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Commission tutorial
by-nc-nd
Published: 2009-03-19 17:19:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 298911; 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
Paypal is definitely the easiest and safest. I don't advertise my paypal because I don't want people to send me things or request things without my control, so I just tend to send my address to commissioners when they are confirmed hiring me to do a commission. Check/ cash through the mail always has the downside of being unsafe or untraceable (or worse, could lead to accusation of someone stealing). Paypal is pretty easy to set up so I'd really recommend it.
I don't often send originals but when I do its usually just the paper (I work 8.5x11 or smaller) sandwiched between two pieces of stiff cardboard that I would have otherwise recycled. And all that inside an envelope/ padded envelope. I make the commissioner pay for the shipping/ packaging cost, since its not really fair for me to eat that cost, haha. Anyways, hope that helps!
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It does, thanks so much! ^_^
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this is not only a very good tutorial, but it is presented in such a creative way! I love the geico money.
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This is a really amazing tutorial! It's really simple and easy to follow, for which I'm glad!
It will definitely help me start up on offering commissions this summer and I'll have you to thank!
But I have a quick question that's always been on my mind about commissions..
What do you do when the commissioned artwork is completed and paid for? Is it posted on dA, mailed, sent through email, or what?
Sorry for bothering you
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It depends on the medium you use... if someone commissions a pencil sketch and wants the original, then you should mail it! If they want a completely digital piece or don't want to pay shipping on an original, then it is enough to give them a high resolution file of their work!
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Aa, that clears things up! 8D
But one last thing.. what do you mean by giving a high resolution file of the work?
-- I'm sorry for pestering you, being the ignorant person I am OTL
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Haha, thats okay! High resolution refers to the dpi or ppi you work at if you are doing digital work. I like to work pretty high, usually at 300 dpi, which means that it is 3x as large as it would be irl basically if I had printed it out. The versions I post on the internet of the commissioners work would be at 72 dpi and would be watermarked as well, if they wanted it to be. Lower dpi means that it will be a much lower printing quality, and will thwart anyone who tries to steal the work or post a bigger version of it without my permission.
If you're working in photoshop, you can choose to work at a large dpi when you create the file. When you're done, you can save a smaller resolution picture using the image resizing ability!
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Oh, I get it!
Those are very good tips (8
Thank you so much for answering my questions!
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Hey, thanks. I'm not good enough to ask for money yet, but that may change in the future!
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Thank you for this. I need money and art seems the best way to do it, but I am scatterbrained and need something like this to actually get it done.
All of your tutorials are fantastic, though--and so far I'm LOVING the Meek. I admire your patience... I'm way too ADD about my comics to keep them going (plus they usually end up as little more than pencil sketches). And I have a question--how long have you been using photoshop? Did you take a class for it or are your skills self-taught? And how long does each page of the Meek take you to do? Out of curiosity.
/end questions
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Thanks! I'm glad you found this tut helpful. As long as you take certain precautions I'm sure you'll have a fun time doing commissions.
As for photoshop, I've been using it heavily for the last 3 years or so? I first got it in 2002 but I didn't use it much because I was afraid of it, haha. I just used it for things like paint-bucketing things until just a few years ago. For the meek, each page ranges anywhere from 6-12+ hours depending on what's on it. The most recent page took about 11 hours from start to finish (not including the thumbnails/ thought process time). I've got answers to a bunch of other similar questions on the FAQ page on my comic's site, if you're interested!
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THanks!
Once I get older and start a paypal or something, Im sure this is going to be a great help.This tutorial was really funny,as always and a pleasure to read.
I really loved the thing about "creepy vibes"
it really is true, people can still sense vibes over the internet.
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This tutorial surely will be very helpful, if I ever delve into commissions. Thank you very much for putting it together!
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No prob! Thanks for reading
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*has a question... or more than one...* I never could figure out what "cell-shading" is... So what is it, what kind of medium is invloved, how is it done, is it different from just digital coloring and if so, how? 
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Cell shading is just when you shade with colors without blending them or (most of the time) using gradients. For example, in animation where the characters have only one or two colors per item like skin or hair. Anime is a good example of cell shading. The alternative is stuff like painting style, which is just where you blend together all the colors like you would for a painting!
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Oh okay! Thanks so much for clearing that up for me!
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Thank you for this :] i'm thinking of fore-going the whole job process in real life and opening up the commissions over the summer, this REALLY helped me!!
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BEAUTIFUL piece of tutorial... This is basically my timeline as well for commissioned pieces... wow... just hit the nail on the head thoroughly!!
You are brilliant. β₯
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I love your tutorials. You're so helpful!
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Thanks XD Glad you liked them!
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This should be very helpful should I start commissions. Thanks a bunch
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Thanks so much for doing this! I've been thinking about starting commissions online but had no idea how to start. You're amazing! Thanks!
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I wish I found this earlier. Thanks for putting this together!
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No prob, thanks very much for reading!
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Thanks! this is a really creative way to make a tutorial about commissions(which I dont think anyone has really done) This helps alot!
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I'm glad you found it useful :3
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This is extremely helpful, especially since I'm thinking up of starting up commissions for college, haha. Thank you, you have the best tutorials here.
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Thanks! Glad you found it helpful
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lol "DO YOU DRAW FURRIES?!?!"
I don't know why but that cracked me up.
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Haha, but everyone wants to know XD
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Thank you is very informative. IΒ΄m trying to make commisions but itΒ΄s difficult because some people wants art-trades or my art for free (even if is a webpage U_u) iΒ΄ll be reading this tutorial to see in what i failed.
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Just make sure not to give in to people who want free art
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thank you
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This is a fantastic tutorial. Unfortunately, I still haven't gotten my most retarded, most convuluted question answered: WTH DO YOU DO WITH THE ART WHEN YOU'RE DONE?!
-shot-
-repeatedly-
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Haha, don't worry, I was just about to ask this question myself until I saw you beat me to the punch! So thank you for asking!
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lol, you give it to the commissioner XD If you're doing it digital, you send them a high rez file. If they're ok with everything you can post a low rez/ watermarked version on DA or your portfolio, if you have one (and no selling copies at cons!)
If you do traditional art, you can offer to ship it for free, if they're already paying a bunch, or for a fee if its like a $2 sketch or something. Usually shipping within the US is no more than $.83 for a half-sheet sized envelope, so it shouldn't be too costly. Just make sure to offer it beforehand so they can decide if they want it so they can pay everything at one time (if you're doing payments beforehand).
Or if they don't want it, you can eat it.
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Hmm, this would be helpful for me if I ever decided to commission an artist!
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Cool, I've never thought of a commission tutorial before. This is really helpful, both for the artist and the art-buyer. Thank you for taking the time to make this
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Yeah, This is nice that you did this. I actually was able, like you, to do research before I started to commission. later on, I'm probably going to do a similar tutorial on artist alley at conventions. It took me a couple conventions to realize what I needed to prepare for them.
But yeah, I think you should have touched upon the option of taking money before or after. Like giving a situation example of the process.
I like doing commissions for people, but I have a lot of projects in school that I do as well. So I let people know that they can take months and never take money until AFTER it's done. It gives me incentive to get to it and then I don't feel bad that I held onto someone's money.
There is one commissioner that got me upset though. I never drew his commission because I can't get in contact with him. He commissioned me at a convention and he wanted to avoid paying taxes so gave me a 50 under the table. I wrote down the descriptions and his name. I'm not sure what happened but I couldn't get him again o.o I even searched him on the net and I've seen him listed without contact information so I'm like godddammnnniittttt. So if I ever see him again, I'll still do it for him :/
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Yeah, I can see how someone would take money way after. I don't personally do that (or condone it, really) since it leaves a lot of room open for cheating. I guess I'm assuming that the person doing the commission is more trustworthy than the one giving it, which isn't necessarily fair
And you should do a tut for artists alley! People tend to make tutorials for the same damn thing, its good to have them for practical rl art situations as well.
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Wow, this was so awesome tyo read. It will definitely come in handy when I decide to post some art, and later on, start commissions.Thank you for writing this!!
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No problem! Thanks for reading!
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Really neat and helpful
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