chibi Style, Full Scene Illustration.
• Pet Portraits: Headshot, Full Body, with or without a simple background.

Defining your offerings shows you're a specialist and helps you price your work accurately based on time and complexity.

Design an Airtight Commission Sheet

Your commission sheet is a single-page document (usually a graphic) that lays out everything a potential client needs to know. You can create this in Canva or any design software. Post it on your feed, in your Stories, and save it to a Highlight.

It should include:

• Visual Examples: Show a clear example of each commission type right next to its description and price.
• Base Prices: State the starting price for each option (e.g., "Bust - Full Render: $150+"). The "+" indicates that prices may increase for complex designs, extra characters, or detailed backgrounds.
• What They Get: Clearly specify the deliverables, e.g., "One 3000x3000px, 300 DPI PNG file with a transparent background."
• Add-on Costs: List prices for extras like complex backgrounds, animal companions, props, or rush fees.
• Terms of Service (ToS): Include a link to or a summarized version of your ToS. This should cover your revision policy (e.g., "2 free minor revisions"), payment terms, turnaround time, usage rights (personal vs. commercial), and refund policy.

How to Market and Promote Your Commission Slots

Just having a great profile isn't enough, you need to actively attract clients. Your content strategy should be built around showing off your skills, building trust, and making it incredibly easy for people to say "yes" to hiring you.

Show, Don't Just Tell: The Power of Process Content

People love seeing how art is made. Sharing your process isn't just engaging, it’s a powerful marketing tool that demonstrates your expertise and the value of your work.

• Create W.I.P. Reels &, TikToks: Process videos are GOLD on Instagram. Create short, satisfying time-lapses of you drawing, set to trending audio. Show the "glow-up" from a scribbled sketch to a polished final piece.
• Use Carousel Posts: Dedicate a post to a single commission. The first slide can be the finished piece, followed by the initial sketch, the line art, and maybe even a close-up of a favorite detail. Tell the story of the piece in your caption.

When clients see the hours and skill that go into your work, your prices suddenly make a lot more sense.

The Grand Opening: Creating Buzz for Your Slots

When it’s time to open for commissions, don’t just quietly update your bio. Make an event out of it!

• Official Announcement Post: Design a clean, eye-catching graphic that says "COMMISSIONS OPEN!" In the caption, state how many slots you’re taking, link to your order form, and create a sense of urgency (e.g., "Only 5 slots available for this month!").
• Leverage Instagram Stories: Use countdown stickers leading up to the moment your form goes live. Use the Question sticker to host a quick "Commissions Q&,A" to clear up any final doubts.
• Pin Your Post: Pin your "Commissions Open" announcement to the top of your profile so it's the first thing new visitors see.

Handle the Business Side: Communication & Payments

Managing the administrative part of commissions is just as important as the art itself. Professionalism here is what turns one-time clients into repeat customers who recommend you to their friends.

Contracts and Communication

After a client fills out your form and you accept their request, move the conversation to email. It's more professional and easier to keep track of than DMs.

Send a brief email that outlines:

• A summary of the agreed-upon work.
• The final quoted price.
• The estimated timeline.
• A copy of your Terms of Service.
• A professional invoice for the initial deposit.

This email serves as an informal contract. Require a response of "I agree" before you start any work. Throughout the process, provide updates at key stages (like after the sketch phase) to get approval before moving on.

Getting Paid Securely

Don’t start drawing until you’ve been paid at least a portion of the fee. A 50% non-refundable deposit upfront is standard industry practice. It protects you if a client flakes and shows they are serious about the project.

• Payment Methods: Use a trusted platform like PayPal Goods &, Services, Stripe, or Ko-fi. These offer both you and the client protection. Avoid sending money through methods a friend would use that lack recourse.
• Invoice Professionally: Platforms like PayPal can generate simple, professional invoices. An invoice should clearly state what the payment is for, the total cost, and the amount due.
• Final Payment: Only request the final 50% payment *after* the client has approved a watermarked, low-resolution version of the final artwork. Once the final payment is received, deliver the high-resolution, unwatermarked files.

Final Thoughts

Building a successful art commission business on Instagram is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes setting up a professional profile, creating a clear and fair process, and consistently marketing your work. By following these steps, you can avoid common pitfalls and create a sustainable income stream from your art.

As you grow, scheduling content and managing DMs from clients can quickly become overwhelming. At Postbase, we built our tool specifically for creators like you. I wanted a visual calendar that let me plan my Reels and "Commissions Open" posts way in advance, a unified inbox to handle all my client DMs without switching apps, and reliable scheduling so my process videos go live exactly when they should. If your current system feels like it’s holding you back, check out Postbase - it’s designed to help you spend less time managing social media and more time creating.