Just an update from last post a few entries down…and a question.

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

The picture did get done, and it’s absolutely gorgeous (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v508/stitchedlamb/?action=view¤t=DecemberDreams_COMMISH_.jpg). Since it did get done, four months isn’t a bad waiting time at all. I’m sure many people can tell who it is now for sure, so I want to be clear that I’d recommend her. It didn’t go as smoothly as most of my other commissions (I'll have to take some of the blame for that for being too shy to voice my concerns to her), but who can complain with a stunning result like that? Just wanted to let you all know. I hope my issue didn’t give anyone any reservations about her.

Annnddd…I’ve got yet another question, because I’m just so full of those lately ^_^.

Recently I decided to possibly start taking lineart commissions because not working while I’ve been away at school has really eaten away at my bank account. So I’d like to make some money to set aside for “fun stuff” so when I start working again, I won’ have to dip into my job money as much.

I only offer lineart/sketches because my coloring is, in my opinion, hit and miss. But I know I can do decent lineart. I’d be offering it for around $15, full body, no/minimal background. Problem is, I’m not sure if I can sell it for that much because the market is so saturated with people offering commissions, sometimes even cheaper, but I don’t feel it will be worth it to charge less. Not because I think my art is amazing, but because it takes me a while to produce lineart (sad as it is).

For example, I generally start with an *incredibly* messy gesture drawing/sketch, transfer it a couple of times to new pieces of paper all the while cleaning it up/adding/improving it, and then I can finally transfer it one more time to be inked. So, given the work that’s involved, I wouldn’t want any less then $15. But since I’m not a well known artist, I’m thinking I might have to lower my prices if I want to attract people.

Since many of you have dealt with commissions before and probably know the market better, I just wanted to know if I should expect to just take a hit, or if I should keep my already determined price and see how it goes? Or should I wait until I make more of a presence (or at least attempt to) before I offer the commissions?

Thanks once again for your help everyone.

Edit: Thank you everyone. To be honest I was expecting everyone to tell me to lower my price, so I'm feeling much more confident about this. I appreciate it!

Comments

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm glad this got worked out :}.

And you shouldn't sell your stuff for less than it's worth. That's all I have to say on the matter.

[leahtaur.livejournal.com]

$15 is reasonable for quality lineart anyway, especially with all the work you put into it. I'd start out with that on places like Furbid and your livejournal/furaffinity/wherever and see how it goes. Don't be discouraged if you don't get bites immediately either -- think of places like Furbid especially as advertising. I've gotten a lot of commissions up to months later because people saw and liked my work on Furbid but were outbid or were broke at the time.

[growly.livejournal.com]

Whoah, who drew that?

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it's http://www.furaffinity.net/user/lullaby-child/ :)

[growly.livejournal.com]

thx, never seen their art before. Yay a new person on ze old watchlist.

[kiwiseeds.livejournal.com]

Ahh I commissioned her last year. She got it done really quickly, and still hasn't sent it out. Her art is amazing and worth the money, but dang.

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you've seen her DA journal lately, but she said she just recently finished packaging a large amount of commissions and was going to send them out soon.

I'd assume yours would be one of them if you haven't gotten it yet. Either way, hope you get it in your hands soon.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Well, it's mostly a matter of advertising. If you can come up with ways of letting people know that you're there, that you do art, and that your art is good, then $15 would be a perfectly reasonable price. I think even at a cheaper price you won't get a whole lot more business, though obviously you would get at least a little more, but as you mentioned, it really wouldn't be worth your time to do less.

[monalisa-od.livejournal.com]

$15 is not bad at all. My only suggestion to you is to plug yourself and start advertising a bit more, and make sure you don't take on a workload that is too large for you to handle, lest we see your name in here on a post. ;P

[tigrr-wildcat.livejournal.com]

Heya! Sorry to butt into the conversation here, I'm in the same boat as stichedlamb regarding looking to sell artwork. Figured I might as well ask here instead of a new thread.

Just wondering what do you recommend for plugging yourself and of advertising. I have posted artwork on furbid, ebay, etc to no avail. I post art on my lj but I have maybe 6 or 7 people that look at it, so it's kind of moot there. ;P How do you recommend plugging yourself to the fullest and also without sounding...well...full of yourself I guess?

Take care,
-Tigrr Wildcat-

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Do banner swaps with people, talk to other artists and build up a network of people, perhaps pay for an advertisment on a few sites.

[tigrr-wildcat.livejournal.com]

Cool, cool, thanks!

[x-thor.livejournal.com]

Aye, glad you got your picture.

I've commissioned her before.. But like kiwiseeds said above.. The wait for her to send it out has been really upsetting. It's been over a year since she finished and uploaded my piece and still nothing. (Which I loved by the way, I am just anxious to have it in my hands)

Goodluck with the commissions, I think 15$ is quite fair.

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

Like I told Kiwiseeds, I'm not sure if you've seen her DA journal lately, but she said she's gotten a bunch of commissions ready to send out and was going to mail them soon.

Hope you get it soon, and thanks for the input :).

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

:3 Ah, so it is here! I'm actually in the same boat as x_thor and kiwiseeds as well, though I haven't been waiting too long for her to send it out.

As for the commissioning: start out with that price, and raise/lower as you see fit. The most important thing is advertising yourself, as has been said above.

[ruggafluff.livejournal.com]

On topic: $15 seems reasonable to me!

Off-topic: oh my word corgi icon!! That is so cute =O

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D Got it from Corgiwings on DA.

Ein love ftw btw<3

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Other artists offering commissions (cheaper or not) is really a moot point unless you're copying their style/they're copying your style.
Assuming that isn't the case (I don't believe I've seen your work) you can price your work for what you think it's worth.

[graffiti-roth.livejournal.com]

I would highly discourage lowering the price as it will set the bar. I somewhat did that when I first started to make plushies, thinking that consider I won't get many commissions all I have to do is cover my cost. Somehow it managed to upgraded my stress level quite a bit, and when I say that it covers my cost only I'm not exaggerating. By no means I'm trying to diss my clients - I was the one who set the bar, and every single person I have ever worked with are the kind of bucket of wonderfuls anyone could ever ask for; but still it felt a bit like I took on something that I'm not prepared for and the worst part is that once I have set the bar, I don't feel right about make sudden price change.

If you feel like your art is not up to standard, I would recommend hold off commissions for a while until you are truly comfortable. Because your current quality sets another bar that, if it's significantly less in quality, are the kind of thing that will haunt you for a good length of your career. But hey, I've never seen your linearts so I wouldn't know. ;P And it's not a secret that most of us are harsher on ourselves than anyone else.

Either way, good luck, and congrats on getting your commission finally.

-selphiroth

[graffiti-roth.livejournal.com]

Just had a peek in your gallery. I think $15 is very fair.

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you think so. Thanks!

[higginsdragon.livejournal.com]

Rule for pricing: Figure out how long it takes you to do what you mentioned, line-art wise, and then multiply those hours by minimum wage in your state. Charge that. I almost guarantee you it'll be above $15. :)

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

You're right, if I take any longer then two hours it'll be over $15. Only problem is I've never worked on personal art for hours straight, only school related art, so I have no idea how long I'd really take. I guess I'm going to have to time myself.

Thanks for sharing Higgins.