Why Am I Not Getting Any Commissions?

A practical guide for artists who feel stuck, invisible, or overlooked

One of the most common questions I hear from artists is:

Why am I not getting any commissions?

And usually, this question comes from someone who is working incredibly hard.

They are posting regularly.They are improving their skills.They are trying to stay visible online.

But the enquiries just are not coming in.

If this sounds familiar, I want you to know something important.

It is rarely about talent.

Most of the time, the problem sits in how your offer is positioned, who it is for, and how it is communicated, not whether your artwork is good enough.

Let’s walk through the real reasons artists struggle to get commissions, and what you can do to fix them.

Step 1: Find a Problem Worth Solving

This is the step most artists skip, and it is the most important.

If you want consistent commissions, your art needs to solve a problem for a specific group of people.

That problem might be:

• A business needing a mural to attract customers

• Parents wanting a personalised artwork for their child

• Pet owners wanting a meaningful portrait

• Schools wanting to build student engagement through art

• Homeowners wanting a feature wall that reflects their personality

Notice something here.

These are not art problems.

They are people problems.

Your job as an artist is not just to create beautiful work. Your job is to create something that improves someone’s environment, identity, experience, or memory.

Research into consumer behaviour consistently shows that people buy solutions, not products. Purchasing decisions are heavily driven by emotional outcomes. People buy what helps them feel proud, safe, connected, or seen.

So instead of asking:

What do I want to make?

Try asking:

What problem can my art solve?

Once you know the problem, you can build an offer that feels obvious and valuable.

Step 2: Refine Your Offering

Once you understand the problem, you can shape your offering around it.

Many artists struggle with commissions because their offer is unclear.

They might say:

"I do commissions."

But that is not specific enough.

Imagine the difference between:

"I do art commissions."

And:

"I create large-scale murals for schools that inspire creativity and student pride."

Or:

"I paint bright, personality-filled pet portraits that celebrate your favourite companion."

Clarity builds confidence for both you and your client.

When refining your offering, ask:

• What exactly do I create

• Who is it for

• What outcome does it create

• Why does it matter

You do not need dozens of offerings.

You need one strong, clear one.

For many artists, simplifying their offer leads to an immediate shift in enquiries.

Step 3: Find Your Niche

Niching can feel restrictive, but in reality, it creates opportunity.

Without a niche, your work competes with everything.

With a niche, your work becomes memorable.

Your niche could be:

• Pet portraits

• Baby’s room murals

• Café feature walls

• Botanical commissions for nurseries

• Memorial artwork

• Bright, uplifting home décor that empowers young girls

A niche does not limit creativity. It focuses your visibility.

In marketing research, brand recognition increases significantly when businesses specialise rather than generalise. This applies to artists too.

When someone needs what you offer, you want them to think:

Oh, I know exactly who does that.

That is the power of niching.

Step 4: Market Your Offering (Visibility Matters)

Here is a hard truth.

If people do not see your work, they cannot hire you.

Many artists post regularly but still struggle to get enquiries. This often comes down to visibility strategy, not effort.

Posting art is not the same as marketing art.

Marketing includes:

• Showing finished work • Showing work in progress • Explaining your process • Sharing client results • Showing artwork in real spaces • Talking about what you offer • Repeating your message consistently

Marketing research consistently shows that repetition builds familiarity, and familiarity builds trust.

People often need to see your work multiple times before reaching out.

Not once. Not twice. Sometimes dozens of times.

If you are not getting commissions, ask:

• Are the right people seeing my work • Am I clearly stating what I offer • Am I showing outcomes, not just artwork

Marketing is not about shouting louder.

It is about speaking clearly to the right audience.

Market Directly to Your Niche

There is another important piece to marketing that many artists overlook.

You need to market directly to your niche target market, not to everyone.

In a saturated art market, a spray and pray approach simply does not work.

Posting your artwork everywhere and hoping the right person sees it is not a strategy. It is a gamble.

Instead, your marketing should be intentional and targeted.

Ask yourself:

Where does my ideal client actually spend time?

Not where artists spend time. Not where your friends spend time. Where your buyers spend time.

If your target market is café owners, your strategy will look very different from someone targeting pet owners or parents decorating children’s rooms.

Take time to evaluate your niche and ask:

• Where do they spend time online • What social media platforms do they use • What businesses do they follow • What communities are they part of • Where do they shop • What events do they attend • What physical spaces do they visit regularly

For example:

If you paint pet portraits, your target market might spend time:

• In local pet stores • Following pet-related Instagram accounts • In Facebook groups for pet owners • At dog parks or pet events

If you paint murals for businesses, your target market might be:

• Local café owners • Restaurant managers • Retail store owners • School administrators

They may spend time:

• Networking with other business owners • Attending local business events • Engaging with local business pages online • Visiting design or hospitality venues

Once you understand where your audience exists, you can place your work directly in front of them.

This might include:

• Posting consistently on the platforms your audience uses • Sharing work in relevant online groups • Collaborating with aligned businesses • Displaying work in physical spaces • Speaking directly to the problems your niche experiences

Targeted marketing is far more powerful than wide, unfocused marketing.

Marketing research consistently shows that niche targeting improves engagement, trust, and conversion rates. When people feel like a message is made specifically for them, they are far more likely to respond.

Instead of trying to reach everyone, aim to reach the right people repeatedly.

That is how enquiries begin to flow.

Visibility is not about being everywhere. It is about being in the right places consistently.

Step 5: Customer Service and Trust

Getting enquiries is one step.

Turning enquiries into commissions is another.

This is where customer service matters.

Many artists lose commissions not because of their artwork, but because of poor communication.

Clients want clarity, confidence, and professionalism.

Strong customer service includes:

• Responding promptly • Explaining your process • Providing clear pricing • Setting realistic timelines • Creating simple agreements • Keeping clients informed

Trust is one of the strongest drivers of purchasing decisions.

Customers are significantly more likely to buy when businesses communicate clearly and predictably.

When clients feel safe working with you, they are more likely to proceed.

And more likely to recommend you.

Step 6: Build Momentum Over Time

This is the part many artists underestimate.

Momentum takes time.

The first commissions are often the hardest to secure because you are building credibility from scratch.

But every commission builds:

• Experience • Confidence • Portfolio strength • Testimonials • Word-of-mouth referrals

Momentum compounds.

Many artists assume they are failing when in reality, they are simply early in the process.

Consistency matters more than perfection.

Keep showing up. Keep refining. Keep learning.

Momentum rewards persistence.

A Final Thought: It Is Rarely About Talent

If you are not getting commissions, it is easy to assume:

"My art is not good enough."

But in most cases, that is not true.

More often, the issue sits in:

• Positioning • Clarity • Visibility • Communication • Persistence

Not talent.

Art skills matter.

But business skills make the difference between hobby income and sustainable income.

If you want more commissions, shift your thinking from:

How do I get hired?

To:

How do I create something valuable that people need?

That mindset changes everything.

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Ready to Turn Enquiries Into Real Commissions?

If you are tired of guessing what to do next in your art business, you do not have to figure this out alone.

Inside my Creative Business Group Coaching Program, I help artists move from confusion and inconsistency to clarity and confidence in how they run their art business.

This is not just theory. It is practical, step-by-step support designed specifically for working artists.

Inside the program, you will get access to:

• Marketing plan templates to help you promote your artwork with purpose instead of guessing what to post • Commission contracts and pricing tools so you can protect your time, communicate professionally, and feel confident quoting your work • Planning and organisation tools to help you manage commissions, deadlines, and income without overwhelm • A growing library of digital downloads and worksheets that support every stage of building your art business • Fortnightly live coaching sessions where you can ask questions, get feedback, and stay accountable • A supportive community of artists who understand the challenges of building a creative business

Most artists do not fail because of talent. They struggle because they do not have systems.

This program gives you the systems.

If you are ready to stop wondering why commissions are not coming in and start building a business that feels structured, supported, and sustainable, I would love to support you.

You can learn more and join the Creative Business Group Coaching Program here.