EngelchenYugi on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/engelchenyugi/art/Stop-begging-for-commissions-Stamp-671145631EngelchenYugi

Deviation Actions

EngelchenYugi's avatar

Stop begging for commissions - Stamp

Published:
1.1K Views

Description

Ever got a note from a stranger who begged you to commission them? Just like that. And they start advertising themself and even dare to say that their prices are cheap although they are overpriced?

Okay, let me point this out. It is totally okay, if you want to make some money, whilst offering commissions. You can make a journal about it and submit that journal into specified groups in order to find people who are interested. However sending notes to strangers is extremely rude and I can assure you that you will not find any customers this way.



I like commissioning other people. It's cool to see my OTP in different styles and to get nice results. Moreover I get some real quality for my money and I can rely on getting something that I will like. That is what I save my money for. I have quite the experience as a regular customer. And I have grown to like some artists alot and happen to commission them again and again, because I like their work so much. So, I find it super annoying if strangers send me notes and beg me to commission them. It happened quite often and I think most of those artists who feel the need to beg don't take this line of work serious enough.





How to get customers for starters



Sending notes to strangers who never had anything to do with you is obviously NOT the right way to get customers. But what can you do if you want to earn money with your works? Be serious about it. Ask yourself the following questions:



How many samples do I have?

In order for people to feel interested in your works, you need a variety of artworks in your gallery. Possible customers need to be able to judge you and your skills. If you only draw fanart for one anime or only draw your OC, it will be much more difficult for customers to know whether you can adapt to other art styles. You have to try out different styles. If you're an anime artist, simply draw some popular and well-known characters in order to give your future customers something to base their judgment on.



“But that's no fun! I don't want to draw stuff I don't care about!”

Then you have nothing to do in the commission business. Period. If you want to earn money whilst offering your art, you're offering a service. Getting customers and convincing them is hard work. If you want people to acknowledge you and your works, you'll have to work for it. If you don't want to draw certain genres/pairings etc. that's also okay, but you have to point this out and don't be a big butthurt meanie about it. Oh, you hate same sex pairings? Good for you. Whoops, you already scared off a large amount of possible customers. Be neutral if you want to make a living with your art and don't act like an ignorant asshole in public.



How is the general representation of your works?



If your entire gallery looks the same and you always draw the same poses, facial expressions and use a very similar kind of color pattern, people can't judge you. What do you do if a customer wants a dark picture from you? Maybe a night scene. If you only use the same color pattern over and over again, your gallery will look extremely onesided but moreover customers can't judge your skills. Maybe this person can only draw one style. Maybe this person can only draw one pose. Maybe this person can only draw faces and once I ask for a pose from a different angle, they won't get it right and I threw my money away for a work I don't like. Always consider the questions a possible customer might go through.



“But I like kawaii-desu girls! I like drawing only cute characters!”

That's okay, but you need to understand that you'll only draw in customers who are also interested in this kind of artwork. Don't complain later. You're filtering your customers.



How much do you ask for one picture?



If you're asking $30 for a rather simple sketchy picture although you're rather unknown, you won't get new customers. Customers aren't your friends. If you want them to be interested in you, you need to make special offers. One way to get people feel attracted to you are discounts/special offers.



“Duh! My prices are fair! I won't change them!”



Then don't complain about not getting new customers and don't annoy strangers via notes.



Who is part of your target group?


You have to consider the demographic development. Ask yourself the question what age range your customers have. Are they students? Minors even? Then you can't expect them to pay a large amount of money for a simple drawing. Always consider that your customers might be younger than you are. It's important to understand that not all your customers earn their own money. If you're dealing with a majority of students due to your fandom or the art-style you perceive, you should adapt your prices.



“I have bills to pay!”

Sure, you're the only person in this world who has to make a living. Not like other people have bills to pay and still save up money to buy commissions.



How many watchers/followers do you have?



The community of artist is mostly about stats these days. You need to make yourself a name first, before you start thinking about offering commissions. Art as whole is a concept of competition. Ever since digital programs were introduced people have better access to art then ever. You're not special. Always understand that the ability to draw is nothing that makes you a special snowflake. You're not one in a million. You're one of a hundred, maybe less so. Younger generations grow up with those programs and learn from a very young age how to draw, so it's no surprise that even youngsters these days are extremely skilled. If you don't want people to compare you, don't offer commissions. Stop thinking as an individual and understand that customers have other priorities than you have. They take a look at your gallery, then go through your prices and start comparing your prices with another artist and decide which of them to commission. You don't like that? Don't get into this business.



“But the amount of watchers says nothing about my art or my skills!”



It doesn't. But who cares? No, seriously. WHO cares? Stop viewing customers as friends. They're the ones who pay you. You rely on them to buy something from you. They don't care about your personal life. And if you don't like the competition you have in this line of work, you might not be suited for this and you really shouldn't beg strangers to commission you. Once you have a basis of regular customers, you can increase the prices. But asking as much as one of the big shots although you're a beginner? Don't complain later. Understand how supply and demand works. This is basic knowledge of economy. You need to be able to judge the market. If you don't want to do that, because it's extra work, don't go around and complain about not getting customers or sending random notes to people who never had anything to do with you.




Convincing customers is your job if you offer commissions. Sending notes is not good advertise, but spam.


Stop thinking on an emotional level if you want to earn a living based on your artworks. Especially if you work digitally. You pay for this program once. It's not like you have to buy art supplies on a regular basis and the program helps you a lot. Don't act like as if using the filling tool is hard work. Putting up base colors on a simple drawing doesn't take you hours. Drawing the lineart doesn't take you a day if you're skilled. If you can't get a rough sketch done in less than half an hour, you might have to improve your skills before offering commissions. You're about to enter a world of competition.


Other people offer commissions and have a certain routine in this and because they invest time and effort into improving, they can get simple drawings done in a few hours, especially if their customers give them references. Stop being so emotional. You're not one in a million. Art (especially fandom related) has become a business for many artists and if you really want to make living based on your works, you have to put your emotions aside and work hard. I see so many beginners here on deviantArt who still make so many mistakes (especially in regard of anatomy) and still ask for $40 for a sketch. And they even have the audacity to beg, sending notes to strangers and start telling them their life story and start rambling about how much they need the money. I can't take you serious if you behave like that.


Seriously, don't beg. Don't make other people pity you. Once they pity you, they will never start to respect you or consider you an artist.


Commission is a business. Take it or leave it. RAGE

 


 
BAWW, you hurt my feelings! You're so mean! Art is only about fun!

Then why do you want other people to pay you? I thought it's just about fun. Welp, seems like fun, love and joy can't pay bills. Stop being childish and immature. If you feel triggered by this or offended, just because someone with business experience gives you advice, you seriously are not made for this job.


Image size
99x56px 7.3 KB
© 2017 - 2024 EngelchenYugi
Comments0
Comments have been disabled for this deviation