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Commission tutorial
by-nc-nd
Published: 2009-03-19 17:19:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 298884; Favourites: 10013; Downloads: 4492
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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
This was very helpful, thank you! ^^ I hope by following these guidelines I'll get some good commissioners.
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I've been using this and I still haven't gotten commissions. Do you have any tips for people who just don't seen to have anyone interested in their work? I've advertised in my journal, gotten a few others to plug me in theirs, posted on the forums and still nothing.
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You might have to take a step backwards and start doing some free self promotion before moving onto the money stuff... draw fanart, do trades, gift the first 10 commenters to your journal etc etc. Just keep working on your art. Also keep in mind the general state of the economy, and the fact that people are doing things during the summer instead of sitting around buying things like they do during winter (in the US anyways)
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Ahh, so season might be a reason. I see.
And I was actually considering contests. :3 It's good to know I was on the right track. Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate your assistance.
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Hey, I know this is kind of out of the blue, but if you're interested in promoting your services, I'd encourage you to check out the club I just created. #Client-To-Artist
We're just starting out, but we're trying to build our base of members. Check out our home page and think about it.
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im not so good for commissions yet (im not super horrible but not really amazing, kinda in the middle somewhere for now) but i do wanna try to get some when i improve, so this is really nice to read thank you
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good! I hope I can use this to get a commision finally. I think I'm offering good prices for good quality, but I've yet to get one commision.
Sorry now I'm nagging at you 
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Sorry to bother you yet another question on your growing list. But I have a question about Paypal (I found their Help menu to be rather unhelpful)
I have a personal account with Paypal and I wanted to know if there was a way to accept commission payments without Paypal taking a percentage. Thank you!
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There is, but you shouldn't do it! That is technically breaking the law, and if they find out that you're doing it you will get in trouble. The best way is just to write the charge into your final commission price, like charge 41$ instead of 40$.
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Darn I was hoping there would be a legal way, lol.
Thank you so much for the help and advice! I really appreciate it.
And on a fan note I love your art and comic it is a huge inspiration for me. Thanks a bunch!
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Thank you, this was a life-saver <33 Love to hear from people who have been there and back again. Great advice!
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oh wow, this is PERFECT. ive been looking for something like this!
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THANK YOU. you are amazing, and i really appreciate this tutorial, haha. It really helps.
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Thank you so much for makeing this.
Ive been really thinking of starting commissions for a while now, been asking round and got great answers,
but this clears it up even more
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Thanks for making this! I've been thinking about doing more commissions but the ones I've done before didn't turn out well. I get nervous and overthink them because I feel like I have to try too hard since it's for someone else.
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So that's commission... Thank you so much for making this!
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thank you so much for posting this! I have been considering trying to do some sort of commissions/requests as a beginning artist and having this plan all written out is good to soothe a beginner's nerves.
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Very nice tutorial 
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This is a quite wonderful tutorial, but I'm curious, if you're not that exposed and you start commissions, do you advertise it on the forums or by word of mouth?
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This helps so much, and confirms a lot of things I was wondering about the process of commissions.
One thing I am wondering is, when you have a buyer, and a paypal account ready to receive their funds, what information do you have to send the the buyer? Is there a paypal number you give them that they...go to a bank and have the teller transfer money to, or what? I'm very confused about the actual mode of physical transaction.
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Basically I just give them my email address/ paypal address (it is usually the same thing) and tell them to send me that agreed amount of payment. Once I receive it I can begin working on their piece. Alternately, you can bill them, but I think thats too much work
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Ahhh, okay. I just wasn't sure which communication between the two parties contained the actual monetary transaction.
thank you!
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This is a wonderful tutorial.
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This really clears alot of things that I am so unsure about!
Thank alot mate!
Have a good day!
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8D
i've done commissions for people before (on gaiaonline for VERY little gaia gold lol)
and i've found that
me + commissions = FAIL
i doubt i would do any better if real money was involved lol
but this is a good tutorial if i ever decided to give it a second shot
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my god, i love the tutorial you put!~ i've been thinking about doin' commisions for a while and i had quite some ideas for it but now i know a better way thanks to you~ XD thank you so much!!!~
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Thank you for all the thoughts in a nice layout! It's hard to know how to start commissions. I'd like to do some eventually, after I practice more.
Well done!
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This has to be one of the best tuts ever x.x; It helped me so much, thank you. Now... to edit stuff!
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I know this has a ton of comments already, but I just wanted to say I think it's a great tutorial! It's very clear and gives good tips, such as putting customer info into a spreadsheet. It's got good info and it's easy to read ^.^
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Thank you so much for the info.
but ermm, I have a question that may sound stupid... :3
if you made a fanart (or whatever) commission... do you need to ship the actual artwork to the commissioner ? xP
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It depends on the terms that you work out with your commissioner, ideally before you do any work for them.
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Oh... Aighty, then!
Thank you again! 8D
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Hey, sorry for taking your time but, I need help with the transactions and such, any tips?
I have a debit card, any difference?
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I'd recommend using Paypal for your money stuff, and as for what cards and such work... look on the Paypal site FAQ XD Its pretty clear! And unfortunately I don't have the answers off the top of my head.
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Thanks :3
I'll try that and ask a few friends who also use paypal.
Thanks for your time
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I've been considering trying to take commissions myself so this is a really great tutorial! Thanks to you and all the other artists who contributed to it.
One question though, if you don't mind...
Is there anything specific when it comes to income taxes? I've been told various things (Just report it straight from the prices, deduct the cost of materials from the amount you made first....etc, so on). I apologize if you already addressed this, but I didn't see it...
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Haha, well in the years that I've done commissions (I haven't since I started doing other work), the amount that I've made hasn't really been enough to warrant me even filing. So I'm not sure how you'd want to figure that out. I doubt anyone is going to chase you down if that slips through the cracks (unless you're a self-employed artist, in which case I'd recommend you ask one of those guys!)
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Ah, alright! XD
Thanks, again, though, this tutorial is fantastic!
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Thanks a lot for this tutorial >w
This is really going to help when I start commission work next month. Once again, thank you!
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Wow, I've seen a lot of tutorials on a lot of different things, but I don't think I've ever seen one on doing commissions. Really useful resource to have though, especially considering most artists probably don't have much experience in business. I don't think I'll ever reach the level of quality (and bravery) to do commissions but this was really informative nonetheles and definitely something I'll keep in mind if I ever do end up giving it a shot.
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I'm glad you could see some potentially useful info here. I'm lucky enough to not have had any really bad commission experiences, hopefully you won't either once you start
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Haha, thanks, we'll see about that though. For the time being, I'm content with doing artwork for free for friends and classmates. Makes me feel less guilty if they don't end up liking it.
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Thank you so much!~
This is an amazing tutorial <3
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Thanks for making this; it has a lot of great advice in it.
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thank you very much! : ) this information about commissions will and already has helped me so much in considering if this is what i want to do : )
thank you!!
and have a fabulous day.
-bailey marin
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No problem! I'm so glad you found it helpful, I hope it helps you make some money
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This is excellent. Easily explained/understandable, and an invaluable resource for first-timers. I'll be referring to this when I re-open my commissions here in a week or so. Thank you for making this!
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No problem! I'm really glad it helped you
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