For commission artists

Commission tracking for artists

When commissions open, the DMs arrive faster than you can draw. WISMO turns each accepted commission into an order with the brief, the deadline and the deposit, keeps your queue sorted by what’s due next, and gives each client a progress link that moves from Sketch to Line Art to Colour, so “how’s my piece going?” stops landing in your inbox.

Updated · Written by Ashish Vijay

Sound familiar?

Why chats and spreadsheets stop working for commission artists and illustrators

WISMO is built for commission artists and illustrators who want to stay on top of orders without setting up a complicated online shop.

  • References, briefs and “can you also add…” requests are spread across DMs, email and Discord.

  • A spreadsheet commission tracker shows your queue to you, but clients still message you to ask where they are.

  • Deposits, the second payment and the final balance arrive at different times, and it is easy to start work before the first one lands.

  • Revision rounds blur together, and later there is no record of what was agreed at the sketch stage.

An illustrator painting a commissioned watercolour portrait, with a finished piece wrapped for delivery
Illustrative photo.

How artists use WISMO

Your steps, in your own words

Name the stages your commission goes through. Your customer sees these exact words on their tracking page, not a general “In progress”.

  1. New
  2. Sketch Sent
  3. Revisions
  4. Final Painting
  5. Delivered
  6. Completed

Three steps, every order

  1. 1

    Accept the commission into WISMO with the client, the brief, the size or format, the price and the deadline. The list sorts itself into your queue.

  2. 2

    Take the deposit, then move through your own stages, such as Sketch, Line Art, Colour and Final, adding a note at each sign-off.

  3. 3

    Record the final payment and deliver. Digital files go by your usual route, and the order moves to Completed.

What you keep with each order

  • Size and medium
  • Reference photos
  • Sketch and revisions
  • Delivery date
  • Deposit and final payment
Pet PortraitFinal Painting
Tom Becker
Due Oct 24, 2026Advance €80 / €160
Due in 3 days · 3 viewsUpdate status

From your hands to their phone

You make the commission. WISMO keeps your customer in the loop.

  1. 1The work

    An illustrator painting a commissioned watercolour portrait, with a finished piece wrapped for delivery

  2. 2The order, in WISMO

    Pet PortraitFinal Painting
    Tom Becker
    Due Oct 24, 2026Advance €80 / €160
    Due tomorrow · 3 viewsUpdate status

  3. 3What your customer sees

    Lena Draws
    Final Painting
    Sketch approved. The watercolour has started.
    Oct 14, 10:05 AM
    No app needed. Opened from a link

Common questions

Can I use WISMO for digital commissions?

Yes. Nothing about an order has to be physical. Leave out the courier link, deliver the files however you normally do, and mark the order Completed.

Can clients see the rest of my queue?

No. Each client’s link shows only their own commission: its current stage, your notes and what they have paid. Your queue is visible only to you in the app.

How do I handle revisions?

Add a note for each round, for example “Sketch revision 2: pose changed, agreed”. Notes show on the client’s tracking page, so both of you can see what was agreed. Set your revision limits in your terms.

Is WISMO a replacement for a commission tracker spreadsheet?

For most solo artists, yes. The difference is that the client can check their own progress. If you’d rather start with a spreadsheet, our free order tracker template works for commissions too.

How much does WISMO cost?

WISMO is free for your first 30 orders, with no credit card and no time limit. Pro is $9.99/month or $69.99/year for unlimited orders, no WISMO branding, photos on updates and automatic customer emails, and starts with a 7-day free trial. App stores show the price in your local currency.

Do my customers need to download an app?

No. Only you use the WISMO app. Your customer gets a link they open in any browser, with no app to install and no account to create, and it shows where their order is, your latest updates and what has been paid.

Guides you might find useful

Running your orders

How to Manage Art Commissions from Brief to Delivery

A practical art commission workflow: capture the brief, agree revision checkpoints, record payments, and keep clients updated. Includes a copyable brief template.

6 min read

Put your next commission order in WISMO

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