So, I've been thinking about instead of doing that whole number bs... I just write a chapter about certain topics and things that I think all artists should know about?
This one's about commissions, and profiting off your art. Please keep in mind I'm NOT AN EXPERT! I'm just going to tell you what I know and hope that you guys can benefit from it.

How to treat an artist:

• moral support

•gentle pats

•sugar water

•kind words

•starbucks

•cool artsy stuff

•pencils

•and taking them out for a walk AT LEAST twice a day JESUS PEOPLE!

Oh boy... People who don't pay for commissions...
Please, allow me to give you youin artists some advice.

Your product is WORTH IT. And if someone's asking you to do a huge project for them (as long as they're not your mom or something) and they're not going to pay you? Don't do it.
Getting a shoutout, or getting you a lot of attention/advertisement or whatever the term is for it. (There's a better term I forgot...) Isn't worth it on its own.
And yeah, they may not be lying, and it will attract A LOT of people to your product, but know that your product has a value.

And it's taking up a lot of your time and materials, and you aren't getting paid, it's not worth it.
People like to bs artists and figuring you'll do it just out of passion.
Yes, I draw because I love it.
But if you're getting profit from my product, I should to.

((Commissions are open btw, please help my broke ass, I'll put some more info at the end of the chapter))

Ok, so Figuring out commission prices.

Oh boy, oh boy...

Allow me to help you.
A teacher at an art camp told me about this man, who was an EXCEPTIONAL artist. Worked very hard at his profession, and he was able to do very very detailed work... But, the problem was. He would take months to work on a single painting.
He had to sell his studio space because he wasn't making enough money.
A lot of people say quality over quantity right?
Well, for art, if you wanna make a living... Quantity is very VERY important.
If you take hours on a single full color bust, you'll be lucky if you earn two dollars from it.

So keep at the good quality, but remember quantity.
Look at bob Ross. He takes 20-30 minutes to create an elegant painting.

Most people thing he must've taken HOURS and HOURS to paint that.

Quantity determines how much you'll make.

So remember, quantity is important.

And now we're onto quality.
Oh boy, quality.
Quality is important as well, and I feel like in between the two is where you wanna be.
Like, it takes me about half an hour to do a full color bust? And it doesn't take that much longer to do a full body, or a waist up.

Quality determines the PRICE of your work, and how many people will be willing to purchase it.

Ok... So beginning artists?
Don't do commissions.
Focus on your quality. Work on anatomy, study. Figure out your style first before considering selling your work.

Maybe you're only good at drawing heads. Or you only like to draw cats, or nude men. That's fine!
If you're keeping art just as a hobby, keep drawing whatever you want! Don't let me be the art police!

With commissions, you kinda wanna be a bit of a jack of all traits to better attract clients.
And sure, you can still attract people from drawing cats, or dogs. Or nude men.
But companies may be looking for more.

However, there are several artists who draw just specific things, and they're pretty popular!
Just look at Deviant art! Half of its sonic stuff, and people are making money off of that!
Or what about Walkingmelonsaaa? She mostly draws a lot of Undertale, with a few other fandoms mixed in. And she's REALLLY popular.

Another thing I wanna explain is.

DON'T EXPECT TO BE FAMOS ON THE FIRST DAY!

It can take MONTHS to get noticed on tumblr. Appreciate the little things.
Like having two followers and being really proud of yourself for actuallyhavingthecouragetopostyourownartwhenyouhavehorridanxiety....

*clears throat*

Anyway, continue studying and experimenting.
Work on your QUALITY.

NOW WE GET INTO COMMISSION PRICES!

Oh boy, oh boy.

These are my prices. And these prices are actually a bit low.

like, $2 is basically pocket change. And I plan to change them soon and raise them up a bit.

Here's what a mid thigh up looks like.

Shitty coloring because I hurt my hand.
(This wasn't a Comission)

If this was a commission, and I didn't hurt my hand and the coloring looked fine, I would charge around $10-15 ish dollars for it.
Ot really depends on your audience. I have people who say that they'd buy my art if they weren't broke. So I guess that means I'm doing something right? XD

Don't devalue your art. That's bad.
If you spend 5 hours on a drawing, and you're getting paid $20? You're getting less than minimum wage per hour.

Look at the current market and decide the price of your art.
Again, beginning artists. I wouldn't do commissions just yet if I were you...
20 dollars is around a good medium for in the middle sort of stuff.
So you could base your prices on that.
I'm going to go over each of the ones and what prices I usually do for them.

Headshots

From the neck up. These are really quick, so around $2 is usually my price range (that's usd)
(That's for a clean sketch)
LINEART: $5
FULL COLOR: $8

Bust

A bust is from the bottom of the breast up, and I usually charge around $5 dollars for a clean sketch. (This isn't a clean sketch, it's just an example)
LINEART: $10
FULL COLOR: $15

Waist up

This one is usually from the very beginning of the legs up, or the hips up. I usually charge around $8-9 dollars for a clean sketch of this. But then again, I usually do from the knees up because I'm fucking weird and I prefer doing that.
LINEART: $13
FULL COLOR: $18

And then there's full body.

A clean sketch of this?
Around $15 dollars.
LINEART: $20
Full color: $25

Illustrations:

It's older but there you go.
For a clean sketch of an illustration I'll usually charge $30 dollars. Illustrations usually contain backgrounds or something, and they're usually more complicated as I understand it?
LINEART: $40
FULL COLOR: $50

Additional characters?

No matter if it's a sketch, lineart or full color, I usually charge $5 for an extra character. And it seems like most artists charge that much for an extra character as well.

And also, I wanna stress
ART DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A FULLTIME JOB!

I believe it's this video where Mark Crilley addresses the subject.
One of the most brilliant comic artists in the world worked in a hospital as his full time job, and did art on the side

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE YOUR MAIN FOCUS!
And in fact, only a select couple can say they to art for a living. So have backup plans if that doesn't work out.

Be kind to your costumers, usually one thing that will help you is showing them the progress steps in your commission, asking if there's anything they'd like to change in your sketch or whatever.

It'll make them feel involved, and it'll make it so you know that they're getting what they paid for.

I usually send them process sketches/wips, but never the full sketch, full lineart, or full color.

Because of this next thing....

DON'T GIVE THEM THE FINAL PRODUCT UNTIL YOUR PAID!
This is something I do.
Mostly because of past experiences of NOT getting paid after giving them the final product.

And finally...

Don't stress yourself about this stuff!

:)

And oml you made it to the end...

Congrats.
Now allow me to advertise myself and shove my own commission info into your face.

You already know my prices unless you skipped to the end.

Sooooooo

Contact me at [email protected] if you wanna buy something!
:D
There are currently two commission spots open, and fyi, I accept payment via paypal. Have a nice day lovelies~