How did this video help you better prepare for clients? Ready to find art clients without social media now? Check out my advice here: Find Art Commissions th-cam.com/play/PLlEcLwoh4Va0BOyXhbMAPiL-G9D87lP1t.html
Sean, what would you recommend for someone like me that has so many ideas they can't narrow down a genre? I have a five-subject notebook FILLED with ideas. A lot of them are expressionist art. A lot of them are a variety of characters, dragons, monsters, and yes, environments. I also love a variety of artists and styles: Frazetta, Hildebrandt, Loish, Magic the Gathering, Anne Stokes, and so on. What would you suggest for me to narrow things down, when I adore art itself so much as to WANT to wear many hats?
I am a viewer from Brazil and in the midst of the immense sea of information (and confusion) on the web, it was truly a very happy surprise to find such honest content.
Sean, your videos are life savers, I SWEAR. I absolutely love this video and overall your channel helped me a lot. The TOS advice got to be my favorite. I removed some of the paragraphs you advised and it honestly looks so much cleaner and weirdly, professional. I always wanted a TOS that explains everything necessary without being a Bible with long paragraphs. and your adivice helped me a LOT. Thank you! ...Specially, since it most times does not have legal backing. So long paragraphs is just useless and easily forgettable. And honestly, most people do not read website TOS to sign in on websites, why would someone read our long paragraphs for a freelancer art? 😅
Wow, this is so helpful! I've also heard from another artist that it's good to narrow down at first. Like be really good at something and later on develop where necessary. Overall this guide is so valuable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
@@TheArtMentor I'm preparing to open one. Tbh I've been afraid of opening commissions because of how I almost got scammed once. That, along with the fact that I don't have a niche and my art style isn't really well defined. So I've been struggling with finding my "own voice" as they say. This video helped me a lot to clarify some things. I've even taken notes lol. So I'm going to define my artsyle and niche and then work on my portfolio. And after that, hopefully I'll have the confidence of opening commissions.
Thank you! i just got told by a friend of mine that if i wanna get commissions faster i need to make a checklist of various bodytypes, fashion styles, etc. Then using that to make sure the portfolio has the full range. They said it helps them a ton with getting comms. And i quote "Showing your best works doesn't matter as much as showing your range, especially for potential clients who've got characters with uncommon design traits." While it may work for them, it doesn't sit well with me as i have a consistent simple anime artstyle, haven't found my niche yet (so far i like doing fanarts or drawing/illustrate a person's OC, basically drawing with reffrence provided). but i like making my art to be the best to satisfy my potential client. Then i got reccomended this video and im glad that im not the only one who thinks about that. Tho i do sliiightly disagree about the commission sheet part, i personally think it's useful esp since people have short attention span these days, (i think it suits more with professional artists that works in big projects but thats what i think) but i do agree that in the commission sheet keep it simple. No lined, sketch pricing 1 chopped up character stuff etc. Just a finished/rendered art in bust, halfbodies and fullbody and state the pricing. (Speaking from experience, i usually just look at the rendered art price than just the sketch or lineart because we clients usually want the best quality of an artist's work. The ones that are just sketches are usually cheap clients) I do have a genuine question tho, i think that as an artist who starts out in the commission world won't be professional in a day and usually starts with simple, for personal use commissions (simple headshots halfbodies etc) Are there any steps to gain more experience to be a professional artist that got project commissions? Even if you already have a lot of portofolios? Thank you and will be looking forward to see more of your vids ^^
Glad to hear you enjoyed! I understand the resistance to dumping the commission sheet, so can I offer you an alternative way of reconsidering it? What is the max price you've gotten using a com sheet and the max number of clients you've worked with while using them? I can guarantee you that you will hit a wall where using a com sheet will make it impossible to grow your price point, which typically happens the closer to $100 you want to push it. On the other hand, would it surprise you to know that higher paying clients actively AVOID artists using these? To your question, I think it's contained within this video, but you should just keep it simple: one niche, one style, expansive portfolio containing those elements. How's that?
I've been binge watching your videos and learned a lot from them. I just started to do freelance work and when you explained well how commissions are bad, I immediately cut off from other platforms. I'm starting again to improve my art to make it more eye catching. Thank you so much for your knowledge and experience. Hopefully, someday I'll be more successful as an artist. Have a good day!
I have watched a bunch of your videos and it is amazing how relevant your advice is to other businesses which are providing specialized services that are based on the value of skills that you developed over years. I work in petsitting and am in the process of niche-finding in the therapeutic market for dogs whose behaviour and fear-aggression make them so special needs that they cannot be petsit safely by most companies. So much of your advice sums up my journey of pricing and niche-finding, and I really appreciate your advice coming from someone who has already done the work.
Wow that is amazingly unexpected! I never thought someone in your field would relate to my art content so much haha. I've studied how other businesses run and applied it to this one, so I'm pleased to see that it resonates with you. Thanks for all your support!
7:05 it’s normal and expected to have less than full render. Some people never do full render cuz that takes ***hoooouuurrrssss*** or they don’t feel they can do it justice. But also this is how you get a sliding scale for your clients-give them the options of different finishes. Also some people don’t want more than sketch/lineart. It all really depends! I personally wouldn’t give option between cell shading and full render though; keep it one or the other. Both are fully shaded but full render gives the expectation of a painterly look or like there’s no lineart etc
however, why would someone pay competitive rates for an incomplete artwork? Nowadays, are you aware that most people doing this are just stealing the artwork and feeding it into an AI? it's a popular scam
@@TheArtMentor oh AI art is def a popular scam. There’s actually at least one person I heard of recently that’s been selling AI generated character designs and they’ve gotten into a lot of hot water over it. And some sketches and lineart are finished pieces on their own it just kinda depends. And I do think part of it outside of sliding scale as to why people do sketch commissions is similar to something you hear a lot-and that part of what you need to consider for pricing is how **many** commissions you want to be taking on and how often (completely irrelevant if you have a queue/slots, I personally prefer a queue/slot system for managing how many clients etc). Sketches are also pretty popular as a reward for donations for things like GFM and charity runs. For lineart there’s really no difference between it and black and white for me as any pure black is done with the lineart and black and white art just… looks like lineart. But it looks completed as well and is quite common in a lot of comics.
30:25 when I had regular commissions open I had a separate sheet for each type of commission So like sketch had its own sheet with examples, lineart its own with examples, color its own with examples I wouldn’t put it all on one sheet unless it’s all the same size
@@TheArtMentor I don’t fully remember my pricing as this was actually some years ago but I know one of the prices for color was $40 (I just don’t remember whether it was headshot, half body, or full body). Having a sheet with everything that’s very legible and easy to read is important cuz too often potential clients will not read anything outside of the graphic. I still see them as kinda companion to written versions though and I think unless you’re using alt text the written info is necessary for accessibility purposes.
Interesting video. I've heard many times that you should never never never give out the PSD, but I see all the time that people offer their PSD's (or CSP's) as rewards on their patreon/subscribestar/fanbox, and I'm a patron of an artist that does. It's helped me learn how they set up their drawings. I do this too on Subscribestar, and so far I haven't suffered any bad consequences. Maybe it's different when it's a commission versus a subscriber reward? I don't know.
It's more of an anti-art theft concern aimed towards beginners. It's a good rule of thumb to follow when you're still naive and easy to take advantage of, but you can choose to relax a bit in certain situations once you have a certain level of experience, street smarts, and noteriety.
That's a good question! So I'd definitely separate it between commissioned work and supporter work. Often, PSD files for Patreon and the like are not for clients but rather personal projects. It's fine to do that for a learning experience for your supporters, but for commissioned work, it's really more about the client's experience. You could always make a duplicate file and change some layer structures/etc. to make it helpful I suppose, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. How does that sound?
1:10 idk the difference between full and fantasy Now flat vs shaded is actually very common!! This is what I see most the time: 3 sizes (head/bust, half body, full body), sketch, lineart, flat color, full color/fully shaded (seen if called both) Usually that’s where it starts unless they also do Adult art then that’s either a separate sheet or added fee
Things I learned through watching your channel: 1) Invest in yourself. (Improve art skills, strengthen your fundamentals, make time for art regularly, take care of your health) 2) Identify your niche. Make sure you are comfortable with it and focus all your energy building within it then expand to other markets 3) Seek out clients within relevant niches (find where they hang out and advertise there) 4) Present yourself properly. Make meaningful conversations and leave good lasting impressions 5) Burn all your commission sheets 🤣 Through my art journey, I've only been doing the first step and making art without a certain direction beside drawing for my lousy 9-5 job that stresses me out because it pays horribly low and makes me tired all the time. It's actually refreshing finding this channel just when I'm on the verge of giving everything up but now I have a fighting chance so I'm very thankful for all the information you've imparted here. 🙏
Wow sounds like you've been learning a lot! Thanks so much for all of your support and I wish you tons of luck in your art journey! I'll be here for you!
26:57 so the images of commission info usually has some info like price, type, and then like something simple After that clients are expected to read the full text which is a separate post and the TOS
@@TheArtMentor from my understanding outside of regulars nobody reads anything half the time and it’s still a huge issue for random people to suddenly expect artists to take commissions that are not at all what they even do. The sheets need all the info cuz nobody seems to read outside of it but you can’t clog it up with things like the entirety of your TOS so there’s def a balance that needs to be had. The sheet has the prices and types and like TLDR versions of everything. Personally if a potential client won’t even read the TOS I don’t see them as worth anybody’s time.
This whole video is a huge help. Thank you! I've been watching you for a while now. You seem to give honest and easy-to-understand advice. ^^ I was wondering, does your mentorship/coaching system cost money?
Thanks, I'm glad to hear that! I was once where you are, and I'm happy to help everyone else get better faster. Regarding my mentorship, yes, it is a paid program. Did you follow the link in the description to learn more about it?
Conversation and communication is really important. I've forged a bond with two of my clients. And they are very nice and always pay more than I ask for. I made sure to know what they want and try to satisfy their need. Even if I've delivered their work and finished, I always ask how is their project going, do you need any help with what I send, etc. I do 3D modeling and background painting for them btw. They show or tell me how their project, sometime their game (it is for visual novel game).
that's awesome to hear! I also have long-term friendships with a bunch of my clients. Have you ever just reached out to them to chat and gotten an unexpected job out of it? I find this happens all the time haha
@@TheArtMentor no. They started out with comission. They like my service and how I talk a lot and care for their projects. Sometimes they need help with my models or have problems when importing to their game. I give them support for those too. Sometimes, I ask them how's their projects going and they'll say a lot about it. I think it shows you care for their projects.
@@TheArtMentor My main career is Architecture so I've been working with clients since 2016 after I graduated. But as a freelance artist and 3D modeler, 2019.
@@TheArtMentor I'm an artist, but I was in that scenario, yes. She also made me wait over 6 months to get the piece after telling me it would take 2 at most. Whenever I asked for updates it was like pulling teeth, and when I initially asked for a refund after 5 months, she guilt tripped me into letting her keep the money. At the end of all of it, the commission was pretty poor quality, and judging from more recent tweets at the time, she got an industry job around the time and seemingly didn't care about her ongoing comms.
Personally, I think the commission sheet has some good benefits to it, as it helps me stay organized on pricing and how much some of my commissions are going to be, but that's just me. But as for getting a commission, I use an anime style for my art, and I do almost like a sy-fi/ fantasy horror art type of thing. I draw a lot of dragon characters and dragon creatures. But I also like Monsters and horror creatures. If I want to get a commission, how would I present this type of style in my portfolio?
So if the com sheet is just for you, why even put it out? 😅 Might as well keep that for yourself since it's not helpful for clients, other than locking them into your pricing over your art So synthesizing this video's info, which one genre would you want to get commissions in first? Pick 👍the one you like best if that's a tough call. Remember that over diversifying your portfolio mostly allows you to fail five times instead of succeeding once, so start focused and branch after, okay?
9:04 the reason furry artwork is lucrative is because of the community. The furry fandom is a community based solely on the premise of a type of character design and is fairly self sufficient in itself. People in this community value art highly and it’s not uncommon for there to be multiple semi popular artists charging $200 for a sketch. And people **will pay that** because they understand the skill, time, and they value it a lot. A lot of these people are artists themselves whether it’s fursuit makers, clothing designers, writers, musicians, illustrators, and everyone designs their own characters.
@@TheArtMentor i got my first commision yesterday so i got to use some of the soft skills you mentioned. Engaging people and connecting with them before bringing up the price. I feel like I need to rewatch it and take notes 😂
Commission work: 1. I'm narrowing down myself w/ semi-realism mixed media for style & the genre is figurative impressionistic fantasy busts of black women. That way it isn't so confusing jumping around. I noticed my work has that dreamy, fantasy feel, so I'm going to stick w/ that 👍🏿 2. Yep, there's a demand for black women in fantasy/fantasy style. I'm in several groups full of BW who loves fantasy, yet don't see themselves in that genre still. That's one of the reason why so many BW authors are writing fantasy stories where BW are the MC. That's why in some FB groups I'm in, BW love that impressionistic, figurative, dreamy art. All things I love too. 3. I call this the value scale but rendered edition lol. I'm only bust artist, but I do have small canvases that are like the demo version of the big one. If my OG piece have flowers, a bg, & wool, I'll make a more impressionistic canvas than a combo one like above w/ the figure. That's my strategy as of now though. (More in the comments for each sections)
Niches: I'm in traditional & realize the audience I'm going for love cosplaying & commission art of themselves as that OC, so the fantasy "role-playing" feel is my niche. For example, if there's a BW who loves the cherry blossom dragon concept & dressed as one & she sees I have done a woman-dragon hybrid art that mimics what she looked like, she will come to me for a commission her OC. I guess this falls into high fantasy/mythology in a way? 🤔 Just look more into it, it's afro fantasy. Should've known 😅
Commission sheets: Flaw 1: I'll admit it does take time cresting one. I really need to understand that I don't need to make one, & just let my portfolio do the talking for me 😅
8:00 the characters design example is kinda funny to me cuz most people who sell characters design just sell adopts but also its places as if it’s not the most expensive?! Excuse me?! Fully custom character design is easily the most expensive item on that list
1:58 anime is not a style in itself lol I’ve seen it likened to an art movement and I think that’s pretty accurate Dragon Ball, Beserk, Bleach, Sailor Moon, Tokyo Mew Mew, all anime, all different styles
Can I say that you're getting a bit too specified in the art style? Haven't you noticed the amount of requests for anime/manga styled art all over every platform? Consider this: if you do realism, you don't break it down to whom you're trying to copy the art style of, do you? Keep it simple, my friend
Hello! Here is also a tip for those who want to art commission. Do not go for clients who have a very expected art style, chibi and kawaii, most especially to art requests who offer a cheaper price. Instead, go for clients who offer you to draw their characters. In that way, that would be more specific when it comes to giving information and details.
@@rei938 Hello!! From what I have read, I think you mean high budget clients? That really really depends on what website you are using but in experience, Discord offers really cheaper art requests (which is a bummer) but I do think it is still a fair price if they can pay you $25 higher. The issue is that they are looking for simple designs which costs $30-$75, which is a complete mismatch. If you are a professional artist, you need to dig for more clients who have the matching description of the price and the artwork. Deviantart does also offer high budget ones but maybe you can ask others, since it is my first time to do commissions. I hope you have a good day :)
@@jingerjoy6760 thanks, I am professional Japanese Anime artist, my target client is $140+, I also use deviantart forums and reddit, but starting from 2023 Jan, fewer and fewer client will come to me, sometimes not even a month, I still no way for solve this problem
can I offer a counter point to that though? If someone has a particular style they're searching for and you don't align to it, just don't respond and post to it. I've seen so many artists trying to get realism jobs when they're more stylized or anime, which doesn't work out
Good video with lots of solid advice. I would just warn to be cautious with Pokemon stuff. Legally you can't sell fan art unless you have permission from the license owner and Pokemon is one of those known to have a pretty tight hold on their characters. That is why when you find Pokemon stuff online a lot of it has stuff that is slightly off from the original Pokemon designs so they don't get in trouble for copyright. So, it can be done, but is one of those things to be careful with.
You're correct if you're making merchandise. We've all seen those shops on Etsy get shutdown for copyright infringement. However, for private commissions, you are perfectly fine and accepted to do whatever you want within any IP because you don't have a store for it. Does that make sense?
As an author and not an illustrator, I thank you for the advice you have given your viewers. I was looking into possibly doing art myself soon and maybe utilize ai to help me out with such, which is how I came across yoir channel. I had a bit of a scare fit, trying to make a deal with an artist a few years ago for my book and them asking for a fair share of profit, which is understandable, but gave me a new feel of fear that, I have no idea what I would be doing and/or getting myself into. I had so many what ifs. What if something unexpected comes up and I don't finish my book properly and they're still waiting? What if I do legit finish it, yet I don't make enough sale, how will they react? What if they'll take me to court? Because they only got like what? One dollar a month because I only sold one book and they think I'm holding out on them like a prostitute to their pimp? Can I even afford a misunderstanding law suit? What if they somehow take my book idea as their own, legally? Kinda like how you mentioned to your fellow artists, that yall's artwork are your products, your precious styles you all have given birth to, even us writers feel some type of way to our ideas. An author and illustrator practically is like a marriage in a sense and only way I can feel safe and secure is if I work for a traditional publishing company and even then, they might actually abuse my ideas as well. I thank you for your perspective, so maybe it's best I take some time to illustrate my work from now and go about this solo.
a while ago i had to cave and try to niche down. it really does take a huge burden off your shoulders, i was torn between all the genres and specializations which made me feel guilty for trying to pick one. now i still experiment and show off my broad 3D and technical knowledge, but its part of the main content not a replacement. like showcasing hard surface design and interior / environment design as background elements of my renders, you barely notice it until i mention that the complex render has every single model in it made from scratch !. i am focusing on what i can enjoy best which is story telling and world building. its not technically the kind of thing to generate too many clients but it does attract a loyal audience assuming you pull it off. I do think one should have a secondary hobby or job , not because its necessary but because once you turn art into work it can be harder to enjoy it and the secondary hobby can motivate you . for me the secondary hobby is cooking , and all those expansive equipment and ingredients happen to REEALY motivate me to work.
For niching down, can I simplify it for you? If you had to make one type of artwork for the next ten years, and money wasn't a factor whatsoever, what would you love to do?
it would be animations or still images depicting fantastical stories. . i cant stand making art that has no "function" . in terms of visual genre i have already settled on mixing medieval fantasy with early 2000s technology and a little bit of cottage core. for short everyone has flip phones and CRT computers and nixi tubes like its 2004 , but they also have magic staffs and unicorns, and youre likely to find absurd things in universe like sky scrapers full off pools where mermaids do normal office jobs or rivers of rainbows next to industrial facilities . the idea is to progress the generic medieval fantasy to the point that modern tech and sensibilities become relevant and integrate with it. and i have good reason to go back to 2004 since the development of tech is directly linked to the slow erosion of magic in universe which would naturally mean that its slower to develop. and the lack of smartphones and reliable internet allows the story to keep its stakes and tension @@TheArtMentor
I apologize for it has been awhile since I have been able to respond. I was wondering if pricing changed since shipping may be involved. Also if it is the original artwork would that cause the price to skyrocket?
Happy to advise! So I hear three totally different genres of commissions right now, so how about you focus down to only one? Remember that it's easier to expand outwards once you gain success, but it's unwise to branch from the start. How does that sound?
I'm hoping the chibi style will be my second style. I apologize if that doesn't make any sense. I'm also a little confused about your question, is there a way to simplify?
@Skulldaw_Studios sure 👍 starting commissions works best with one and only one style or it’s confusing. What style do you want to present yourself with first and foremost?
I understand that feeling, but do you see how that’s not a good idea bc you come off like you’re yelling at potential new clients for things they didn’t do? Also don’t forget that’s not a legally binding document 😅
@@TheArtMentor I understand that perspective too! and I also understand the artist's perspective too. I just try to not jump into judgement until I discuss my requests to them :D
Awesome 👍 it’s like bringing baggage from a country toxic relationship into a newer, healthy one if your TOS is a huge document based on fear rather than security
wont the popular art niches be too saturated though? usually when i see artists looking for commissions its always fantasy genre. there's like a sea of artists in this
That's a popular myth though, you know that? It's easy to have more appealing examples for clients amidst a sea of less appealing artwork that isn't focused. Have you seen my video on what makes better examples to help yours stand apart?
What I dont understand is one of the bullet points in your TOS. Why cant the client edit your artwork after the fact? Why is that a no-no? Am I misunderstanding what you meant by that?
Easy answer: commissioned artwork is not their property. It’s exclusively yours unless they sign a contract for ownership and pay four figures or more for it. Any editing and claiming ownership would be intellectual property theft. Does that make sense?
I do disagree on the exclusion of sketches, they can be good stand alone pieces on their own, therefore still valuable on a portfolio. They have their own unique charm !
@@TheArtMentor I sadly don't have the biggest audience yet so I do consider myself as undercharging (10-30$), but I've seen artists that I really like, with full queues, charge 100$ for a full body sketch. Also I wouldn't call sketches unfinished, on the contrary I've seen pieces of others, and mine also, that I prefer in the sketch phase, the line work stands alone beautifully. It depends really on the skill of the artist tho !!!
So consider this, with you starting out, is it more worthwhile for you to impress people with a finished artwork or just a sketch? Which one will attract more clients and be more worthwhile for you? Just to be honest, $10-30 is too cheap to even put in the effort when you consider the time and emotional investment as well
1:48 ngl I don’t understand why you’d mention style. It’s gonna be in the **artists** personal style. It’s why that person commissioned them in the first place! They want **that artists** art specifically
How can you better market yourself when people don't know you, you don't have massive fame, and nobody can relate to your art style? It makes it more accessible and people know what you do. Does that clarify?
even 3d as a style is very general its a whole medium, is it toony realistic, how are your shaders, is it for stills prints, ready to rig(if characters), get out there and grind on you visual problem solving legends
Thanks for bringing that up! Yes, 3D should have a more defined style like 2D, such as realism, semi-realism, stylized, anime, toon, etc. How does that sound?
7:21 wait you think it’s common to charge $10 for a sketch? 😂 idk I think that depends. If I paid $10 for a sketch I’m expecting just a headshot and nothing else.
bigger question: why would that even be worth your time? If you want money, you'd make more off a job and then you can just draw what you want instead of taking orders, couldn't you?
I niched down as a book cover artist/character designer for queer M/M and BL novels. I also do promo illustrations for those genres that might not end up on the book cover but that is used to promote the books. Sometimes I do fan art as a commission but also within this niche. And it really helps to get a line of clients even though my style may vary according to the nuance and mood of the books/characters I'm illustrating. It's all semi-realism, but I can do it in a more digital style, or imitate traditional materials such as watercolours or oils. To summarise, I'm good at drawing: Men and masculine persons in queer relationships or just portraits Designing the character's overall look, including clothes in fantasy and sci-fi (incl. various sub-genres of it) and historical genres Creating captivating emotional storytelling Is it too much and should I niche down even more, or since I get quite a lot of clients (I'm booked for cover art till September 2024) it's ok to keep it this way?
Oh that's great to hear! So for you my friend, I'm proud of how well you're killing it! Since you're asking for some feedback, may I advise you to instead just price up? If you're that booked already, my instincts say you need to start charging more. What is your current price point?
I like your videos because u cheer artists about the ai situation. But and this is a big BUT, I really really hate and dislike when you criticize Furry art. This shows how uninformed about the furry fandom you are. I started making commissions for the furry community, they were the ones who made me start making art when nobody else would commission me because the market is over saturated with big bobba girl art and anime stuff. Thanks to the furry community I'm able to make art in daily basis and I considerate myself a furry now. I would appreciate u stop making fun of them...
Hey thanks for bringing that to my attention and I’ll definitely keep it in mind. I definitely appreciate your support here and I do whatever I can to help you regardless of your style. On the other hand though, are you sure I’m criticizing the furry community? I can’t say I’ve ever dissuaded someone from making that niche artwork. Also, have you seen the six videos I’ve published last year containing furry artwork where I’ve given the artists critique, feedback, and even commission advice? Aside from that, I mentor multiple furry artists in my program and have furry artists within my discord community. Just curious, how do you see me criticizing the furry community aside from cautioning people to avoid putting that type of artwork into job postings people aren’t seeking it?
@@TheArtMentor Yes I have seen your videos because I follow you and I really like them, I appreciate that you advice artists, I really do. But every time u mention "furry art" u do it like if it's a bad thing. I know there's this little part of the fandom that is very loud and unfortunately is the part that the people hear about the most.
Ah good to hear! Well I’ll definitely keep this in mind moving forward, alright? 😁 I don’t want you to feel that way. May I offer a counter perspective as well? Sometimes when I critique and advise on furry art, many viewers will feel off put or disinterested, so to engage them I’ll inject a bit of humor to keep them onboard while I try to deliver valuable advice. Does that help to explain my thought process? Much appreciated for your thoughts
@@TheArtMentor I agree that it was kinda disheartening to see you immediately brush the option off in this video, when its my main audience ; Humor is all good and fun, but I'm here to learn not be 'made fun of' . I know that's not your intent but that's how it rubbed me. Though I'll try and find those other videos where apparently you give advice for artists like myself-
How did this video help you better prepare for clients?
Ready to find art clients without social media now? Check out my advice here:
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Sean, what would you recommend for someone like me that has so many ideas they can't narrow down a genre?
I have a five-subject notebook FILLED with ideas. A lot of them are expressionist art. A lot of them are a variety of characters, dragons, monsters, and yes, environments. I also love a variety of artists and styles: Frazetta, Hildebrandt, Loish, Magic the Gathering, Anne Stokes, and so on.
What would you suggest for me to narrow things down, when I adore art itself so much as to WANT to wear many hats?
common advice is 1) build portfolio 2) go sign up to a website 3) hope and pray
simplified version:
1) do furry porn
2) profit
ya, for those without luck, resources and connections, only hope and pray
Yeah and that's why most people fail and give up, isn't it?
Only if that's what you want to do
Make sure you apply these tips and strategies, plus what else I teach, and you'll end up attracting the clients you want
I am a viewer from Brazil and in the midst of the immense sea of information (and confusion) on the web, it was truly a very happy surprise to find such honest content.
So happy to hear that! It's insane how much repetitive and unactionable content there is on this topic, isn't there?
Sean, your videos are life savers, I SWEAR.
I absolutely love this video and overall your channel helped me a lot. The TOS advice got to be my favorite. I removed some of the paragraphs you advised and it honestly looks so much cleaner and weirdly, professional.
I always wanted a TOS that explains everything necessary without being a Bible with long paragraphs. and your adivice helped me a LOT. Thank you!
...Specially, since it most times does not have legal backing. So long paragraphs is just useless and easily forgettable. And honestly, most people do not read website TOS to sign in on websites, why would someone read our long paragraphs for a freelancer art? 😅
So happy to hear this was helpful, and I'm thrilled to hear your TOS and procedures are more professional! Great job!
Wow, this is so helpful! I've also heard from another artist that it's good to narrow down at first. Like be really good at something and later on develop where necessary. Overall this guide is so valuable. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Glad to hear you got so much out of it! Have you been taking commissions already or are you prepping to open yours?
@@TheArtMentor I'm preparing to open one. Tbh I've been afraid of opening commissions because of how I almost got scammed once. That, along with the fact that I don't have a niche and my art style isn't really well defined. So I've been struggling with finding my "own voice" as they say. This video helped me a lot to clarify some things. I've even taken notes lol. So I'm going to define my artsyle and niche and then work on my portfolio. And after that, hopefully I'll have the confidence of opening commissions.
Thank you! i just got told by a friend of mine that if i wanna get commissions faster i need to make a checklist of various bodytypes, fashion styles, etc. Then using that to make sure the portfolio has the full range. They said it helps them a ton with getting comms.
And i quote "Showing your best works doesn't matter as much as showing your range, especially for potential clients who've got characters with uncommon design traits." While it may work for them, it doesn't sit well with me as i have a consistent simple anime artstyle, haven't found my niche yet (so far i like doing fanarts or drawing/illustrate a person's OC, basically drawing with reffrence provided). but i like making my art to be the best to satisfy my potential client. Then i got reccomended this video and im glad that im not the only one who thinks about that.
Tho i do sliiightly disagree about the commission sheet part, i personally think it's useful esp since people have short attention span these days, (i think it suits more with professional artists that works in big projects but thats what i think) but i do agree that in the commission sheet keep it simple. No lined, sketch pricing 1 chopped up character stuff etc. Just a finished/rendered art in bust, halfbodies and fullbody and state the pricing. (Speaking from experience, i usually just look at the rendered art price than just the sketch or lineart because we clients usually want the best quality of an artist's work. The ones that are just sketches are usually cheap clients)
I do have a genuine question tho, i think that as an artist who starts out in the commission world won't be professional in a day and usually starts with simple, for personal use commissions (simple headshots halfbodies etc) Are there any steps to gain more experience to be a professional artist that got project commissions? Even if you already have a lot of portofolios? Thank you and will be looking forward to see more of your vids ^^
Glad to hear you enjoyed! I understand the resistance to dumping the commission sheet, so can I offer you an alternative way of reconsidering it?
What is the max price you've gotten using a com sheet and the max number of clients you've worked with while using them?
I can guarantee you that you will hit a wall where using a com sheet will make it impossible to grow your price point, which typically happens the closer to $100 you want to push it. On the other hand, would it surprise you to know that higher paying clients actively AVOID artists using these?
To your question, I think it's contained within this video, but you should just keep it simple: one niche, one style, expansive portfolio containing those elements. How's that?
This was exactly my mistake when I first began commission work. Important advice 👌
oh really? Which mistake(s)?
This is top tier content right here honestly thank you so much.
You're so welcome! I'm happy to hear that 😁 What helped you the most in this video?
I've been binge watching your videos and learned a lot from them. I just started to do freelance work and when you explained well how commissions are bad, I immediately cut off from other platforms.
I'm starting again to improve my art to make it more eye catching. Thank you so much for your knowledge and experience. Hopefully, someday I'll be more successful as an artist. Have a good day!
Thanks for your support and I'm thrilled to hear you're getting a lot of value from my content! What kinds of commissions do you want to take?
@@TheArtMentor I'm planning to do like concept art or fan art but I think my clients might be more on personal things, like an artwork of them.
So have you niched down to be focused on that?
I have watched a bunch of your videos and it is amazing how relevant your advice is to other businesses which are providing specialized services that are based on the value of skills that you developed over years. I work in petsitting and am in the process of niche-finding in the therapeutic market for dogs whose behaviour and fear-aggression make them so special needs that they cannot be petsit safely by most companies. So much of your advice sums up my journey of pricing and niche-finding, and I really appreciate your advice coming from someone who has already done the work.
Wow that is amazingly unexpected! I never thought someone in your field would relate to my art content so much haha. I've studied how other businesses run and applied it to this one, so I'm pleased to see that it resonates with you. Thanks for all your support!
7:05 it’s normal and expected to have less than full render. Some people never do full render cuz that takes ***hoooouuurrrssss*** or they don’t feel they can do it justice. But also this is how you get a sliding scale for your clients-give them the options of different finishes. Also some people don’t want more than sketch/lineart. It all really depends! I personally wouldn’t give option between cell shading and full render though; keep it one or the other. Both are fully shaded but full render gives the expectation of a painterly look or like there’s no lineart etc
however, why would someone pay competitive rates for an incomplete artwork? Nowadays, are you aware that most people doing this are just stealing the artwork and feeding it into an AI? it's a popular scam
@@TheArtMentor oh AI art is def a popular scam. There’s actually at least one person I heard of recently that’s been selling AI generated character designs and they’ve gotten into a lot of hot water over it. And some sketches and lineart are finished pieces on their own it just kinda depends. And I do think part of it outside of sliding scale as to why people do sketch commissions is similar to something you hear a lot-and that part of what you need to consider for pricing is how **many** commissions you want to be taking on and how often (completely irrelevant if you have a queue/slots, I personally prefer a queue/slot system for managing how many clients etc). Sketches are also pretty popular as a reward for donations for things like GFM and charity runs. For lineart there’s really no difference between it and black and white for me as any pure black is done with the lineart and black and white art just… looks like lineart. But it looks completed as well and is quite common in a lot of comics.
30:25 when I had regular commissions open I had a separate sheet for each type of commission
So like sketch had its own sheet with examples, lineart its own with examples, color its own with examples
I wouldn’t put it all on one sheet unless it’s all the same size
why not just dump that practice then? Do you think anyone really reads all that? Also, what was your price point?
@@TheArtMentor I don’t fully remember my pricing as this was actually some years ago but I know one of the prices for color was $40 (I just don’t remember whether it was headshot, half body, or full body). Having a sheet with everything that’s very legible and easy to read is important cuz too often potential clients will not read anything outside of the graphic. I still see them as kinda companion to written versions though and I think unless you’re using alt text the written info is necessary for accessibility purposes.
Interesting video. I've heard many times that you should never never never give out the PSD, but I see all the time that people offer their PSD's (or CSP's) as rewards on their patreon/subscribestar/fanbox, and I'm a patron of an artist that does. It's helped me learn how they set up their drawings. I do this too on Subscribestar, and so far I haven't suffered any bad consequences.
Maybe it's different when it's a commission versus a subscriber reward? I don't know.
It's more of an anti-art theft concern aimed towards beginners. It's a good rule of thumb to follow when you're still naive and easy to take advantage of, but you can choose to relax a bit in certain situations once you have a certain level of experience, street smarts, and noteriety.
that's the main issue, yes. Thanks for sharing your perspectives!
That's a good question! So I'd definitely separate it between commissioned work and supporter work. Often, PSD files for Patreon and the like are not for clients but rather personal projects. It's fine to do that for a learning experience for your supporters, but for commissioned work, it's really more about the client's experience. You could always make a duplicate file and change some layer structures/etc. to make it helpful I suppose, but I personally wouldn't recommend it. How does that sound?
thank you so much for your video... it really helps me because i'm actually lil bit burnt out and stuck with my commission work recently.
I'm thrilled to hear this! What was most helpful for you in this video that you can start applying to what you're doing now?
@@TheArtMentor mostly about how to put together commission sheet and updating my TOS. It really helps alot!
1:10 idk the difference between full and fantasy
Now flat vs shaded is actually very common!! This is what I see most the time: 3 sizes (head/bust, half body, full body), sketch, lineart, flat color, full color/fully shaded (seen if called both)
Usually that’s where it starts unless they also do Adult art then that’s either a separate sheet or added fee
Yeah that example is jacked up all across the board. Perfect example of why this is a bad practice
Things I learned through watching your channel:
1) Invest in yourself. (Improve art skills, strengthen your fundamentals, make time for art regularly, take care of your health)
2) Identify your niche. Make sure you are comfortable with it and focus all your energy building within it then expand to other markets
3) Seek out clients within relevant niches (find where they hang out and advertise there)
4) Present yourself properly. Make meaningful conversations and leave good lasting impressions
5) Burn all your commission sheets 🤣
Through my art journey, I've only been doing the first step and making art without a certain direction beside drawing for my lousy 9-5 job that stresses me out because it pays horribly low and makes me tired all the time. It's actually refreshing finding this channel just when I'm on the verge of giving everything up but now I have a fighting chance so I'm very thankful for all the information you've imparted here. 🙏
Wow sounds like you've been learning a lot! Thanks so much for all of your support and I wish you tons of luck in your art journey! I'll be here for you!
26:57 so the images of commission info usually has some info like price, type, and then like something simple
After that clients are expected to read the full text which is a separate post and the TOS
and for cold clients who don't know you, how many would you say actually go ahead and do jus that?
@@TheArtMentor from my understanding outside of regulars nobody reads anything half the time and it’s still a huge issue for random people to suddenly expect artists to take commissions that are not at all what they even do. The sheets need all the info cuz nobody seems to read outside of it but you can’t clog it up with things like the entirety of your TOS so there’s def a balance that needs to be had. The sheet has the prices and types and like TLDR versions of everything. Personally if a potential client won’t even read the TOS I don’t see them as worth anybody’s time.
This whole video is a huge help. Thank you! I've been watching you for a while now. You seem to give honest and easy-to-understand advice. ^^ I was wondering, does your mentorship/coaching system cost money?
Thanks, I'm glad to hear that! I was once where you are, and I'm happy to help everyone else get better faster. Regarding my mentorship, yes, it is a paid program. Did you follow the link in the description to learn more about it?
@@TheArtMentor I did and I have read through it. I don't have a lot of funds so I guess I'm a bit hesitant.
@@TheArtMentor How much does your mentorship program cost range?
the best way to learn more is to fill out my Google Form and I'll reach out! Thanks for the interest 😁
Conversation and communication is really important. I've forged a bond with two of my clients. And they are very nice and always pay more than I ask for. I made sure to know what they want and try to satisfy their need. Even if I've delivered their work and finished, I always ask how is their project going, do you need any help with what I send, etc. I do 3D modeling and background painting for them btw. They show or tell me how their project, sometime their game (it is for visual novel game).
that's awesome to hear! I also have long-term friendships with a bunch of my clients. Have you ever just reached out to them to chat and gotten an unexpected job out of it? I find this happens all the time haha
@@TheArtMentor no. They started out with comission. They like my service and how I talk a lot and care for their projects. Sometimes they need help with my models or have problems when importing to their game. I give them support for those too. Sometimes, I ask them how's their projects going and they'll say a lot about it. I think it shows you care for their projects.
yeah I think we're talking about the same experience. Your customer experience sounds top notch! How long have you been working with clients?
@@TheArtMentor My main career is Architecture so I've been working with clients since 2016 after I graduated. But as a freelance artist and 3D modeler, 2019.
@Shinesart awesome, keep it up!!
This opened my eyes
great to hear! What was most helpful for you in this video?
@@TheArtMentor the advice on commissions pricing and where to go for commissions 😊
Well that would explain why nobody would ever send me the PSD file, shit i wouldnt either! My intent was to learn from the pieces, not steal it tbf.
oh are you an art client?
@@TheArtMentor I'm an artist, but I was in that scenario, yes.
She also made me wait over 6 months to get the piece after telling me it would take 2 at most. Whenever I asked for updates it was like pulling teeth, and when I initially asked for a refund after 5 months, she guilt tripped me into letting her keep the money. At the end of all of it, the commission was pretty poor quality, and judging from more recent tweets at the time, she got an industry job around the time and seemingly didn't care about her ongoing comms.
And to top it all off, she told me I was an awful client, and not to commission her again
wow sorry to hear that. What a nightmare client!
Personally, I think the commission sheet has some good benefits to it, as it helps me stay organized on pricing and how much some of my commissions are going to be, but that's just me. But as for getting a commission, I use an anime style for my art, and I do almost like a sy-fi/ fantasy horror art type of thing. I draw a lot of dragon characters and dragon creatures. But I also like Monsters and horror creatures. If I want to get a commission, how would I present this type of style in my portfolio?
So if the com sheet is just for you, why even put it out? 😅 Might as well keep that for yourself since it's not helpful for clients, other than locking them into your pricing over your art
So synthesizing this video's info, which one genre would you want to get commissions in first? Pick 👍the one you like best if that's a tough call. Remember that over diversifying your portfolio mostly allows you to fail five times instead of succeeding once, so start focused and branch after, okay?
9:04 the reason furry artwork is lucrative is because of the community. The furry fandom is a community based solely on the premise of a type of character design and is fairly self sufficient in itself. People in this community value art highly and it’s not uncommon for there to be multiple semi popular artists charging $200 for a sketch. And people **will pay that** because they understand the skill, time, and they value it a lot. A lot of these people are artists themselves whether it’s fursuit makers, clothing designers, writers, musicians, illustrators, and everyone designs their own characters.
That's very true. It's a lower barrier to entry as well bc of that
Thank you for this video
You’re very welcome my friend! What was the most valuable thing you learned from this?
This was so extremely helpful!
Happy to hear! What new actions do you want to take after watching this?
@@TheArtMentor i got my first commision yesterday so i got to use some of the soft skills you mentioned. Engaging people and connecting with them before bringing up the price. I feel like I need to rewatch it and take notes 😂
Mentor: never ever give a psd of your work.
Me, who paints everything on one layer so it's basically a png:
You are a unicorn lol. No problem there, but also don't give it out so that people don't try to pass it as their own, okay?
Commission work:
1. I'm narrowing down myself w/ semi-realism mixed media for style & the genre is figurative impressionistic fantasy busts of black women. That way it isn't so confusing jumping around. I noticed my work has that dreamy, fantasy feel, so I'm going to stick w/ that 👍🏿
2. Yep, there's a demand for black women in fantasy/fantasy style. I'm in several groups full of BW who loves fantasy, yet don't see themselves in that genre still. That's one of the reason why so many BW authors are writing fantasy stories where BW are the MC. That's why in some FB groups I'm in, BW love that impressionistic, figurative, dreamy art. All things I love too.
3. I call this the value scale but rendered edition lol. I'm only bust artist, but I do have small canvases that are like the demo version of the big one. If my OG piece have flowers, a bg, & wool, I'll make a more impressionistic canvas than a combo one like above w/ the figure. That's my strategy as of now though.
(More in the comments for each sections)
Niches:
I'm in traditional & realize the audience I'm going for love cosplaying & commission art of themselves as that OC, so the fantasy "role-playing" feel is my niche. For example, if there's a BW who loves the cherry blossom dragon concept & dressed as one & she sees I have done a woman-dragon hybrid art that mimics what she looked like, she will come to me for a commission her OC. I guess this falls into high fantasy/mythology in a way? 🤔 Just look more into it, it's afro fantasy. Should've known 😅
Commission sheets:
Flaw 1: I'll admit it does take time cresting one. I really need to understand that I don't need to make one, & just let my portfolio do the talking for me 😅
There's CRAZY power in letting your art do the talking! Are you afraid of that?
That's a strong niche. Have you found communities that support that?
That's a wonderful mission with your art that is very needed!
8:00 the characters design example is kinda funny to me cuz most people who sell characters design just sell adopts but also its places as if it’s not the most expensive?! Excuse me?! Fully custom character design is easily the most expensive item on that list
that can happen
1:58 anime is not a style in itself lol
I’ve seen it likened to an art movement and I think that’s pretty accurate
Dragon Ball, Beserk, Bleach, Sailor Moon, Tokyo Mew Mew, all anime, all different styles
Can I say that you're getting a bit too specified in the art style? Haven't you noticed the amount of requests for anime/manga styled art all over every platform? Consider this: if you do realism, you don't break it down to whom you're trying to copy the art style of, do you? Keep it simple, my friend
Hello! Here is also a tip for those who want to art commission. Do not go for clients who have a very expected art style, chibi and kawaii, most especially to art requests who offer a cheaper price. Instead, go for clients who offer you to draw their characters. In that way, that would be more specific when it comes to giving information and details.
How to find hight budget clients?
@@rei938 Hello!! From what I have read, I think you mean high budget clients? That really really depends on what website you are using but in experience, Discord offers really cheaper art requests (which is a bummer) but I do think it is still a fair price if they can pay you $25 higher.
The issue is that they are looking for simple designs which costs $30-$75, which is a complete mismatch. If you are a professional artist, you need to dig for more clients who have the matching description of the price and the artwork.
Deviantart does also offer high budget ones but maybe you can ask others, since it is my first time to do commissions. I hope you have a good day :)
@@jingerjoy6760 thanks, I am professional Japanese Anime artist, my target client is $140+, I also use deviantart forums and reddit, but starting from 2023 Jan, fewer and fewer client will come to me, sometimes not even a month, I still no way for solve this problem
can I offer a counter point to that though? If someone has a particular style they're searching for and you don't align to it, just don't respond and post to it. I've seen so many artists trying to get realism jobs when they're more stylized or anime, which doesn't work out
I have a whole playlist on that subject, would you like a link?
59:30 Oh you might be surprised of what I'm asked to do vs portfolio on fiverr 💀
Oh I'm not surprised lol. There are some questionable people on there
how do you go about singing the contract? do you have to print it out and sign??
Generally yes, or you can use a psd signing software
Good video with lots of solid advice. I would just warn to be cautious with Pokemon stuff. Legally you can't sell fan art unless you have permission from the license owner and Pokemon is one of those known to have a pretty tight hold on their characters. That is why when you find Pokemon stuff online a lot of it has stuff that is slightly off from the original Pokemon designs so they don't get in trouble for copyright. So, it can be done, but is one of those things to be careful with.
You're correct if you're making merchandise. We've all seen those shops on Etsy get shutdown for copyright infringement. However, for private commissions, you are perfectly fine and accepted to do whatever you want within any IP because you don't have a store for it. Does that make sense?
@@TheArtMentor Yes, thanks so much for clarifying!
As an author and not an illustrator, I thank you for the advice you have given your viewers.
I was looking into possibly doing art myself soon and maybe utilize ai to help me out with such, which is how I came across yoir channel.
I had a bit of a scare fit, trying to make a deal with an artist a few years ago for my book and them asking for a fair share of profit, which is understandable, but gave me a new feel of fear that, I have no idea what I would be doing and/or getting myself into.
I had so many what ifs. What if something unexpected comes up and I don't finish my book properly and they're still waiting? What if I do legit finish it, yet I don't make enough sale, how will they react? What if they'll take me to court? Because they only got like what? One dollar a month because I only sold one book and they think I'm holding out on them like a prostitute to their pimp? Can I even afford a misunderstanding law suit? What if they somehow take my book idea as their own, legally?
Kinda like how you mentioned to your fellow artists, that yall's artwork are your products, your precious styles you all have given birth to, even us writers feel some type of way to our ideas. An author and illustrator practically is like a marriage in a sense and only way I can feel safe and secure is if I work for a traditional publishing company and even then, they might actually abuse my ideas as well.
I thank you for your perspective, so maybe it's best I take some time to illustrate my work from now and go about this solo.
Glad to hear this gave you some clarity! Your product idea sounds awesome! How long have you been working on illustrating that?
a while ago i had to cave and try to niche down. it really does take a huge burden off your shoulders, i was torn between all the genres and specializations which made me feel guilty for trying to pick one. now i still experiment and show off my broad 3D and technical knowledge, but its part of the main content not a replacement. like showcasing hard surface design and interior / environment design as background elements of my renders, you barely notice it until i mention that the complex render has every single model in it made from scratch !. i am focusing on what i can enjoy best which is story telling and world building. its not technically the kind of thing to generate too many clients but it does attract a loyal audience assuming you pull it off.
I do think one should have a secondary hobby or job , not because its necessary but because once you turn art into work it can be harder to enjoy it and the secondary hobby can motivate you . for me the secondary hobby is cooking , and all those expansive equipment and ingredients happen to REEALY motivate me to work.
For niching down, can I simplify it for you? If you had to make one type of artwork for the next ten years, and money wasn't a factor whatsoever, what would you love to do?
it would be animations or still images depicting fantastical stories. . i cant stand making art that has no "function" . in terms of visual genre i have already settled on mixing medieval fantasy with early 2000s technology and a little bit of cottage core. for short everyone has flip phones and CRT computers and nixi tubes like its 2004 , but they also have magic staffs and unicorns, and youre likely to find absurd things in universe like sky scrapers full off pools where mermaids do normal office jobs or rivers of rainbows next to industrial facilities . the idea is to progress the generic medieval fantasy to the point that modern tech and sensibilities become relevant and integrate with it. and i have good reason to go back to 2004 since the development of tech is directly linked to the slow erosion of magic in universe which would naturally mean that its slower to develop. and the lack of smartphones and reliable internet allows the story to keep its stakes and tension @@TheArtMentor
so it sounds like fantasy animations would be a good niche for you, especially into cyberfantasy work
When you said environment art is in demand does this also include for 3d environment art. Also what type of clients are in the environment art niche
Oh yes definitely. Always a demand for 3D. Clients range from high fantasy to sci-fi and everything in between. What niche were you thinking for this?
@@TheArtMentorI’m not really sure thats why I can here 😂would u have an idea
Q: would any of these tips change for a traditional artist?
Oh good question! Which of these tips were you specifically inquiring about?
I apologize for it has been awhile since I have been able to respond. I was wondering if pricing changed since shipping may be involved. Also if it is the original artwork would that cause the price to skyrocket?
Is steampunk also a good niche? I would like to be a steampunk and retro futuristic artist
I would say so! Have you checked for communities online for that?
4:48 cat people is actually very lucrative lol
To the point where people naively assume you make the big big bucks immediately
sure
I was wondering into doing commissions for murals,pfp animated and non animated,and character and environment designs or should I narrow it down or?
Happy to advise! So I hear three totally different genres of commissions right now, so how about you focus down to only one? Remember that it's easier to expand outwards once you gain success, but it's unwise to branch from the start. How does that sound?
I have a question can you do 2 art styles? I'm hoping to do chibi and my main artstyle. The chibi is still going to be in my main artstyle.
Sure, but how about you lead with one and gain some momentum? So chibi is your leading style, am I right?
I'm hoping the chibi style will be my second style. I apologize if that doesn't make any sense. I'm also a little confused about your question, is there a way to simplify?
@Skulldaw_Studios sure 👍 starting commissions works best with one and only one style or it’s confusing. What style do you want to present yourself with first and foremost?
@@TheArtMentor With my main artstyle! Maybe not chibi.
@Skulldaw_Studios cool, so lead with that 👍
I feel like adding more bullet points in TOS is because of clients or experience they had in the past, because there will always be that someone... :(
I understand that feeling, but do you see how that’s not a good idea bc you come off like you’re yelling at potential new clients for things they didn’t do? Also don’t forget that’s not a legally binding document 😅
@@TheArtMentor I understand that perspective too! and I also understand the artist's perspective too. I just try to not jump into judgement until I discuss my requests to them :D
Awesome 👍 it’s like bringing baggage from a country toxic relationship into a newer, healthy one if your TOS is a huge document based on fear rather than security
wont the popular art niches be too saturated though? usually when i see artists looking for commissions its always fantasy genre. there's like a sea of artists in this
That's a popular myth though, you know that? It's easy to have more appealing examples for clients amidst a sea of less appealing artwork that isn't focused. Have you seen my video on what makes better examples to help yours stand apart?
@@TheArtMentor that makes sense! I haven’t watched that yet but i’ll check it out thank you!
What I dont understand is one of the bullet points in your TOS. Why cant the client edit your artwork after the fact? Why is that a no-no? Am I misunderstanding what you meant by that?
Easy answer: commissioned artwork is not their property. It’s exclusively yours unless they sign a contract for ownership and pay four figures or more for it. Any editing and claiming ownership would be intellectual property theft. Does that make sense?
I do disagree on the exclusion of sketches, they can be good stand alone pieces on their own, therefore still valuable on a portfolio. They have their own unique charm !
And how much do you charge for a sketch? And how can you call an unfinished work a portfolio piece? 😅
@@TheArtMentor I sadly don't have the biggest audience yet so I do consider myself as undercharging (10-30$), but I've seen artists that I really like, with full queues, charge 100$ for a full body sketch. Also I wouldn't call sketches unfinished, on the contrary I've seen pieces of others, and mine also, that I prefer in the sketch phase, the line work stands alone beautifully. It depends really on the skill of the artist tho !!!
So consider this, with you starting out, is it more worthwhile for you to impress people with a finished artwork or just a sketch? Which one will attract more clients and be more worthwhile for you? Just to be honest, $10-30 is too cheap to even put in the effort when you consider the time and emotional investment as well
1:48 ngl I don’t understand why you’d mention style. It’s gonna be in the **artists** personal style. It’s why that person commissioned them in the first place! They want **that artists** art specifically
How can you better market yourself when people don't know you, you don't have massive fame, and nobody can relate to your art style? It makes it more accessible and people know what you do. Does that clarify?
even 3d as a style is very general its a whole medium, is it toony realistic, how are your shaders, is it for stills prints, ready to rig(if characters), get out there and grind on you visual problem solving legends
Thanks for bringing that up! Yes, 3D should have a more defined style like 2D, such as realism, semi-realism, stylized, anime, toon, etc. How does that sound?
@@TheArtMentor That sounds great and thank you for the video, its very insightful and clear I just wanted to expand on that part.
happy to help!
7:21 wait you think it’s common to charge $10 for a sketch? 😂 idk I think that depends. If I paid $10 for a sketch I’m expecting just a headshot and nothing else.
bigger question: why would that even be worth your time? If you want money, you'd make more off a job and then you can just draw what you want instead of taking orders, couldn't you?
Tell meeee!
I tell you everything 😁 what was most helpful for you in this video?
I niched down as a book cover artist/character designer for queer M/M and BL novels. I also do promo illustrations for those genres that might not end up on the book cover but that is used to promote the books. Sometimes I do fan art as a commission but also within this niche.
And it really helps to get a line of clients even though my style may vary according to the nuance and mood of the books/characters I'm illustrating.
It's all semi-realism, but I can do it in a more digital style, or imitate traditional materials such as watercolours or oils.
To summarise, I'm good at drawing:
Men and masculine persons in queer relationships or just portraits
Designing the character's overall look, including clothes in fantasy and sci-fi (incl. various sub-genres of it) and historical genres
Creating captivating emotional storytelling
Is it too much and should I niche down even more, or since I get quite a lot of clients (I'm booked for cover art till September 2024) it's ok to keep it this way?
Oh that's great to hear! So for you my friend, I'm proud of how well you're killing it! Since you're asking for some feedback, may I advise you to instead just price up? If you're that booked already, my instincts say you need to start charging more. What is your current price point?
How long has Artificial Intelligence been scamming human TV and Movie cast and crew?
It really got heated over the last year
@@TheArtMentor all that artificial intelligence has been making humans more dumber than ever. Those studio executives in Hollywood are so greedy.
@johnylitalo4163 and ironically, the real original IPs made from human teams will always do better
I like your videos because u cheer artists about the ai situation. But and this is a big BUT, I really really hate and dislike when you criticize Furry art. This shows how uninformed about the furry fandom you are. I started making commissions for the furry community, they were the ones who made me start making art when nobody else would commission me because the market is over saturated with big bobba girl art and anime stuff. Thanks to the furry community I'm able to make art in daily basis and I considerate myself a furry now. I would appreciate u stop making fun of them...
Hey thanks for bringing that to my attention and I’ll definitely keep it in mind. I definitely appreciate your support here and I do whatever I can to help you regardless of your style.
On the other hand though, are you sure I’m criticizing the furry community? I can’t say I’ve ever dissuaded someone from making that niche artwork. Also, have you seen the six videos I’ve published last year containing furry artwork where I’ve given the artists critique, feedback, and even commission advice? Aside from that, I mentor multiple furry artists in my program and have furry artists within my discord community. Just curious, how do you see me criticizing the furry community aside from cautioning people to avoid putting that type of artwork into job postings people aren’t seeking it?
@@TheArtMentor Yes I have seen your videos because I follow you and I really like them, I appreciate that you advice artists, I really do. But every time u mention "furry art" u do it like if it's a bad thing. I know there's this little part of the fandom that is very loud and unfortunately is the part that the people hear about the most.
Ah good to hear! Well I’ll definitely keep this in mind moving forward, alright? 😁 I don’t want you to feel that way.
May I offer a counter perspective as well? Sometimes when I critique and advise on furry art, many viewers will feel off put or disinterested, so to engage them I’ll inject a bit of humor to keep them onboard while I try to deliver valuable advice. Does that help to explain my thought process? Much appreciated for your thoughts
@@TheArtMentor I agree that it was kinda disheartening to see you immediately brush the option off in this video, when its my main audience ;
Humor is all good and fun, but I'm here to learn not be 'made fun of' . I know that's not your intent but that's how it rubbed me.
Though I'll try and find those other videos where apparently you give advice for artists like myself-
@HaloCatArt did I brush it off though? If you watch it verbatim, all I said was that I wasn’t covering that. Am I right? 🙃