Artist contract template: free in Word, or sign it online
Reviewed in October 2026
An artist contract for a commission sets what the artist will create, its size and medium, the price, the deadline and the approval steps. It also says who keeps the copyright and how the buyer may use images of the work. Painters, illustrators and muralists use it before they start.
Ten documents free, no card. Signed by the artist and the buyer.
Example filled in with sample data
The full artist commission agreement
ARTWORK COMMISSION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made on [date] between [Artist name], with address at [address] (the "Artist"), and [Buyer name], with address at [address] (the "Buyer").
1. Artwork
The Artist will create an original [painting, illustration, sculpture or mural] (the "Artwork"): subject [description], medium [medium], size [dimensions], [framed or unframed].
2. Creative process
The Artist will send [number] sketches by [date]. The Buyer approves one or asks for changes within [number] days. After approval of the sketch, the Artist has creative freedom in the execution.
3. Progress and delivery
The Artist will share a progress photo at [milestone] and deliver the Artwork by [date] at [place, or by shipping].
4. Price
The price is [amount], plus [shipping, framing, installation, sales tax]. The Buyer pays [percentage] on signing as a non-refundable fee and the balance before delivery.
5. Changes
Changes requested after sketch approval may be charged at [amount] per hour or refused if they change the Artwork substantially.
6. Ownership of the object
Title to the physical Artwork passes to the Buyer on full payment and delivery.
7. Copyright
The Artist keeps the copyright in the Artwork and its sketches. The Buyer may photograph the Artwork for personal, non-commercial use. Any other reproduction needs a separate license.
8. Credit and portfolio
The Artist may photograph the Artwork and show it in exhibitions, its portfolio and social media, with credit to the Buyer only if the Buyer agrees.
9. Care and damage
Once delivered, the Buyer is responsible for the Artwork. The Artist will advise on care and, if asked, restore damage at an agreed fee.
10. Cancellation
If the Buyer cancels after sketch approval, the Artist keeps the fee in clause 4 and any amount for work done. The Artist keeps the unfinished Artwork.
11. Governing law and signature
This Agreement is governed by the laws of [state]. The parties agree to sign it electronically, with the same effect as a handwritten signature.
Artist
Name: ______________
Date: ______________
Buyer
Name: ______________
Date: ______________
What the template includes
Subject, medium, size and framing
Sketches and approval window
Progress photo and delivery
Price, extras and payment schedule
Changes after approval
Ownership of the physical work
Copyright kept by the artist, personal photos allowed
Portfolio and exhibition use
Care after delivery
Cancellation, governing law and electronic signature
What you fill in
Field
Example
Artist
Lena Moreau
Buyer
Victor Hayes
Artwork
Oil portrait of the buyer's family
Size
30 x 40 inches, framed
Sketches
2
Price
USD 3,600 plus shipping
Deposit
40% non-refundable
Delivery
February 14, 2027
How it gets signed
1Choose «Use this template», fill in the fields and review the full artist commission agreement.
2Send it by WhatsApp or email. The other party opens the link on their phone without an account.
3They tap the brown bar at the bottom that says «Sign as …» and draw their signature once.
4Everyone gets the signed PDF with its signature certificate. Anyone can check it at signsolu.com/verificar.
The signing screen tells each signer that signing means agreeing to sign electronically. It links to the electronic signature disclosure that the ESIGN Act asks for.
What you get once everyone signs
The signed PDF. The final artist commission agreement with every drawn signature in place.
The signature certificate. It lists each signer and the date and time of each signature.
A record you can check. The folio on the certificate opens the document history at signsolu.com/verificar.
Reminders. Turn them on and SignSolú reminds every signer who has not signed yet.
Your first ten documents are free and need no card.
What the law says
Buying an artwork and owning its copyright are two different things. Selling the canvas does not move the copyright unless a written transfer says so.
Under 17 U.S.C. 101, work by an independent contractor is a "work made for hire" only in nine listed categories, and only if both parties agree in a written instrument signed by them. Outside those cases, the client owns the work only through a written assignment.
Murals on buildings raise extra questions about removal and the artist's rights. Add a clause on removal if the work is painted on a wall.
The ESIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001 gives an electronic signature the same legal effect as one on paper. A contract cannot be denied effect only because it was signed electronically.
Owning the art and owning the copyright
The buyer owns the painting and can hang it, sell it or lend it. The artist keeps the right to make prints and reproductions.
If the buyer wants prints, cards or a book cover, they need a license. Add it to clause 7 with its own price.
Writing this down avoids the most common dispute in commissions. Buyers often assume they bought every right with the canvas.
Sketch approval is the key moment
Before the sketch, the buyer can change almost anything. After approval, the artist works with freedom and changes cost extra.
Send the sketch through SignSolú as a one-page approval. The buyer signs it from their phone, and the date is recorded.
Murals and site-specific work
For a mural, add the wall size, surface prep, access hours and who supplies the lift or scaffolding.
Also add what happens if the building is sold or repainted. A written removal clause protects both sides.
Common mistakes
No deposit. A non-refundable deposit covers materials and the time spent on sketches.
Unlimited changes. Fix the approval point and price later changes.
Silence on copyright. State who keeps it, even if the answer seems obvious.
Example of a portrait commission
A buyer commissions a 30 by 40 inch oil portrait of his family. The artist sends two sketches, and he picks one within a week.
The price is USD 3,600 plus shipping, with 40% paid at signing. The artist shares a progress photo halfway through.
The buyer owns the painting on delivery. The artist keeps the copyright and may show the work in a gallery with the buyer's consent.
Pricing a commission
Artists usually price by size, medium and complexity. A portrait with several people costs more than a single figure.
Add materials, framing, shipping and installation as separate lines in clause 4. Buyers see what they pay for.
A non-refundable deposit protects the artist from a buyer who changes their mind after the sketches.
Send the agreement with the quote. The buyer signs from their phone and pays the deposit the same day.
Keep the signed agreement with your sketches and progress photos. Together they document the whole commission, step by step, from idea to delivery.
