****** 2026 commission are open. ******
Other commissions refers to non portrait works such as landscapes, cityscapes, still life etc.
Acceptance of a commission depends on a number of factors and the type of work requested.
I retain the right to accept or decline a commission request at my sole discretion for any reason or no reason.
Commission are not work for hire arrangements where the copyright in the work transfers to the client. All copyright in the work remains the sole property of Noel Belton. Exceptions (*e.g. joint copyright where applicable) and licenses will be as noted in the commission contract. The commission is for ownership and possession transfer of the tangible finished work only.
* Where your photo(s) or other photographer's photos with written permission to use, is/are used as source material, a joint copyright situation arises and is addressed in the contract.
Acceptance of any commission is on the understanding that you know my work, style, materials and process and therefore know what to expect and that the work will be an original as interpreted and executed by me to my standard and expression of the work and that you are commissioning exactly that and only that. After the initial consultations and agreement about the general concept of the commission, once the commission is started, I will not accept or entertain directions, adjustments, changes or interference in the process.
No hard sell promise
The decision to commission me is entirely yours (just as the the decision to accept the commission or not is mine) and I promise not to sell (or upsell) you on the commission. Rather, I will show you samples of my work, discuss the possibilities for your intended commission and allow you to decide. I will respect your decision to proceed or not proceed, one way or the other and expect you to likewise respect my decision on whether to accept the commission or not.
Working en plein air, from photos, in person sitting or a combination depending on the location of the commissioned subject, any combination of the mentioned sources may be used. En Plein Air commissions that involve travel would incur all expenses associated in addition to the commission fee.
Contemporarily, many landscape painters are working from photos but this should not be misconstrued as a departure from or adulteration of tradition, on the contrary it is merely a modern version of methods used for hundreds of years by artists, from the use of pinhole and charcoal method of transferring cartoons (sketches) to board or canvas to the introduction of camera obscura during the Renaissance. Even Leonardo dabbled. It is merely a tool like any other. Many of the impressionists also worked from field sketches and possibly photos, they composed and finished the final work in the studio, working from those visual references.
In our modern and fast paced society the availability and cost of time and skilled labor is a driving force in how we conduct any business and the business of art is not an exception, the availability of high quality photos as a tool has become an acceptable part of landscape painting for all of the reasons mentioned above. The use of photography as source material opens up the process to more people and certainly makes it more economically viable.
But, all of that is no good without the skill, knowledge, education and experience of a seasoned artist and painter who can transform those reference materials into a genuine and original work of art.
There in lies the difference. An artist who has trained in the traditions of drawing and painting from life has the knowledge and skill to interpret the visual information gathered in sketches and photos and render a portrait.
Turn Around time varies on average from 30 - 60 days depending on the commission calendar and other factors. This time frame is not guaranteed as the quality of the work is dependent on the time invested in it. No work can be released until the artist is satisfied that it is complete and up to standard.
Fees for other commissions such as landscapes is $12.50 per square inch for acrylic on canvas depending on the content, level of detail and style. For example loose abstract impressionist works take less time to create and usually start at the $12.50 / sq inch rate. Addition of figures in the landscape and / or significant amount of architectural elements and a high level of finish can take a significantly longer time and will increase the fee accordingly on a scale of $15 and up per square inch. Works in in oils will incur additional charges for materials and process time. En plein air commissions will incur any associated travel expenses in addition to fees.
Payment
Payments for commissions $1,500 and under, payment in full is required before the work is undertaken. No refunds and no changes to the work (as mentioned above under acceptance of any commission section)
Payments for Portraits and any commission over $1,500. A 50% non-refundable deposit is due at completed agreement. When the work is 50% or more completed the client will be provided with a preview, at which time any concerns or reasonable requests will be considered at the total discretion of the artist. At that time the remaining 50% of the fee is due in full. Otherwise, the client has the option of cancelling the commission and forfeiting the 50% deposit paid and the work will remain the property of the artist. The completed commissioned work will be handed over only after the final payment has cleared, no exceptions.
