Custom Art & Commission Terms

Last updatedSeptember 26, 2026

These Custom Art & Commission Terms (“Commission Terms”) apply to custom, commissioned, personalized, and made-to-order artwork created by Artbusters LLC (“Artbusters,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

By placing an order for custom artwork, paying a deposit or other amount toward a commission, or otherwise confirming a commission with Artbusters, you (“customer,” “you,” or “your”) agree to these Commission Terms together with our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, Shipping & Delivery Policy, and Returns, Refunds & Cancellations Policy.

Because each commission is individually created, certain details—including size, medium, number of subjects, price, estimated completion time, and special requirements—may be agreed upon separately for each project.

1What Is Considered Custom Artwork

Custom or commissioned artwork includes artwork created, personalized, or materially modified specifically for a customer.

This may include:

• Portraits created from photographs or other reference images
• Individual, couple, family, group, or pet portraits
• Customer-requested subjects
• Personalized artwork
• Customer-requested dimensions
• Customer-selected colors or color palettes
• Customer-requested backgrounds or design elements
• Artwork created in a requested medium or technique
• Artwork modified specifically for a customer
• Other made-to-order artwork

The specific details of each commission will be based on the information agreed upon between Artbusters and the customer.

2Commission Request & Acceptance

Submitting a request for custom artwork does not automatically mean that Artbusters has accepted the commission.

Before accepting a commission, we may review factors including:

• Subject matter
• Reference images
• Requested size
• Number of subjects
• Medium and technique
• Level of detail and complexity
• Requested completion timeframe
• Material requirements
• Shipping destination
• Artist availability

Artbusters may decline a commission request where we reasonably determine that we cannot complete the requested work, timeframe, subject matter, or specifications.

A commission is considered accepted when Artbusters confirms the project and any required initial payment or deposit has been received.

3Pricing

Custom artwork is individually priced.

Pricing may depend on factors including:

• Artwork dimensions
• Number of subjects
• Complexity and detail
• Selected medium
• Artistic technique
• Background and composition
• Materials
• Special customer requests
• Packaging and shipping requirements

For example, an oil painting may be priced differently from an acrylic painting, palette knife artwork, textured piece, or mixed-media artwork of the same dimensions.

Adding subjects, increasing the dimensions, changing the medium, or materially increasing the complexity after the original commission has been agreed upon may result in additional charges.

Any material pricing changes will be communicated to the customer before the additional work is undertaken whenever reasonably possible.

4Deposits & Payment

Artbusters may require a deposit, partial payment, or full payment before beginning a custom artwork.

The required payment structure will be communicated to the customer when the commission is accepted.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, work will not begin until the required initial payment has been received.

If a balance remains after the initial payment, the outstanding amount must generally be paid before the completed artwork is shipped or released to the customer.

Payments made toward work already performed, materials specially obtained for the commission, or other committed costs may become non-refundable once work has begun.

5Customer Reference Photographs & Materials

Customers may be asked to provide photographs, images, descriptions, measurements, color preferences, or other reference materials.

For portrait commissions in particular, clear, well-lit, reasonably high-resolution photographs generally provide the best reference for the artist.

The customer is responsible for providing reasonably accurate information and suitable reference materials.

By submitting a photograph, image, design, logo, or other material to Artbusters, you represent that you own the material or have the necessary permission or legal authority to provide it and authorize Artbusters to use it for the commissioned artwork.

You agree not to knowingly provide materials that infringe another person's copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other legal rights.

6Customer Specifications

Before work begins, customers should carefully communicate important requirements, including, where applicable:

• Desired size
• Subject or subjects
• Preferred reference image
• Medium or technique
• Color preferences
• Background preferences
• Orientation
• Important details that should be included or excluded
• Desired completion timeframe

Artbusters will make reasonable efforts to create the artwork according to the agreed specifications.

Requirements that are particularly important to the customer should be communicated before work begins.

7Artistic Interpretation

A custom Artbusters piece is an original work of art and not a mechanical reproduction of a photograph or reference image.

Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, customers acknowledge that commissioned artwork represents the artist's creative and artistic interpretation of the supplied references and agreed specifications.

The finished artwork may therefore contain variations resulting from:

• Artistic style
• Brushwork
• Palette knife techniques
• Texture
• Color blending
• Composition
• Materials
• Surface characteristics
• Creative interpretation

Such artistic characteristics and reasonable variations are not necessarily defects.

Unless specifically agreed otherwise, a commissioned portrait or other artwork should not be expected to be an exact photographic reproduction.

8Creation & Completion Time

Custom artwork does not follow the standard processing period applicable to in-stock artwork.

The time required to create a commission depends on factors such as:

• Artwork size
• Number of subjects
• Complexity
• Level of detail
• Medium
• Technique
• Material availability
• Artist workload
• Requested revisions
• Drying, curing, finishing, or sealing requirements

Custom artwork may take several weeks or longer from order placement to completion.

Oil paintings, acrylic paintings, palette knife artwork, textured artwork, mixed-media works, and other techniques may require different creation, drying, curing, and finishing periods.

Any estimated completion date provided by Artbusters is a good-faith estimate rather than a guaranteed completion or delivery date unless expressly guaranteed in writing.

Shipping and transit time are separate from artwork creation time.

9Progress Communications

Artbusters may communicate with the customer during the creation process when clarification, confirmation, or additional information is required.

Depending on the nature of the commission, Artbusters may also provide progress photographs or updates.

Progress photographs are intended to show the development of the artwork and should not necessarily be considered representative of the final appearance of the completed piece.

10Near-Completion Review

As the commissioned artwork approaches completion, Artbusters may provide the customer with one or more photographs of the artwork for review before final finishing and shipment.

This review gives the customer an opportunity to evaluate the substantially completed artwork and request reasonable minor adjustments where such adjustments are practical and consistent with the original agreed commission.

Examples of reasonable minor adjustments may include certain limited refinements to details, shading, color balance, or other elements that can reasonably be modified at that stage.

The feasibility of any requested adjustment depends on the artwork, medium, technique, materials, and stage of completion.

11Revisions & Major Changes

The near-completion review is intended for reasonable refinements—not for redesigning the original commission.

Requests that materially change the previously agreed artwork may be considered major changes. Examples may include:

• Changing the primary reference photograph
• Adding or removing subjects
• Significantly changing a person's pose
• Replacing or substantially redesigning the background
• Changing the artwork dimensions
• Changing the medium or artistic technique
• Significantly changing the composition
• Requesting extensive reworking of completed areas

Major changes may require additional payment and may extend the estimated completion timeframe.

Some changes may not be reasonably possible once the artwork has reached an advanced stage, particularly with oil paint, acrylic, palette knife work, textured media, or other techniques where substantial layers or finishing work have already been completed.

Artbusters will determine, using reasonable artistic judgment, whether a requested revision is feasible and whether additional charges or time will be required.

12Customer Approval

After reviewing the near-completion photograph, the customer should either:

• Approve the artwork; or

Promptly communicate any reasonable requested adjustments. Once the customer approves the artwork, or Artbusters completes the agreed adjustments and receives final approval, the artwork will proceed to final finishing, drying or curing where applicable, packaging, and shipment.

Customer approval confirms acceptance of the artwork's overall appearance and conformity with the agreed commission specifications.

After approval and completion, custom artwork is generally considered final and is not eligible for return, exchange, or refund because of a change of mind, subject to shipping damage, an error by Artbusters, material inconsistency with the agreed specifications, or rights provided by applicable law.

13Customer Response Delays

Timely customer communication is important for custom commissions.

If Artbusters requests clarification, approval, reference materials, or other information and the customer does not respond, work on the commission may be temporarily paused.

A delayed customer response may extend the estimated completion and shipping timeline.

Artbusters is not responsible for delays resulting from the customer's failure to provide reasonably requested information or approval.

If a customer remains unresponsive for an extended period, Artbusters may contact the customer again and determine reasonable next steps based on the project's stage of completion.

14Photographs & Screen Representation

Photographs of commissioned artwork are intended to provide a reasonable representation of the physical artwork.

Colors, textures, surface details, metallic elements, gloss, depth, paint thickness, and other characteristics may appear differently in person because of:

• Lighting
• Photography
• Camera settings
• Computer or mobile-device displays
• Screen calibration
• Viewing environment
• Physical characteristics of the materials

Reasonable differences between a photograph and the physical artwork do not necessarily constitute a defect.

15Customer Cancellations

If you wish to cancel a custom commission, please contact Artbusters as soon as possible.

If cancellation is requested before work begins, Artbusters may refund amounts paid, less any agreed non-refundable deposit, specially purchased materials, design or preparation work, transaction-related costs where permitted, or other committed costs previously disclosed to the customer.

Once work has begun, amounts attributable to work already performed, materials, artist time, and committed costs may be non-refundable.

Once an artwork is substantially completed, completed, or approved by the customer, cancellation and refunds based on a change of mind are generally not available.

Specific cancellation arrangements agreed upon for an individual commission will control where they differ from these general terms.

16Returns & Refunds

Because commissioned artwork is specifically created for an individual customer, it is generally not eligible for return, exchange, or refund after completion and approval.

This does not affect situations involving:

• Artwork damaged during shipping
• An incorrect artwork being delivered
• A material error by Artbusters
• Artwork materially inconsistent with the agreed commission specifications
• Rights or remedies that cannot legally be excluded under applicable law

Additional information is available in our Returns, Refunds & Cancellations Policy.

17Shipping

Completed commissions will be prepared for shipment after:

• The artwork has been completed;
• Required customer review and approval have occurred;
• Any agreed revisions have been completed;
• Required drying, curing, sealing, or finishing has occurred; and

All amounts due have been paid. Shipping costs may vary based on artwork size, weight, packaging requirements, destination, and shipping method.

Artbusters primarily ships within the United States and may also ship internationally. International shipping charges will generally be higher and may involve customs duties, taxes, VAT, brokerage charges, or other fees.

Please review our Shipping & Delivery Policy for complete shipping information.

18Shipping Damage

Customers should inspect commissioned artwork promptly after delivery.

If an artwork arrives damaged, please notify Artbusters within 48–72 hours of delivery whenever reasonably possible and retain the artwork, shipping container, labels, and all packaging materials.

Photographs of the artwork and packaging may be required to evaluate the damage and pursue a carrier claim.

Because commissioned artwork is unique, creating an identical replacement may not always be possible. Depending on the circumstances, an appropriate resolution may include repair, replacement where reasonably possible, refund, or another mutually agreed solution.

The requested 48–72-hour notification period does not limit rights that cannot legally be limited under applicable law.

19Ownership of the Physical Artwork

After full payment and delivery, the customer owns the physical commissioned artwork.

Ownership of the physical artwork does not, by itself, transfer copyright, reproduction rights, licensing rights, or other intellectual property rights in the artwork.

20Copyright & Reproduction Rights

Unless Artbusters expressly agrees otherwise in writing, the applicable artist or copyright owner retains copyright and reproduction rights in commissioned artwork.

Purchasing a commissioned artwork does not automatically give the customer the right to:

• Create or sell prints or reproductions
• Use the artwork on merchandise
• Commercially reproduce the artwork
• License the artwork to third parties
• Create commercial digital products from the artwork
• Use the artwork for commercial advertising or branding
• Mint or commercially exploit the artwork as an NFT or similar digital asset

Any commercial reproduction, licensing, or transfer of copyright must be separately agreed upon in writing by the applicable rights holder.

Nothing in these Commission Terms restricts uses that are otherwise permitted by applicable law.

21Artbusters Portfolio & Promotional Use

Artbusters may photograph or digitally document completed commissioned artwork for reasonable internal business purposes, including maintaining project records, documenting completed work, quality review, and customer service.

For commissioned artwork depicting identifiable individuals or based on personal or family photographs, Artbusters will obtain the customer's permission before publicly displaying or using images of the completed artwork for promotional purposes, including on the Artbusters website, social media accounts, advertising, exhibitions, portfolios, or other marketing materials.

Customers are not required to grant permission for public or promotional use of their personal commissioned artwork as a condition of purchasing a commission.

If permission is granted, Artbusters may use photographs of the completed artwork for the specific portfolio or promotional purposes authorized by the customer. Permission to display the completed artwork does not automatically authorize Artbusters to publish the customer's original reference photographs.

Customer-provided photographs, including personal, family, wedding, memorial, pet, or other reference images, will not be publicly displayed or used for advertising or promotional purposes without appropriate permission.

For commissioned artwork that does not depict identifiable individuals or contain personal or private subject matter, Artbusters may request permission to feature the completed work in its portfolio, website, social media, exhibitions, or promotional materials.

A customer who grants permission and later has questions or concerns about future use of an image of their commissioned artwork may contact Artbusters. We will consider reasonable requests concerning future uses, subject to materials already published, distributed, printed, or otherwise not reasonably capable of being withdrawn.

22Artist Signature

Unless otherwise agreed, Artbusters artwork may include the artist's signature, initials, identifying mark, or other customary indication of authorship.

The placement and appearance of the signature may vary depending on the artwork and composition.

23Right to Decline or Discontinue a Commission

Artbusters reserves the right to decline a commission before accepting it.

After a commission has begun, Artbusters may discontinue work where reasonably necessary, including where:

• The requested work becomes materially different from what was originally agreed
• The customer requests unlawful or infringing content
• Required payments are not made
• Necessary information or materials are not provided
• The customer engages in abusive, threatening, fraudulent, or unlawful conduct
• Completion becomes reasonably impracticable due to circumstances beyond Artbusters' control

If Artbusters discontinues a commission, any refund or amount due will be determined reasonably based on the circumstances, work performed, materials committed, applicable agreements, and applicable law.

24Relationship to Other Artbusters Policies

These Commission Terms should be read together with our:

• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Shipping & Delivery Policy
• Returns, Refunds & Cancellations Policy

For an individual commission, Artbusters and the customer may agree in writing to specific details concerning price, deposit, size, medium, subjects, timeline, revisions, shipping, or other requirements.

Where those specifically agreed terms conflict with these general Commission Terms, the specifically agreed terms will apply to that commission to the extent of the conflict.

25Governing Law

These Commission Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles.

Nothing in these Commission Terms is intended to limit or waive consumer rights or remedies that cannot legally be waived under applicable law.

26Contact Us

If you have questions about a custom artwork, an existing commission, or these Custom Art & Commission Terms, please contact us through the Contact Us page on our website.

When contacting us about an existing commission, please include your name, order number or commission reference (if available), and a brief description of your question.

Artbusters LLC North Carolina, United States Website: Artbusters.com