How long does a custom sculpture commission take in Manila?

There isn't one answer. A small painted figurine, a character maquette, and a big exhibition prop are different jobs. Below is how a typical commission runs at a one-person Manila studio (Luminary Studios), and what makes it faster or slower.

How a commission usually runs

1. Brief: What you want, rough size, materials, deadline, references.
2. Scope + quote: Size, finish level, revisions, delivery. Real numbers only once the scope is clear.
3. Design / digital sculpt (if the piece is built in 3D): Previews, revision rounds. Faces and poses eat the most rounds.
4. Print or base fabrication: FDM, resin, or other base work.
5. Prep + paint: Seams, primer, color, detail. Often the longest craft stage.
6. Delivery: Metro Manila pickup or shipping.

Rush under a week only works for small, already-scoped pieces. Large wall work, multi-part builds, or "must match this character exactly" masters need real calendar space. Exhibition props measured in meters are usually weeks to months, not days, especially if install, multi-unit runs, or metal are in the mix.

What changes the timeline

• Size: Under ~30 cm is faster. Large display / multi-part is slower.
• References: Clear turnarounds help. Vague moodboards alone slow everything down.
• Revisions: A few focused rounds are fine. Endless "one more tweak" is not.
• Finish: Clean stylized paint is faster than hyper-detail or complex costume work.
• Your side: Fast approvals keep the schedule. Long gaps between emails don't.

What to send if you want a real schedule

• Target height (cm or inches)
• Photos, turnarounds, or concept art
• Hard deadline (event date) vs flexible
• Pickup vs ship
• Whether this is a one-off master or might be reproduced later (say that up front)

Quick answers