As a fledgling artist, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons of taking on custom art commissions before diving right in to taking other peoples' hard earned money. While the prospect of earning cash from doing something you love can be enticing, it's crucial to consider the significant sacrifices that come with it.
Commission work requires dedicating a substantial amount of time and resources, including energy, materials, and equipment. The cost to start out in any field other than digital art (and even that comes with a hefty price tag once you factor in the equipment it takes to even get started) can add up pretty fast and you will find yourself eating through your profits just to afford the supplies you will need to get started.
Working for hire also means putting aside personal projects and creative pursuits, which can be detrimental to one's own artistic growth and fulfillment. It is easy to find inspiration fizzling out as you struggle to connect with your commissioners' characters and backstories, having to immerse yourself into a world that is not your own. The pressure to meet clients' expectations and tight deadlines can be stressful, potentially leading to burnout. It's essential to carefully consider whether the potential benefits of commission work outweigh the potential costs to one's well-being and artistic integrity.
One mistake many new commission artists find themselves making is dedicating too much of their time on making art while not charging enough to properly compensate for their time. This leads to an endless cycle where the artist may build up too many art orders for them to properly fulfill in a timely manner and their artwork becomes rushed. If the artist does not keep up a clear line of communication with their followers and clients as well as adopt a consistent upload routine, they run the risk of the court of public opinion asking questions and casting doubt at them any time they deviate from their owed commission work, i.e. working on personal projects or gifts.
An excellent tool for keeping track of your orders as a new commission artist is the website Trello, where you can make clear and concise lists of what you need to work on, when you plan on working on it and what you have planned to do next. Please feel free to use my own Trello as a source of inspiration for how to set up your own!
It is very helpful to have a clear and concise location where you can store examples of your work as well as a set price list. Even if your advertising price fluctuates, it is a great idea to have a set price list for custom commission work, as it gives your clients a reference point as well as a location to study as they may save up for an order.
Sometimes your personal style may not reach the expectations of your client, and for the sake of both parties it can be useful for you to learn when it is good for you to accept a commission and when it may be best for you to pass the work along to the next artist, no matter how bad you may need the money. There have been times where I have passed down work, especially in the form of my plushies when I feel like I just will not be able to do justice to the source material. Rather than have a disappointed customer and a bad review, I will pass it along so that a more talented artist may have the chance to show off their work.
You must also brace yourself for criticism, not always constructive, thrown at you when you are working with another person's characters. Sometimes their vision and yours will clash, and you will have to find your peaceful line between making revisions and continuing with what you feel would make your work the best, in your eyes. When you accept money to draw another person's characters, you should draw with their desires in mind - not yours. Be prepared to set clear boundaries and communicate your limitations.
It is extremely crucial to find a way to manage your time and make room daily or at least weekly to work on your commissions. Art is a luxury, but no client should be left waiting weeks on end with no communication or update in sight. It is not a good look for business. Commission work requires meeting deadlines, managing multiple projects simultaneously, and prioritizing tasks. Assess your ability to manage your time effectively and avoid procrastination.
When it comes to pricing as a beginner, I cannot stress this enough, but DO NOT UNDERSELL YOURSELF. Undercutting your work takes commissions from more seasoned artists and creates more mistrust within the artistic community when beginners find themselves taking on too much and failing. There are many resources out there for pricing your work and calculating the costs - take a look around at what is relevant to you! This is not to say you should not be prepared to negotiate and potentially adjust your prices based on client feedback. As a beginner starting out, it is important to build up that portfolio with your best possible work after all, and client feedback is extremely important to one looking to make a Brand name for themselves!
Clear communication is crucial in commission work. Practice articulating your creative process, explaining your vision, and providing updates to clients. Clients love photos and knowing your doings! Create excitement with each project you work on by posting teasers and progress photos, so that your clients know that a lot is happening behind the scenes. This can be as simple as showing off a sketch or as intricate as showcasing every step of a project! Content is key!
It is also extremely, EXTREMELY important to have a seller/buyer contract in place that you can link to each and every client you work with. Don't sleep on free sites like Wix here, where you can make whole websites dedicated to your work! My Terms of Sevice can be found here - once again, please feel free to draw inspiration from this page for your own Brand!
Self promotion can be very time consuming but it is also a very important part of becoming a commission artist. People won't commission you if they don't know you! Work on your people skills while at the time remembering to maintain a proper public appearance - people will not approach if they feel you are untrustworthy or confrontational. Find the balance between spending your time online and offline working - and turn off your wifi settings if you find yourself wasting too much time on social media!
I hope these tips help you as a beginner commission artist, and I hope you continue to grow in your craft as well as in your online presence! Thank you for being wonderful, and I hope you have a great evening <3
Written by CSPlushies
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