Hiring a Freelance Artist

Hiring a freelance artist requires doing your homework in regard to an artist's style, prices and compatibility with your needs. By virtue of being a freelancer, an artist's fees and completion of the work can be unique, requiring a discussion of important details before hiring. 

Decisions about hiring a freelance artist must be made carefully to ensure that you are hiring the right person for the job. The artist you are hiring may be a painter, musician, dancer or writer. Depending on the art form and your project, you will want to ask very specific questions to ensure that you're hiring the right person.

Most experienced artists will have a portfolio of completed work you can view. For a visual artist, that may be a website displaying photographic images of paintings, or a great place to show off photography. A musician will have recordings of music. Dancers may have videos that can be downloaded. Creative writers will have a portfolio of their completed projects. Ask to see samples of the work before making hiring decisions. 

The issue of fees will vary significantly from freelancer to freelancer. You may find two freelance artists with the same skill level whose fees vary greatly. Whereas one artist may charge based on the market price for his particular service, another may charge based on his personal income needs. Do your research to determine the market rate.

Another important conversation is in concerns of scheduling. If you need a mural painted, discuss the time frame in which the work will be completed. If hiring a music teacher, determine a fee for classes and the duration of each class. Be sure to write up a contract detailing the cost, time commitment and your expectations about the final product.