HOME | DD
shingworks β
Commission tutorial
by-nc-nd
Published: 2009-03-19 17:19:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 298879; Favourites: 10013; Downloads: 4492
Redirect to original
Description
Yes it's true, new monthly tutorials are now available via my Patreon
>>>>> Get new tutorials and impress friends, children, strangers, etc with your charitable nature here <<<<<
Over the past three years I've done loads of successful commissions, and have commissioned others successfully as well. I have never had an issue with my transactions because I did my research before I started, and asked others who were doing commissions themselves how they were managing. However, not everyone has the time to go and note everyone (or, if you're getting noted, you may not have time to answer inquiries constantly)! So for your perusal and reference, here are some helpful tips to help you get started with taking commissions on DA.
This tutorial is more for people who offer commissions, but I have a few words for those who take them as well:
- Do your research. Make sure you're getting art from a reliable artist!
- Art costs money. Don't haggle down, its insulting. Don't forget, you're also getting free advertising when they post it to their gallery (for example, who here doesn't know Audley 's Castor ;3 )
- Don't be afraid to pimp the artists who did good work for you! Here is my list!
Raraarrar you know the drill, feel free to comment w/ questions if you got em, thanks for reading etc
The pics in the icons are mostly from the LJ random image generator, they're (c) to the internet, I suppose XD Except for Kash, he's (c) Geico.
My other tutorials:
Pose tutorial
Expression tutorial
Hand tutorial
Foot tutorial
Ladies tutorial
Fellas tutorial
Face tutorial
Coloring Walkthrough
Related content
Comments: 1342
wow! thanks a lot!! I think this is greatly useful to me!
π: 0 β©: 0
This is extremely helpful since I've been wondering how to run my commissions better, thank you!
π: 0 β©: 0
As someone who commissions artists a lot, I can say this is very helpful. Hopefully things will get better for everyone.
π: 0 β©: 0
Hi, do you mind answering something about the copyright issues of commissions? While it's okay to repost another's artist lineart that you coloured, it's quite another matter to sell it right? Just like its ok to post a necklace you made (with simple machine beads and just on ONE string, not complicated like a choker), but is it wrong to sell it? Because there's an artist I know who's doing that and I wonder if she's defying copyright laws.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes, you are not allowed to sell a piece of art made my another artist (that you colored) without their permission, because they are still the owner to the rights of the image. Usually the rights to own an image cost several thousand dollars (the circumstances under which you'd sell the rights are for like... if you sold a mascot or a logo to a company and they will be using it and selling it for now on).
For a necklace I'm not so sure. I am pretty sure it is okay to sell a necklace on a string made with beads from a store, just like it is okay for you to go to an art gallery and buy a painting that the artist used commercial paints to create. The work that went into making the final piece: the arrangement of beads, the physical labor, the thought process- those are the things that would be under copyright, not the fact that you used storebought beads. Otherwise most of etsy would be in trouble
π: 0 β©: 0
I'd like to know what to do if you ever bump into creepy customers that you get bad vibes from, my friend has this problem and I know that saying "Thanks for thinking of me" isn't always enough! What if they already accepted the commission, but the person who commissioned the artist is just giving off really creepy vibes. How do you say no politely? There seems to be no easy way out on that one.
I personally dealt with a creepy commissioner before but he left DA out of a dramafest, but It was impossible to say no to this person without him flipping out. I'd love some suggestions for future reference. Thank you.
π: 0 β©: 1
If you are nice, you could say that due to unforeseen events coming up, you won't be able to finish the commission and you will give them a full refund and whatever work has been completed. Ideally that would be enough to get them off your back. If you're not as nice you don't give them any work. Or if you just don't care about their opinion, just tell them you're not going to be able to continue working on the commission, here is the money back. Honestly you do not owe an explanation... while they are your client, they are not your boss or your parent or whatever. One part of business is learning to say firm no. If you return all the money, they won't be able to say you've cheated them in a forum like "artists beware," and nobody will take them seriously.
The important thing is, regardless of how you say no, you should never bring personal opinions into it. Don't be like "here's your money back you creep," or "I won't be able to complete your commission! I am refunding your money. Because you're creeping me the hell out lol," hahaha. Basically just be neutral and don't give them any room to be able to say something legitimately negative.
I hope that is helpful 
π: 0 β©: 0
Boy oh boy! I want to make commissions and I am in the dark about this. Completely. This tutorial will surely greatly useful! Thank you!
π: 0 β©: 1
No problem XD Glad I could help!
π: 0 β©: 0
So ... You recommend getting the money upfront, after they've told you what they want and you're just starting?
Are customers usually pretty cool about that, or do you get a lot of, "You don't get paid until I get my finished product!" ? It's definitely something I've had trouble with in the past ...
π: 0 β©: 1
Yeah, I always ask for it upfront. I am honest, (generally) fast and am communicative, so there isn't a reason for them to worry. If your client insists that they can't or won't you can do the 50/50 split but be sure not to send them any hi-resolution or large images of their work in progress or finished piece. I have never been bilked before but I've read a lot of horror stories on Artist Beware on LJ and I think it's respectful for everyone to work within certain boundaries.
π: 0 β©: 0
Man. You have the best tutorials on DA! You rock! x)
π: 0 β©: 0
Dear amazing genius who made this amazing tutorial,
Bonjour, and good job on this.
π: 0 β©: 1
I don't do it, because technically it is illegal (making money off of a copyrighted character). Even if it wasn't, I'd feel bad to make money off of someone else's character designs and hard work. To do it legally you'd have to get permission from the original owner.
π: 0 β©: 1
I see. Thank you for being thoroughly answering my question.
π: 0 β©: 0
really informative thank you!
π: 0 β©: 0
Do you have to pay taxes from your commissions? D:
π: 0 β©: 1
I-I don't know D: I know I pay taxes on the money in my paypal account, sooo
(don't tell on me to the IRS plz XD)
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much! I've been considering doing commissions, and this makes it a lot easier to see how the process goes and what is recommended for those starting out. Thank you again and I wish you luck in your many ventures! ^_^
π: 0 β©: 1
No problem! Glad I could help
π: 0 β©: 1
One question: When you finish a commission, is it required that you send the person the original art through mail or do you let them have it by posting it on dA as a deviation (maybe with Print capabilities turned on)?
π: 0 β©: 1
You should work that out with them ahead of time. Generally you should send them a high resolution image through email so they can print on their end if they want to, or you can do it for them. Sometimes commissioners don't like it if you sell the art afterwards as prints, but that is up to you as the artist since you do not sell the rights to your work to them.
π: 0 β©: 1
Alright! Again, thank you for helping out an amateur artist who's considering taking on commissions! ^_^
π: 0 β©: 0
Thanks so much for this tutorial!!! I've been wanting to start opening up commissions and this is great!
π: 0 β©: 0
This may be a really newbie question, but how do Ii set up my PayPal account on DeviantArt?
I've been colouring a LOT of peoples art, and I kinda want to get something in return...
π: 0 β©: 1
You don't set it up on DA, you have to go to the paypal website. Once you have an account you can bill people by noting them through email in the way that the paypal site has more information on.
π: 0 β©: 1
ok, cool. thanks... now, too put my plan into action!!
π: 0 β©: 0
So helpful thank you
π: 0 β©: 0
Thank you so much for sharing this. I have been thinking of doing commissions for points and I have a question that is probably totally stupid, but I'm going to ask it anyway: Does a commissioner expect you to mail them the original or just post it?
π: 0 β©: 1
That's up to you and the commissioner
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks for this, I am eternally awkward when dealing with people - it is v. nice to see all these tips from someone who knows what they're doing. P:
π: 0 β©: 0
Very informative! Thank you for sharing!
π: 0 β©: 0
do you have to be a super great drawer to commission? D:
π: 0 β©: 1
Well, you shouldn't sell you work if you don't think you are giving your commissioners a good product. Sometimes it is also up to the commissioner to decide if they are willing to buy your art or not. You could always do a journal to ask people if they would be interested, and if the answer is no, work on improving your art and save the commissions for later.
π: 0 β©: 0
I have a question (hope it hasn't been answered already) - I'm English, so I use Β£pounds. If I had someone from the US who would only charge me in dollars, what would the process be on Paypal? Would I have dollars come into my account, would it be automatically converted into pounds or would I have to convert it myself at a Post Office? Thanks for looking
π: 0 β©: 1
You should check with paypal to make sure, but I am pretty sure there is a currency converter on the site.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you for the quick reply, much appreciated!
π: 0 β©: 0
Thank you for the tutorial! I just got my first commission and this tutorial will be of great help to me in the future.
π: 0 β©: 0
This is very helpful! :3 If I get as good as you one day, I'll try all of this out. Thank you!
π: 0 β©: 0
Im going to try this soon but I still dont understand online money thing, lol
π: 0 β©: 0
I really like the tip about offering discounts for filling up all your slots--I have a question about the execution though. What if you don't fill up all your slots before accepting payment from the clients? If you fill up that last slot later, should you refund the money you said you'd discount to the other clients? any ideas?
thanks for putting this together, btw.
π: 0 β©: 1
I guess that could be up to you! Personally, if I was afraid I wouldn't be able to fill up a certain number, I would make a post that had a deadline like "if I fill these slots by the end of the week then you all get a discount," and reduce the number of slots to something feasable like 5 slots. Then you can start the commissions at the end of the week. If you leave the slots open-ended in terms of timing, it might be a bit more confusing to your commissioners hoping for a deal!
π: 0 β©: 1
that sounds like a good plan. thanks!
π: 0 β©: 0
Best tutorial ever!
but it's kinda hard (for clients), follow these rules..
Saluuudos!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Haha, well, if you can't follow the rules then you shouldn't take commissions... it's not fair to the client, I think.
π: 0 β©: 0
thank you this is going in my learning center.
π: 0 β©: 0
Totally going to make use of this once I'm out of summer classes.
π: 0 β©: 0
<= Prev | | Next =>