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Commission tutorial
by-nc-nd
Published: 2009-03-19 17:19:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 298889; Favourites: 10013; Downloads: 4492
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Description
Yes it's true, new monthly tutorials are now available via my Patreon
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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
Thanks so much for posting this, it was really helpful!
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What i want to know is how to set up Paypal to get money from others?
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Take a look at the Paypal site, they can explain it a lot better than I can
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Thank you so much for sharing your advise. And also thank you all who contributed their own advise as well.
Someday soon, I will like to start commissions myself. XD
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Oh, thank you so much. This has cleared up many questions that occurred. Although i have a kind of...uh..stupid question.
I've been reading the comments below mine and i see that you keep mentioning ''High Resolution Image''. I'm afraid i dont..know what this is. Can you please explain? ><;;
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High resolution just means higher than what you post on the internet. The original size that I work at when I'm doing my pics is around 300dpi. When I post to the internet I reduce the resolution to 72dpi, so other people can't print out the work (300 is the minimum print resolution). I give 300dpi to my clients since the work is theirs and they should be the only one who is allowed to print it.
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Sorry if this has been answered before, but I don't believe I saw this in your tutorial: What's the best account type on Paypal to have when taking commissions?
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I just have a normal one.
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So just a "Personal" account, then?
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I haven't tried out the other accounts, but whatever the default one is works fine for me.
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I have a question.(stupid question sorry) Hehe. So when you do a commission, do you give it to them (buy a print for them, send it to them via mail or e-mail, or just post it on DA) or do you just post it like a regular image for them?
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Depends on what you agree to with your commissioner beforehand. If it is a digital commission, you might just want to send them a high resolution file so they can print it out themselves. If you make a traditional piece like a painting or something, you will have to specify if you are giving them just a digital copy of it or if they are buying the original. If they are, you will also have to arrange that they pay for shipping/ insurance etc. The important thing is to work that out all beforehand so there are no misunderstandings.
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Oh I see, thank you so much!
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thank you ! I never used to think off sell my works ^^
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This was a great tutorial. Still a little nervous tho ^/////^
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Just give it a shot 
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If you say so...^////^
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Wow! I'm surprised I tutorial for this even exists! xD It's been a BIG help.
I'm thinking about starting commissions, but it's to help pay for a website that's about to go down the drain. But if I do start doing commissions, I'll be making my customers send the money to the website's Paypal, not a Paypal of mine, since I don't have one and I probably won't (It's a long story on that one). Well, anyway, my question. Since I am going to make them send the money to the site, and I obviously can't take back the money from the site, what do you suggest I do if an incident occurs and I have to refund the money?
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I have noo idea. I am pretty sure you have to make an account on Paypal in order to use it, to the best of my knowledge there is no "general" use, especially when it comes to money...
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This is incredibly helpful. Thank you! I've been wanting to take commissions for a while now, and this really helps clarify a few things.
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This was very helpful! thank you so much for posting. but the one thing i worry about is how ill get the money or how ill send it. i know its gonna be by mail but I'm probably gonna have to give them my address to mail it...which kind of bugs me. seriously, give your home address to some stranger? is there any other way i can get paid? or i can mail?
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Well, you could rent a PO Box or a box at like a grocery store or UPS store! On the minus side it costs money but on the plus side you get privacy. I usually don't care putting my address on things (for return address) unless they are in my state or nearby, in which case I put my work address down. That can be iffy but if its only now and then, it could be okay.
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I'm having loads of trouble attracting commissioners. I'm a pretty decent artist in my opinion. Do you have any advice for me?
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Yes! Its in the tutorial
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Yeah I got that part about incentive ideas and I'm offering DA Points for my first 5 commissioners and my prices may range as low as 3 bucks, but I'm still not getting any attention at all
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You can try posting in some forums, and also remember that fanart can provide free advertising if you do it well! But also keep in mind that gaining attention takes a while. I didn't get noticed on DA until I'd been here a few years, before that it was just a slow climb. I even started out with full color painted portraits at only $10. Now its a bit better, but you got to start somewhere...
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Ah, I see. Well thank you so much for all your help!!
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o_o Clears up a lot of questions. But I have one FAIL N00B question *u* Are you like, going to send the finished work to your receiver of doom I mean arts... through mail, or do you just upload it somewhere so that they may print it out themselves...? o.o I believe the mail is the way it goes... But I can never be too sure espcially when I'm like over half asleep... o.o Shall someone be kind enough to clear this up fer me~?
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You work that out on an individual basis. Are you doing a irl piece of art (non-digital)? Did you work it out so that they are buying it? Then you can give it to them. If its digital I usually just give them a high rez image that they can print out on their own if they want. Basically you tell them or they let you know exactly what they are purchasing from you.
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Ahh~ Okay~ That makes sense~ >w< Thank you. I'll keep that in mind~ :3
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This tutorial was a HUGE help! I'm glad that such a tutorial even exists! We need more tutorials that you wouldn't see every day.
Starting commissions is probably one of my greatest fears. A big problem I have is I'm not old enough to have my own paypal account let alone debit/credit card account. The only was I can think of to receive payment is if I ask my parents if I can use their paypal, or if I just receive checks, money order, or snail mailβall of which are considerably risky.
Another problem is deadlines. I'm terrible at judging when I can get things done. Sketches, full body or otherwise, can easily be done within a day (let alone a couple of hours or even minutes) but if a commissioner wanted a colored piece (most likely digital), the time it takes is extensive. I'll also only have time to work on it over summer vacation.
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Its pretty difficult to do commissions properly unless you've got your own Paypal and some freedom to do your work. I'd recommend that you spend some time before you reach that stage to build up your name a bit more, do some trades or giftart and make yourself really desirable (in terms of art) to others. Then when you open up commissions people will be all over them!
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: D
That's all very true. My friend has been pushing me to start commissions, but it's definitely a good idea to wait on it, especially when you put it that way ^_^
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You'll have the rest of your life to worry about making money XD Just have fun learning for now, then you can worry about the $ thing!
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Too true 
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i like it! the best part for me is the icanhascheezburger references.
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I've got a question or two about commisions, since I'm here at the tutorial... What payment methods could I use if I don't have a PayPal or really any kind of online account? Also, at my school if someone asks for a drawing I let them set their own price, so most of the time I'm doing pictures for free. I don't really get anything out of it except satisfaction if they remember to say "hey thanks", but I just hate setting a price on my own pictures and deciding how much they should be worth. Do you have any advice for that?
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1) No idea! I only use paypal. Maybe googling could help...
2) Uh, well don't do that anymore...? If you let people walk on you, then they are going to. In the end its up to you to set your own price and to hold people to it. Takes a bit more social skill than just emailing people on the internet but on the plus side, moneys.
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I get that much. but how do you get the money for using paypal. do you give them an your account or something?
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Yep, your account is just your email that you signed up with.
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this tutorial is awesome X3 i'm still little edgy on the paypal and money order tho cause i'm only 13 and my dad does the paypal and crap lol
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Och, goodness, that's a great tutorial! I hope it'll help me, as I'm a bit greenie in this cases
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many thanks, it's an enlightening tutorial, generous of you.
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This is awesome. I've been wanting to start doing commissions, but I had no clue how to start.
Thanks! 8D
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I just got my first commission and this will be really helpful in the future. I'm glad someone made a helpful guideline for people to follow! 
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