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Help! How To Make It As A Commissioned Artist, For Dummies

I have gone back and read quite a few of the posts around here regarding artists making money on their work. I have found some VERY helpful resources in the quest but I still find myself sitting here pretty lost and, more pressingly insecure and very, very unsure. I really do feel like a naive dummy with this and it's been depressingly difficult to figure out what I'm doing wrong (or right), and how I can aid and encourage my success.

I have tried this and that and the other. Recently I've made up a sort of "business" name; Ebon Stripe Studios. Hopefully a familiar title for the work I'll offer as Tigress and Tiggress seem so generic. I don't mind this in the least, but is does feel odd as I'm the only one involved and it seems a tad impersonal. Is that bad? What about a logo to bring more familiarity and recognition?

I have written up a TOS document which I send to all potential clients, as well as forms for specific commission and project requests (illustrations and paintings, metalworking and web page design)for clients to fill out and email to me. I refuse to start work on a commission or project without a completed form What are your opinions on this? Too much? Not enough?

Does that structure seem sound? Am I paving a good foundation or should I consider some weak spots to reinforce or remodel?

I've tried poking my nose in as many furry venues as possible for exposure, but I'm not sure how well this is working. I try to network and get to know people in the community, but does that really help? I'm also awfully shy and always feel like I'm spamming and shamelessly(or shamefully perhaps) plugging myself when I talk about my art. It feels so seedy at times. Is that considered a taboo? If so, how do you get the needed exposure and networking without being un-kosher?

Here's a big one; prices. I've recently increased them, but constantly hear from other well respected artists that they are still far too low. I am a very very slow worker so an hourly charge seems unfair to the client, but a flat rate always ends up killing me in the end and I feel like I got cheated. For the time being I'm working on this by increasing my working speed and skill. How should I calculate my rates? Please feel free to look at my gallery as an aid if you wish.

So in a nut shell, I'm feeling a little out of my element and a lot unsure about how well I'm going about things. How do I organize, prepare and conduct myself to allow more "professionalism" and by this I mean how do I prepare myself to make my art my primary source of income, and then how do I make it happen?

Help ArtSpots, I need some advice!

that one is a tuffy, I would agree that some people feel that people like you and I charge too little and that you and I don't feel it fair to charge by the hour for our work.

you can increase your prices as the demand for your work increases (unless you're really super stellar with your artwork, then charge a lot).

as far as getting all the commission information correct (your forms), its best to ask too many questions than not enough. Getting all the details down is what you need. People are paying for a service and they would rather you keep asking them about what they want than they discover that you neglected to do something.

Exposure: its hard getting exposed. A lot of the time its networking. If you feel confident enough, always try to submit your illustrations to illustration magazines so at least you can try to get published. It looks good to say that you've been featured in a published magazine. and you're doing the right thing, socializing and talking. What you should also do is make a cd rom of some of your sample artwork (water marked of course) so that people can help spread you around.

Have you looked into the Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market book? Besides having a huge listing of places to make it outside the furry market, there are business tips that apply to every market.

vantid said: Have you looked into the Artist's & Graphic Designer's Market book? Besides having a huge listing of places to make it outside the furry market, there are business tips that apply to every market.

I will only now be starting in on my lower level graphic and multimedia design courses so I'm a newb as far as that goes. I have started asking questions about employment and even looking around at what job offers are around. I've not heard of any books but I would -seriously- love to look into that. Do you have any suggestions?

Nimblebun said: Exposure: its hard getting exposed. A lot of the time its networking. If you feel confident enough, always try to submit your illustrations to illustration magazines so at least you can try to get published. It looks good to say that you've been featured in a published magazine. and you're doing the right thing, socializing and talking. What you should also do is make a cd rom of some of your sample artwork (water marked of course) so that people can help spread you around.

Thanks, and I really agree there. It's tough, but thanks for the suggestions. At least I'm pointed in the right direction there. I'll try for more publications.

I agree about feeling like I'm shamelessly plugging my artwork just by even mentioning it to anyone. That is tough to get over I think. Though at work (non-art related type job) I happened to bring in a printout of some dragon I did just to show a couple work friends and just that alone lead to "Oh I didn't know you drew, my husband needs a logo for a restaurant he's starting." And suddenly have my first "non-furry" related customer. Meeting with him today actually to show him some comps, little scared actually. ^.^ So however uncomfortable it might feel, I think a good bit of self-promotion is important.

http://www.amazon.com/2008-Artists-Graphic-Designers-Market/dp/1582975000

This book has a lot of tips and resources. Even if you feel you aren't ready to start submitting work to places, its good to get a head start reading this book and past editions of it. See if you can get it from your library.

vantid said: http://www.amazon.com/2008-Artists-Graphic-Designers-Market/dp/1582975000

This book has a lot of tips and resources. Even if you feel you aren't ready to start submitting work to places, its good to get a head start reading this book and past editions of it. See if you can get it from your library.

Thanks!
I'll be looking for that one and a few others I found around amazon.