Group Workshop & Individual Course
“Am I going to lose money?” / “Am I losing my mind?”
Have you ever taken on an art commission and asked yourself these questions before starting? Before finishing?
Step into Delft, the Netherlands, 1674. Over drinks at the Flying Fox tavern, our best friend Johannes Vermeer tells us about a wealthy couple who want to commission a large double portrait of themselves. Should he accept the commission or decline? Help him decide.
In The Commission Game, you’ll learn how to qualify opportunities, to spot risks, to negotiate sensitive issues, and to recognize the signals that say “Go for it!” or “Walk away!”.
Location: The online edition is available on my Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/cw/AlanDouglasRayFineArtStudio
Online Format: This course consists of a series of 30 posts available as a collection on my Patreon Page. Play at your own pace.
Live Format: I also offer The Commission Game as a group workshop delivered over Zoom.
Cost: The Patreon version is currently free for members of my Patreon page for the remainder of 2026.
Learning Objectives: The Commission Game is a simulation of an experience every artist who accepts commissions goes through. The challenges are universal, even if the circumstances of each situation are unique. By going through this simulation, you will:
- Explore what motivates you to create. Is it a combination of artistic excellence, public recognition, or financial gain?
- Hone your skills at qualifying worthwhile opportunities. Do you trust your gut and think rationally?
- Review the probing questions to ask potential clients. Are they someone you can work with?
- Learn to spot the red flags. When scoping out the opportunity, you may see and hear things that will give you pause to stop and reflect. Do they matter in the big picture?
- Know when to say “yes” and when to walk away. Not every project is for you. Everything you do has an opportunity cost. On balance, do the “pros” outweigh the “cons”?
How to Play: As you read the posts, make a list for yourself of the arguments for and against taking on the commission. Think of it as a balancing act. Is there one factor that tips the balance and persuades you to accept or reject the commission?
You will learn to think strategically with the traffic light analogy. Imagine every aspect of the commission as a traffic light. Each light signals how you should proceed — stop, pause, or go — and gives you a strategy for turning problems into possibilities.
Above all, we want Vermeer and all artists to advocate for themselves, shape the project collaboratively, and make decisions that protect both their creativity and their business.
Contact information: For more information and a detailed course outline, write to Alan directly at [email protected].