Commissions: How does one do them?

[Chibiartstudios]

(Edit: One should think of these things sooner, but if the mods feel this is better suited to T3 then by all means zap it on down there.)

OK, I was thinking of doing some free commissions for people to keep up practice and got to thinking. Just how does one handle commissions online when money is exchanging hands?

So I figgured I'd ask if anyone had done it themselves and seek the advice of the experts.

1) Money!

At what point should money change hands? What's the best method of payment (I was thinking paypall...)? Should They pay all at once or should it be a half now/half later deal? Do people need a reciet or anything?

If I do start doing real commissions, what's the going rate?

2) Dissatistfied Customers!

How do you make sure that you give someone what they want? I don't want to spend four hours on something just to have it not be what the person had in mind. Is it appropriate to show rough drafts? Should I have a "If you don't like it tough shit" policy?

3) Website!

Any obscure recomendations/warnings I should know about here?

4) Advertising!

Where would I do this exactly?


Those are my main concerns. I'm not actually planning on trying to charge money for some time now, but if anyone had any experience in this stuff i'd love to hear it for future reference.

Oh! And if anyone wanted a freebie drawn on 11x17 or around there let me know. I'd offer bigger, but I'm affraid the Kinko's scanning costs are through the roof at the moment ^_^'.

Example of a BW thing I did for someone online:



Example of a Chibi I did for someone a while back:

[Linkara]

1. People usually do it through Paypal or any other type of online-money exchanging site. Rates can be whatever you set them at, although I've usually seen it from $5-$25 depending on how complex a drawing. ^^

2. Find out why they're dissatisfied, see if they're willing to let you change it depending on the size of the error. You can set up a "tough shit" policy, though, if you want to. ^_~

3. Not sure what you mean. ^^;;

4. Deviantart, here, um... uh... Mediaminer.org? ^^;;


If it's a free commission, I wouldn't mind having you do something for me. ^_^ Do you only do Chibis or do you do full-sized people, too? Oh, and is it only black and white? ^_~

[Chibiartstudios]

Thanks for the info!

I can do full-sized people if you'd like.

I can do color too, though I warn you it's been a while since I've done color in anything (I needed to wait for someone to get back into town so I could get another copy of photoshop). I'll try though!

I also warn you that I'm a very slow artist (Something I'm trying to fix). So it may be the end of Sept before you get it. I'll do my best though.

What did you have in mind?

[Linkara]

I was thinking something heroic, with the main character from my book flying alongside Lightbringer from my webcomic. ^^

Don't worry, I get what I pay for, which in this case is nothing, so you can work at whatever pace you want. ^_~ I can provide plenty of reference pics and info for both of them, too. ^^

[Chibiartstudios]

Sure. Post there here or IM me. Whichever you preffer.

[Linkara]

Well, you're not on AIM at the moment so I'll quick put together a quick set of reference pics for each character. ^^

[Chibiartstudios]

Woops! Forgot to change that. I use MSN now. If you don't have MSN you can always try just PMing me via this board's PM system.

[Linkara]

It's not letting me add you to my MSN messenger because you don't have an MSN passport. *Shrugs.* Ah, well, I'm going to add the pics to this thread in a minute, just need to put together the Lightbringer ref pics. ^_~

[Chibiartstudios]

Bah!

I'll figgure that one out later...

In any case. I was flipping through your archives and noticed a character called "White Death" in you cast page but not in your main storyline.

Has that characer just not appeared yet or am I just scanning too fast and missed it? I'm just curious what the full character design looks like. Might be fun to draw!

(gah! it's late! I'll have to catch up on this tomarrow! Night!)

[Linkara]

White Death will be appearing in issue 8, "Death and Taxes." ^_~ So, yeah, she hasn't appeared yet in the main storyline. If you want, I can add the full-body sketch I did for White Death, but it's not that good. ^_~

Here are the Louis and Lightbringer reference pics, by the by. ^^

[Chibiartstudios]

Actually I'd like to see it ^_^. If the artwork isn't final then I can always tweak with details a bit.

[Linkara]

It's definitely not final, since who knowsif I'll get any better by the time I reach that issue. ^^

Here's the original concept sketch, was trying to go for a kind of female grim reaper, with the headpiece extending down a bit farther than it did in this pic.

[Starline]

These were the guidelines that I used to use when I did commissions:
http://www.candicomics.com/commissions.html

[RemusShepherd]

If you're doing furry art, there's a place called furbid where people buy finished art but also buy commissions. I'm sure it would help to have a reputation there to boost one's price. I don't know of any similar art auction site, and I've never heard of commissions being sold on Ebay. It would be nice to find (or found?) a similar site for general art, or for comic art specifically.

[Chibiartstudios]

If you're doing furry art, there's a place called furbid where people buy finished art but also buy commissions. I'm sure it would help to have a reputation there to boost one's price. I don't know of any similar art auction site, and I've never heard of commissions being sold on Ebay. It would be nice to find (or found?) a similar site for general art, or for comic art specifically.

Well, furry art isn't normally my thing... But I DO love money...

I'll keep this in mind. Thanks!

And I would LOVE to find an art auction site. I'll let people know if I see one.

[Chibiartstudios]

These were the guidelines that I used to use when I did commissions:
http://www.candicomics.com/commissions.html

This helps alot! Thanks!

[Chibiartstudios]

It's definitely not final, since who knowsif I'll get any better by the time I reach that issue. ^^

Here's the original concept sketch, was trying to go for a kind of female grim reaper, with the headpiece extending down a bit farther than it did in this pic.

*Nods*

OK, I havent started a rough draft yet so I don't know how the final will look untill I start brainstorming. However, I may/may not include this character in the final version. It depends on my mood really ^_^'

[Linkara]

Works for me! I can't wait to see the finished or even a rough draft version of it. ^-^

[Sput]

Paypal is likely your best bet.

Show your customers the art as it goes along. Roughs, lineart, flats, etc. If they don't like it at the end-- too bad. They had their change. Could always do pay half before, pay the other half later. if they don't want it- they just don't pay the second half and get no art to boot.

most stuff i see is on deviantart and gaia, so i can't help much thar.

as a note, pick a base price. for like, 5 bucks for a headshot in ink. go up from there. and charge for EVERYTHING.

from headshots to fullbody, to more people, backgrounds, colour, pencil, ink, hardcore additions (re: i want a new outfit and a different weapon pls).

I've seen commissions on dA that go up to several hundred dollars for ace work, but most stay around 10-45 or so.

g'luck dude :]

[Chibiartstudios]

Works for me! I can't wait to see the finished or even a rough draft version of it. ^-^

Congradulations! You get an extra drawing free as I just came up with a random chapter cover idea I feel like drawing!

Feel proud!


And thanks RA! I need all the help I can get!