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Commission tutorial
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Published: 2009-03-19 17:19:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 298837; 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
I have actually answered the paypal one a few times 
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Thank you!! I was referring to the Merchant paypal account option! But you probably have a regular account then! Anyways, I hope to see more work from you soon! Good Luck!
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This may be a stupid question but what do you do when your finished? Do you only upload the artwork to deviantart or are you supposed to send a print or something to the customer?
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Look in earlier comments, the answer is definitely there
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Oh sorry i saw that after my comment was posted... But thank you anyways
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Thanks a lot, this was incredibly useful. I was considering accepting commissions, but realized that I had no idea how the process of such an undertaking worked.
Now all that is needed is a ton of practice and setting some time aside. Thanks again.
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No problem! Glad you find it useful
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Great guide. It's my goal to do my first commission before the year is up, This will help!
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I always reference this when I think about starting up commissions. This is a great tutorial, and gives a well rounded view of the commission deal to a noob such as myself. Many thanks.
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hi i hate to sound like an idiot but uh do i have to actually mail my original work to the Commissioner because i live in a small little island away from human beings and if it is digital art do i have to print it out or something
Does the type of paper matter as well cos, i usually just use cheap paper, do i have to paint stuff on canvas?
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Usually you work that out with the commissioner ahead of time. For digital it is more than appropriate to send a hirez image, they can do the printing on their end and save you some time. For trad media, again, work that out ahead of time!
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okay so 3 year i've been going to anime conventions and ive sold all my art work but only my fan art work sells. my art is always mistaken from the real thing like it looks like the creators art work drew it. i have my own stuff but it never sells. anyway i've been asked to do commissions every year and i'm final want to give it a try. i'm like 1 of those people that need a "how to setup a commission for dummy book". so would any1 b so kind as to help me out step by step THANKS
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I'd like to add that it's a fun and successfull idea to review the first draft of a work together with the commissioner via Skype Call or Livestream. During my commissions, my commissioners could watch me at work and suggest changes as soon as necessary. I could do a lot of the rough chunks and fine details on my own, but this assured both me and the commissioner that they'd be happy with what they'd get, it worked out great. :3
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great tut, now I know how to get comisions!
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hello, thank you for this tut. mm is it worth the money making commission? where the best place to promote? anyone?
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Nevermind, i looked it up about needing a credit card and shit, apparently i do need a bank account to receive money, i find that kind of stupid, when it says theres that other option where you can go to a store and use cash to get money to your paypal account in stores.
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so...the only thing i'm not exactly clear on is the money transaction and the shipping out of a drawing to a client...how exactly does this work? and since its like that, it has nothing to do with "prints" on deviantart right? i have a paypal account but no credit card to link it to, does that matter? couldn't money still be transferred to my paypal account anyway? or no? so we just expect some random person to stroll in on our profile and ask to buy something from us through paypal? of course, with advertising on certain sites it might not be all that hard. i'd just appreciate if my questions would be answered, other than that nice tutorial.
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so do you send it in some type of package to them?
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Thanks. I've just decided to start taking commissions, and your tutorial was a great help.
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hello, do you know if minors can offer commisions? thanks for the guide!
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I am pretty sure minors can offer commissions! I've seen many people do it. Even if you are a minor, though, you should be paid fairly for your work (even if it is lower than a professional rate). For that reason I really recommend against doing point commissions, that is one of the only kinds that is easy to do via dA if you are a minor. The money you get from those is very low and makes your art seem cheap, which isn't fair to you. What I'd suggest is asking a parent, and starting a joint Paypal account with them so you can send and receive payments if people do choose to commission you. If this is not feasible, then I'd recommend doing trades with artists and building up your reputation and skill until you can access a better form of money management
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hey, thank you for the helpful response! I'm thinking of starting some sort of a joint paypal account, which I didn't know was possible. I'm starting out cheap though, like you suggested. Thanks alexds1!
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Not "cheap"! Just a bit less expensive XD
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hur hur hur lol..That does sound better!
I will try low prices!
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This is very helpful! Thank you!
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Do you by chance, have any tips to get the advertisement out there? I have added a picture claiming that commissions are open to a few groups, but no one seems to notice...
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All the best tips I have are in the tutorial already
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but when they pay,and your done what they want,do you just submit it andlet them know?????????
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Ask them what they want! Some want it emailed, some don't care. Some would like you to watermark it or not even post it. Up to you and them.
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ok,but you know how people use the dA points to "pay"? and they use the donation thing for them? well,when they give you the message they want something,do they donate the points when you give the requested piece of art?
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I can't help you there. I strongly strongly recommend against using the dA points system to pay for commissions. You will be undervaluing your work, and all of the money goes to deviantArt even though you are the one who did the work. Either sign up for a paypal account, do a trade for a gift of some kind (like a subscription or something) or just don't do it.
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Thank U for this wonderful informative post
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do you think anyone would want commisions. most of my art. (my most loved one 68 veiws 
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If you're not sure, open up commissions and see if you have any takers. If you don't, you have some options: 1) take time and improve and then reopen them at the same price 2) lower your price 3) do research and find out what people would want from you 4) etc. You should probably do a combo of the three actually, until you find the balance between cost and demand.
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okay, soo writting would be cheap! drawings tiny bit extra, complitcated hour plus some money and a story from a idea with a hour picture most exspensive?
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It's up to you and what you intuit your work is worth! I'm sorry I can't be more specific, I'm not really a consultant for this kind of thing.
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okay! thanks for the tutorials
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I'm kind of clueless when it comes to pricing.. Can you possibly see my price and tell me if it's reasonable enough? [link]
Thank you very much
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Hey, I'm really sorry, but I can't do that for legal/ moral reasons... but in general, see if the pricing you have is working now. If you can fill all your open slots in a reasonable amount of time, then maybe the next time you open them you can raise the price and see if the market will bear a higher amount. That, and compare with other artists of a similar style. Good luck!
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I have a question, if you're not too busy 
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Contests are a great way, using networks like Tumblr, stuff like that! If you're not getting business, you should probably switch to doing trades or gift art until you get more credibility.
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Ahhh this is very helpful, thank you!
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Hello sorry to bother you. First of all this is wonderful! Thank you for posting it. I was thinking about doing fan art literature commissions. I thing was is that it would deal with Disney and Disneyland, should I put something stating that I'm just using it for fictional purpose only? Thank you.
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I would really recommend against doing paid commissions with intellectual property that doesn't belong to you. Legally it's really shady and you could be sued (if they found out and wanted to pursue it), and secondly it undermines you as a legitimate author. If you decide to go ahead and do it anyways, you should definitely cover your ass as much as possible, and maybe try to make it satirical? I think satire is the only legally permissible form of art using non-original IP. My two cents is to try to do your best on your personal work, that will give you a stronger skillset and will make people see you as an artist with original concepts, not just a fan-artist.
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Thank you so much for the advice which I shall definitely keep in mind in the future.
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This is awesome. Thank you very much.
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