Advice: Teen artist - how should I go about taking commissions?

[dixiedyboski.livejournal.com]

Hello A_B!
Errrr, first ever LJ post here, correct me if I'm doing it wrong :3



Basically, I want to start taking commissions :3 But, lots of the posts here are about 'minors' buying/selling their art, and everything ending in tears and whatnot. Is it ok to take commissions at 15? Or should I wait 'til I'm older?
I know that research is important, and everyone says about having a ToS that you both agree to before you start sending money or anything, so if there's any problem on either side, you can throw it at the commissioner and run :3
Also, I know my art is not terrible. Its not wonderful either, but I know I'm improving and yes, I have done life drawing since I started GCSE Art. I could improve a lot on anatomy though, very very definitely. (curse you, silly anime phase.)
Also, would sending the money through my parents (they use paypal a lot for their bubble business) be a good idea?
And postage too. I would rather not send actual pictures in the post, but I'm sure badges would be ok.

So, any advice you have would be very very very much apreiciated <3

Comments

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

Echoing the other people on don't take commissions yet as a minor due to the legal issues. Wait.

Beyond that, it depends on WHY you want to take commissions.

If you want additional spending money, see if there's some way you can incorporate working as an artist into the family business so parents can give you additional allowance that way. (designing labels, logos, whatever might work) This gives you some experience but in a more sheltered environment without all the legal entanglements.

If you're looking at commissions as a way to build portfolio and make you stretch on what you're doing, consider doing a structured internship for a local nonprofit that needs that sort of thing. For example, I did a bunch of headshots of animals for the local humane society, focusing on animals that had been in the shelter a loooooong time to try and drum up interest in those critters.

Go through your guidance department at school and tell them you're looking for that sort of experience where you'd be doing a structured internship. They should be able to find you a LEGIT one where you're actually building skills rather than just being free labor.

I have an intern at my business through school program and basically the way the law works out is the benefit should be to YOU. not to the business. If the business benefits more from your presence than you do from interning there OR displaces a paid worker, they should be paying you! If you're not learning, immediately complain to guidance department that you aren't interning, you're working!

[dixiedyboski.livejournal.com]

Wow. Thankyou for all the information about the internship, I'll definitely consider this. Is it the same as work experience? Last time I did W.E. was at an art gallery, but yeah, it didnt really involve much drawing.
I don't really knw if we have any sorts of thing around here, but we do have a sort of travelling vet, and they give treatment to pets and animals can't afford to pay for the vetat the surgery.
As soon as I finish the mock exams, I'll ask my art teacher, I'm sure she'll support it.
Thanks again!

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

It should be similar to work experience. Depending on how extensive it is, you may receive some credit toward graduation. Asking to do some job shadowing might also work, as they generally are less of a time commitment.

If you really want to focus on the producing art part, be sure to make that clear to the guidance counselor. You might not be able to get something that exactly matches what you want to do, but if you specify you want to focus on the production end, you should get some different opportunities. Be open to things that are close but not quite what you think you wanted!

An architectural firm or large scale landscaper might be good match since they generally still do artist concept sketches of the exterior of buildings or landscaping. which could be a great skill builder but its probably not something you'd think of offhand when you were looking for 'art' jobs. Or if you're in a large enough area, an internship with the court system might let you sit next to the court sketch artist and learn how to do that type of life sketching.

[dixiedyboski.livejournal.com]

I was hoping it might be :3

And I will be very open, I didn't think I'd want to do w.e in an art gallery, but it was awesome, I learned a lot.
My gosh, in court! That would be the craziest thing ever. Unfortunately I think the nearest court is in...Cardiff? Maybe? But wow, I would never have though of doing that.