There is something I've always wanted to rant about, but someone has said it a lot better than me already a LONG time ago so this is a copy paste journal, some advice that I really don't want to let die off even if it's old.


Taken from 's journal [link]


3. COMMISSIONS

Now that you're set up to sell your own stuff, it's time to look into doing creations for others. More often than not, people are more willing to pay you more for an image of their own original character drawn in your style than they are to buy a print of your character of who they have little or no attachment to. Moreover, this is the foundation for freelance work and the best way to start the process. This is a good indicator of whether or not you're cut out for freelance work. You must be able to take orders on what to draw, draw something you probably wouldn't have drawn on your own, draw an image to someone else's specifications, and be able to do it in a timely manner. If you find you cannot do this or that you do not enjoy it, then you should quit immediately. Working for actual freelance jobs is going to be much more demanding than personal commissions.

a. Taking Commissions and Setting Rates

There is no special way to set up for taking commissions. You can do it through your webpage, or make a journal post on your art gallery of choice stating that you are open for commissions. It is a good idea to give a rough idea of your rates so people know what they're getting into. If you don't know what prices would be fair, try looking around at other artists that take commissions that are about at your artistic level and see what they're getting. If you do not get any commissions at your listed rates after a while, try lowering your prices. If you start getting too many commissions, feel free to raise them a little. You can also increase your prices as your skill level improves.

b. Avoid Being Cheated and Give Commissioners Security

Be careful of scammers. Lots of times people will commission an image and never pay for it. The best way to avoid this problem is to require that half of the total cost of the commission be paid up front. You also want to give your commissioner security, since it often happens that an artist will take their money for a commission and never deliver the image, so setting it up to do the process in steps is a good idea. Here is a list of steps of the best way to handle commissions:

I. Get half of the total payment up front.
II. Complete the sketch of the image and present it to the commissioner for approval as well as proof you are working on it.
III. Get the second half of the payment. If the commissioner does not send the second half at this point, quit. You have at least been compensated for the time and effort spent on the sketch via the first half.
IIII. Complete the image and deliver it to the commissioner.

Note: Sometimes the commissioner will want you to finish the image completely before they give you the second half. If this happens and they are adament about it, finish the image, but do not give it to them. Make a copy of it and make it very small, and put a "SAMPLE" watermark across it, then give it to them as proof the image is finished. If they want the full, large, unwatermarked version, they must pay for it before you hand it over.

c. Build a Good Reputation

Your reputation as a commissioner is one of the most important things you have. Word spreads fast in the art community and if you have cheated someone or treated them poorly, it will have grave reprocussions. You will not get work with a bad reputation. However, a great reputation will actually draw people to you. Here is a general list of things to keep in mind in order to build a good reputation in the art community.

I. BE POLITE. I know some of you may think it's really cool to be a sarcastic, condescending jerk, but people looking to pay you for something are not going to be nearly as impressed with that sort of attitude as your friends are. If you are nice, friendly, helpful and accomodating, you are more likely to have repeat customers, as well as draw new ones by word of mouth. It doesn't even have to be sincere, just BE NICE.

II. Good communication. People who commission you are often very eager to get their image, plus they may be worried about their investment, so it's a good idea to communicate with them often. The best way to do this is to create a work schedule for your commissioners to view so they know where you are with their commission. This is an easy way for them to check the status of their image without having to bother you at all. If they contact you anyway, be nice and give them an update. A happy customer is a loyal customer. Also, if an unexpected event comes up that forces you to delay any commissions you have, be sure to let them know so they do not think you have run off with their money.

III. Be TIMELY and make commissions TOP PRIORITY. I cannot stress this one enough. I'm often surprised and disgusted by how long it takes some artists to complete commissions. I'm also surprised by how often I get comments like, "Wow, that was fast!" when I deliver a finished commission within a few weeks at most. If someone is paying you to draw them something, it should be your top priority. I'm not saying you shouldn't work on your own artwork at the same time, but any commissions you have should come first. Work on a commission for a while, then flip to your own stuff. It does not look good if you have several outstanding commissions and you keep posting up large, detailed, finished works of your own art. A commissioner will see this and think, "Hey, if they have time to do all these pictures for themselves, why can't they get MY picture that I PAID FOR done?" It should not take you 4 months or more to do a commission.

IV. "Artist's Block" is not an excuse. I really hate it when I see people use this as an excuse for why they haven't touched your commission in six months. If you often find yourself stricken with "artist's block" and cannot produce images while in it, DO NOT TAKE COMMISSIONS. And for that matter, steer clear of freelance work. People who hire you to do images for a project are not going to accept that as a valid reason for why you haven't done the work. If you can't draw something unless you're "inspired" then you have no business trying to draw something to someone else's specifications, let alone take money from them and then tell them they have to wait around until some nonexistant muse grants you the vision to create their picture.

c. Do Not Take More Than You Can Handle

It is always a good idea to take a set number of commissions at a time, usually between 5-15. Whatever you think you can handle within a month or two. Sure, it may seem like a good idea to take thirty or forty commissions at one time. Look at all that money you'd get! But look beyond that. You will also have to stretch that money out until you are finished with the commissions and can take more. If people see you with a list of thirty oustanding commissions and you are pleading for people to take more because you need money, they're not going to do it. After all, you haven't finished your current obligations, have you? You wouldn't get to theirs for a long time, and they're not going to give you money for that pleasure. It also helps your own self-esteem and work ethic if you feel you are making progress. If you have 10 out of 15 commissions finished, you feel proud and accomplished. If you have 10 out of 40 done, you feel worn down and unmotivated for perceived lack of progress. Tackle commissions the same way you would tackle eating an elephant - one bite at a time.

-


-----


With this said, I used to be a rather immature individual when it came to giving people commission. I used to take money, be rude and make people wait for months or even a years before I'd start on the commission without any communication at all. I'd blame a lot of procrastination on art block and post a lot of personal art up between each commission. Reading what this artist had to say about commissions and having bad commission experience in the past have actually helped me learn that it doesn't take months to make an image even with a load of college work, it takes hours and days or even a week or two at the most for cartoony things. It was all really a matter of sitting down for that time and making thumbnails to get a finished product. When you discover the power of thumbnails its honestly incredibly easy to break 'art block' and come up with something worth the money you're receiving.

I apologize for this journal mostly not being my own words, but I felt this advice should be shared even if it is outdated journal wise. It's a very good guide for people who are starting out and don't really know how the commissions system works. Don't just figure it's a easy system to get money and work later, it's NOT. Its a service for people, or in a young person's case practice for the real world. DO NOT get a bad reputation for being untimely, rude or slow right off the bat. I've seen this happen to too many people already.

The longest I've made someone wait for high detailed artwork is 3 months
The longest I've waited for artwork, is 3 years and I consider myself far too patient after that experience.



FAQ:

WHAT IS AC?

Answer: [link]