CA Commission Work & Client Relations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client requests a minor change to a completed commissioned artwork after the final approval stage. What is the most professional response?
- Refuse any changes since final approval was given
- Charge a revision fee and document the new scope in writing (Correct answer)
- Make the change for free to maintain goodwill
- Cancel the contract and refund the client
Correct answer: Charge a revision fee and document the new scope in writing
Post-approval revisions fall outside the original scope, so charging a revision fee and documenting the change protects both parties.
Question 2: Which contract clause specifically protects an artist from a client demanding unlimited revisions?
- Indemnification clause
- Revision limit clause (Correct answer)
- Force majeure clause
- Intellectual property clause
Correct answer: Revision limit clause
A revision limit clause explicitly caps the number of included revisions, preventing scope creep.
Question 3: A client has not responded to emails for three weeks during an active commission. What should the artist do first?
- Immediately refund the deposit and close the project
- Complete the artwork based on original specs and deliver it
- Send a formal notice of inactivity per contract terms (Correct answer)
- Post publicly about the unresponsive client
Correct answer: Send a formal notice of inactivity per contract terms
Most commission contracts include an inactivity clause specifying notice procedures before a project can be suspended or cancelled.
Question 4: When setting a commission price, which factor should an artist account for that beginners most commonly overlook?
- Cost of art supplies only
- Time spent on client communication and revisions (Correct answer)
- The client's perceived budget
- Competitor pricing exclusively
Correct answer: Time spent on client communication and revisions
Time spent on emails, calls, and revisions is labor that should be factored into pricing, not just studio production time.
Question 5: An artist delivers a commission but the client claims it looks 'nothing like what was discussed.' The artist has no written brief. Who bears more responsibility in this dispute?
- The client, because they approved the final product
- The artist, because they failed to document the agreed scope (Correct answer)
- The platform hosting the commission
- Neither party — it is a subjective disagreement
Correct answer: The artist, because they failed to document the agreed scope
Without a written brief or approved sketches, the artist cannot prove what was agreed upon, making documentation their responsibility.
Question 6: A client wants to purchase commercial rights to a commissioned illustration for use on merchandise. What should the artist do?
- Include commercial rights in the standard commission price
- Charge an additional licensing fee and specify terms in a contract (Correct answer)
- Decline, as commercial use is never permitted
- Transfer full copyright automatically upon payment
Correct answer: Charge an additional licensing fee and specify terms in a contract
Commercial use licenses are typically sold separately from personal commissions and require explicit contractual terms.
Question 7: Which best describes the purpose of a kill fee in a commission contract?
- A fee charged when the client requests rush delivery
- Compensation paid to the artist if the client cancels mid-project (Correct answer)
- A penalty for the artist missing the deadline
- A fee for transferring intellectual property rights
Correct answer: Compensation paid to the artist if the client cancels mid-project
A kill fee compensates the artist for work already completed when a client terminates the project before completion.
CA Commission Work & Client Relations 2
A client requests a minor change to a completed commissioned artwork after the final approval stage.
What is the most professional response?