I work as a storyboard artist. I mostly work for animation studios. The job pays ok and usually contracts last for months. Also they let me work from home. 🎨🖼✏✒
@@TheArtMentor Thanks. I have been a storyboard artist for animation for like 9 years now. And yes I am looking for more opportunities. We just don't know when this gig will end. I am also looking into concept art even 3d art.
I started making bank of furafinity ! The front page is chronological (no algorithm yay!) And clients are very very respectful and pay well!! Plus when people post your work on their page, their friends come to you for commissions also :) One month I managed to get extra 300$ from clients that found me through their friends. While mostly furry art is popular there, I sometimes get human/humanoid requests as well !
@@TheArtMentor thanks ^^! It's been a year since I've started but I only managed to be at my best pace during summer break from uni. I hope to gather an audience there, and have a steady income from the website after I put in more work with posting 🙏 I've seen people (with a big following tho) sell somewhat simple designs for 500-1000$ at auctions. Artists I like that their queue full almost all the time . Hope to achieve that kind of success.
I tried both DA and reddit. I did find some comms on Reddit, but they are overwhelmed by other folks. Your work needs to be either amazing or unusual to be given comms. Most comms are for NSFW/anime art and there are loads of folks who already do that. I don't really think these options are viable for continuous commissions, and I'd love for the Art Mentor to show us where he goes, how he talks to clients, and what his pay structure looks like. I believe that this would help better than just telling us "go there".
How long have you been watching my content out curiosity? These are the exact places I go and how I get clients to this day. Also, I just last week compiled all of my tips for how I get art clients and how to prep more effectively for commissions, including how I speak to clients and more. Did you watch that, or would you like a link? I’m a very open book, my friend. There’s nothing I show you here that I haven’t done myself 🙂
@@TheArtMentor I would like the links since I just started watching you. Also do you do art critiques? I'd love to have a professional opinion on my art.
When you got the " GROW YOUR FOLLOWING ? " part ... oh my god .... I'm just starting and spent the past few years building up my skill. I said I'd get to a point where i can post online then I'd grow my following to a point before ever doing even one commission . Today i watch your video and you inform me that this thought process is incorrect . The amazon example makes so much sense . @The Art Mentor thank you so much for pointing this out. I'm new and still learning how this all works .
Oh yeah, isn't that the strangest and most popularized advice you hear all the time? And how many artists try to grow a following fail, and then never create again? That's a tragic reality for too many artists
Thank you so much for this video. It really put me on the right track. I appreciate the compilation format, the updated info, and the way you take the time to respond to comments. Took sooo many notes, too. Realizing that social media clout has little to do with art success is great news for me. Interacting with people is far more palatable than dealing with social media stress and toxicity. 😄 I don't want the harassment that comes with making it big on social media anyway. I've spent a long time aimlessly and half-heartedly posting to Instagram, Tumblr, and others with barely any response. It's empowering to know that it's up to me to meet clients where they're at rather than wait for them to find me. Things just got quite a bit more exciting. Thanks again. 💖
That's great to hear how much you got out of this video! And it's all true isn't it? I mean, out of a huge following, would you be surprised to know that less than 10% of those people actually see your posts? And then from that, only 1% might even consider purchasing something from you? It's a big waste of time and totally out of your control when you look at things that way, isn't it?
goddamn thank you so much for this video. Genuinely the only video i've found that ACTUALLY explains how to get clients, i've been just getting lucky getting people from word of mouth or random dms on twitter- Now i can have an actual plan! Thanks a ton I'll put this into practice as soon as i've cleared my waiting list
happy to hear all of this! I used to be in the exact same place as you years ago, and on my channel, I want to help people just like you get better faster. So, I'm thrilled to hear this! What advice was most helpful for you in this video?
@@TheArtMentor Specifically knowing where to get clients via Deviant Art and Reddit! I'm gonna clear my current waiting list and once that's done i'll try those platforms and hope for the best! Thanks again for the great video
i am hesitant to try deviant art before nightshade comes out. they had some shady practices in the past like using everyone's works for their own A.I out of nowhere.
@@monkeychichichi a special software to trick A.I training programs . it makes the A.I think your art has a completely different style and content. you can try glaze too which does something similar
@@TheArtMentor3 months. I'm still working at it every week, and I'm increasing my skills as I go. I remember you didn't get a good commission for at least half a year when you started, so I'm still trying...but it's really disheartening to battle AI users lately
True, and it may take you time. But can I offer you this insight? Clients who want AI art won’t buy your art, and clients that won’t buy AI art also would rather work with an artist like you. Ai users won’t persuade anyone to one side okay? They aren’t a problem for serious clients. Only for the cheapest.
@@TheArtMentor I've been working on DA for 5 years now and in the last half a year things have been really bad for the site, I can only earn $300 instead of $1000 per month as before from my commissions and adopters ((I think this is because of their policy regarding AI and new algorithms
I discovered your channel this month, and I've been watching your videos about commissions hoping to gain more knowledge (by the way, you're incredible, there's no one on TH-cam who teaches better than you in my country) and now you simply release a GENERAL GUIDE about everything the subject, I'm very excited!
@@TheArtMentor I am from Brazil. There are many artists here who teach well too (like Guilherme Freitas from the Brush Rush channel) but on the subject of "commission" in specific, you do very well
This is genuinely the most informative “art commissions” video I’ve seen! I’ve never thought of trying Reddit before, but I might give it a go. I’m not sure what sort of clients to look for though…I mostly draw feminine/fashion characters and I paint with gouache. 🎨✨ Also I just made an artistree page, but I didn’t know about the setbacks, so thank you for pointing those out. ✨✨
i started planing to do comissions for quite a while and by chance i found your channel, i thank you for sharing your knowledge. i'm quite unsure if i'll get clients since my art is not as professional as i would have liked it to be
@@TheArtMentor Character Designs, basic ilustration and maybe model sheets. But i'm getting a litle discouraged since my competitors have better quality compared to mine sadly
Those are some really solid tips :) (freelance illustration is brutal! Way harder than I ever imagined, even compared to being a comic book artist! At least, that sounds like that to me.)
@@TheArtMentor The first tip. I only realized the importance of staying in my lane and diversifying much later in my career. If I had recognized this earlier, things would have been much easier for me. So, this is the most valuable tip for newcomers, as I wish someone had shared this advice with me sooner.
Sir most of us Artist sucks are selling our works, that Includes me, thank you for this video. I just hope that things will go better from this moment. Your video was a lot of help. Wish us luck 🤞
I wished I had discovered this page much much sooner. I learned so much helpful information here for a couple of hours of watching your videos than I could in all of the art channels I followed on YT for the last 5-8 years. Very much appreciated! Liked and subscribed!
@@TheArtMentor It's more on the sense of direction for me. I've been struggling to get consistent job opportunities as a freelancer because I don't know where to look, where should I be looking for jobs, and/or choosing in-demand niches. Watching your videos has given me that sense of direction and I got a little bit of my confidence back. So thanks again for sharing your knowledge and imparting encouraging words through your videos. Highly appreciate it!
lmao! this is very helpful, I was very guilty that I responded a lot of times the same way they did. I need to improve on this.! thank you so much for this
Thanks for this video! I plan to start doing this next month! One thing I'm unsure of how to handle - with the idea of putting out so many offers/feelers, what is a good thing to do if get too many people taking you up on it? I know that's not likely, but I am still concerned about offering services to so many people, and then more than I can handle agreeing.
Good luck with your beginnings! For your question, can I offer you some advice? I'd expect that not to happen unless you are seriously undercharging yourself or if you have an insane social media following. Do you happen to have a considerable following?
a great info ive actually been burning myself up on doing the jack of all trades system which i can do but it really is tiring and slow, i decided i would focus on NSFW for now and nail it
I quit DeviantArt years ago because of the complete lack of engagement. I would be willing to try again, but i frankly do not trust that the platform has artist's interests at heart and don't want to upload my art for them to potentially feed into an AI machine (like they already tried to do). I would be willing to try the forums however. Do you think linking to an external portfolio would be effective, or should I not bother if I don't have a strong body of work on DA itself? Thanks for the tips tho. I recently lost my job at Boring Office (tm) and figured it was as good a time as any to try giving art a shot again, these have been really useful and incredibly appreciated, as an introvert that hates marketing 😂.
Sorry to hear about your job loss! I hope you find something better. For the forums, I would not recommend external links since people won't click on them. Would you like my guide on DA and how I used it to gain better engagement? The practices still work to this day
I make handmade papercutting potraits, yeah portraits made with only papers.... I never had a US client till now, i hope that happens soon. I have a pretty good portfolio, made some artwork for celebrities etc.
I once did commissions. Usually I try to get the grasp of what and how my commissioners want their pieces to be like. Mostly it's commissions using my art style, no style restrictions (I only take commissions that can fit my usual anime style). During the brainstorming/sketching phase, I seek feedback from them, in case they have some criticism that I must work on not just to retry the mistake, but to improve my art. At the end of the art process, I just scale the time taken on my art pieces with the final price, but I have a LOT of room for negotiation and consensus if they cannot meet my desired paycheck. I might start getting myself organized and rack a good resume for commissions and for freelancer work. Declaring commissions is like racking up a good cover letter. But now that you brought up CONSISTENCY, then I'm more than relieved to just focus on what's more of my taste (Experimental is ALWAYS without time limit, where I have freedom in playing around with art styles, brushes, or discover something I never knew would help me in the future). I think this applies to also doing UI or visual art (Web Development territory, mostly Front-End because this is where the fun begins)? *_Unless anything I said about commissions might have beginner red flags, please do spread the word about how artists like me can really shine while still maintaining a stable business. I hope to find interesting takes on this._*
@@TheArtMentor Most of the time it's just sketch for feedback (WIP previews, so I can hear some suggestions when it comes to tackling my weaknesses in art), "Preview of [final artwork]", get feedback, redo/improve, and if both me and my commissioner are okay with it, I then charge them at the end BEFORE giving the final artwork. Not sure about the "paid beforehand" part, because recently I was warned about fake commissions (Scams requiring personal info which is TABOO on my end). I didn't really have legit experience with "Advanced Paychecks" (getting paid early since it scales with my time taken, plus the breaks in-between?).
I've been working on DA for 5 years now and in the last half a year things have been really bad for the site, I can only earn $300 instead of $1000 per month as before from my commissions and adopters ((I think this is because of their policy regarding AI and new algorithms, Although I try as before and even more, putting all the love into my art..
@@TheArtMentor I usually don’t do anything special, I just draw and people come to me themselves, unless I use DA groups) Now I'm trying Toyhouse and getting orders from there, but it's all much less than before QwQ
Hello i had a question about deviant art, the way that the page is set up now is “customer focused” I was trying to see if I could reach out like the method you mentioned in the video but the way the site is set up now artists are just posting and hoping for some client to pay for work. There are so many low ball prices I don’t even think I should post.
I can't reach or never find clients in deviant art. I even opened full body piece as 40$ but no one seems to be interested. May be I have bad luck or smth like that.
One time I asked a client what they wanted so I could determine the price and they just wouldn't accept that answer because they didn't know what they wanted. I tried to explain that more complex work would be a higher price and then they went and commissioned someone else. Extremely annoying.
Yeah I’ve encountered that too! Doesn’t it make you wonder why they even messaged you in the first place? Lol. However, you’re aware that they were a scammer, right?
I have been posting on DA forums for several months now and I got no response. I have also posted on Reddit, Facebook groups and I got scammers. Still I keep on posting hoping to get clients
l'm actually a client watching this video to find out where the artists are. I'm SOOOO tired of all the bad artists posting on Fiverr or Deviantart or wherever else. So many actual artists have left those platforms, and it's confusing to find a way to commission them now, especially with all these "artists" using other people's pictures, ai work, or cringy fetish stuff to get buyers or else having very unprofessional, unclean looking work. Was hoping to see where the artists are opening commissions these days. But I will say that I don't like "hourly" pay online, because--if we're being honest, there's no way to PROVE that they spent 5 hours or 15 hours on the material, and as a commissioner I'm also uncomfortable with ambiguous prices when I'm planning out my budget. If it's $50 or $1500, I want to know up front. At some point, the final product has a set worth based on what it is, not how long it made to create it--though the time spent creating works should be considered when estimating the final price, I agree.
It's cool of you to be here and offer your thoughts, so thanks! I've been toying with an idea of making a video for art clients on how to commission an artist and where to find them. What do you think about that?
@@AmiAzuren It varies. Can be things like character concept art, or illustrations, cover arts, landscapes--I usually like to commission a variety of different styles.
@@TheArtMentor thanks! To be honest, I'm just happy making and selling original music on my website. I'm polishing my skills this year before cranking out a worthy portfolio. My strengths definitely lie in upbeat and ambient electronic music. So, if clients ever want orchestral game music, I'd have to steer them to someone else. 😊
You keep on mentioning that we shouldn't underpay ourselves, but how do we even know how much our art is worth? Plus wouldn't it be better for the client to know how much money should they be expected to pay before they reach out to the artist? It would be less embarrassing for them if they don't have enough money for the commission. I would love to charge more for my art since my country's currency is more expensive than USD so I'll still get less money regardless, but if I start charging more I might lose the clients I already have
Can I answer that with a question? Why does your geography matter so much and the current clients don’t represent the future you want? It’s great to appreciate what you have, but if you tether yourself to your circumstances and current clients then you have no hope of surpassing where you are right now. How does that sound?
@@TheArtMentor understandable, but honestly when u live around people who wouldn't even pay the equivalent of 10 dollars for your art, suddenly the 40 Dollars that you get from other people outside of your country matter a lot that you fear if you ask too much you'll be back to square 1. You know your stuff, can you tell me how much should I expect for the drawing in my profile picture for example? I'm sure I can figure out the rest from there 💜🫰🏻
Good question! I would never recommend asking that because it takes the power away from you. Just lead them through a qualifying conversation and end with what your price is, not theirs. Does that make sense? I have a whole video on how to discuss with art clients if you'd like. Would you like a link?
How specific would you say one should be when deciding on what art they make? For example should I say I do video game fan art or would it be even better to focus on only Zelda art or Sonic art commissions?
Good question! I’d say very specific to the niche. Like for me, I do DnD and fantasy, but I’m not overly focused into “elf only dnd”. Does that clarify? Also, have you tested those markets and seen if there is a demand?
@TheArtMentor yes that clarifies things. It seems like the more specific the genre or subject the better. Also while I'm not sure if there is much demand or not for Zelda fan art comissions. I do know there is in the sonic fandom. However I don't think my heart would be in it. I'd much rather draw something related to Zelda or Final Fantasy if there's a somewhat considerable demand
Hello! How do you deal with devianart notes not allowing you to send artwork? Do you ask the client to move to Discord DMs or what's the best way to approach sending work?
Easy answer! So I usually chat with them for a bit and then move right over to Discord DMs for the entire rest of the discussion. That way it's unlimited as far as what you can do. How does that work for you?
@@TheArtMentor Oh, I found a way to share images through devian art using the "stash" but Discord is still my favorite way of communication. Thanks for the reply
@@TheArtMentor It was a bit interesting that the commission page was something not to do. I've seen them often enough that I thought it was just what you did at first. I also thought it was interesting that the price point was so low for some of that stuff and that the artists could get like 3~4 times more.
Curious… say you actually are some sort of Kim Jung Gi, Michelangelo, or other ninja turtle… wouldn’t you have separate portfolios with no bleed over to share around to your proper perspective clients?
Honestly, that's a recipe for disaster and disappointment. Did you see the video prior to this on what you can do to set yourself up better to attract clients? It's always better to focus and lock into one niche rather than try to spread yourself thin. You may think you'll maybe gain some jobs across five different ways, but realistically, you'll more likely fail five ways instead of succeeding in one. Does that make sense?
@@TheArtMentor of course I’d seen the video; I’ve been taking notes on all of your content as though I were cramming for finals since I’d found your channel! Awesome stuff, man!! I was more hoping than anything else, I suppose
200% on the ultra cheap "character sheets" artists. Thanks for pointing it out. A bunch of them are talented (which makes it even more painful to watch), but specially in Discord groups dedicated to commissions, they keep undercutting prices to each other, a race to the bottom maybe worse than Fiverr (as in, undercutting but without the Fiverr's traffic, worse of the worse). That said, some do some money, a very small few make a living due to taking most of the commissions, but helping increase the mediocrity of the business as a whole. Anyway, not sure if this entire whole commissions world is going to survive at all with AI.
Can I offer you some good news though? AI isn't hitting the market of commissions very much. Just the cheapest clients who never wanted to pay anyways. I made a whole video about that, have you seen it?
I believe my first comment was removed? Yeesh. You should update this video. I went to 2 of those subreddits you mentioned, one only asks free artworks, the other is not accepting new artists right now. Idk why my first comment is not here, but this is a heads up to baby artists out there who's just started dipping their toes in art commissions. stay safe, stay vigilant.
I haven't deleted any comments on this video, but YT does that sometimes. Those subreddits may have changed or altered since I recorded that segment, but what other subreddits have you explored? There are tons more that are very lucrative to this day. Myself and many artists in my community make the majority of their commissions off of that platform. Also, why the warning about staying safe? It’s far from a dangerous endeavor. Scams aside, which I’ve also made content of, it’s really great for all artists 👍
@@TheArtMentor For reddit, I have been going to subreddits for art comms for about 5 years now. I'm quite adept around it and it's power tripping mods hahahaha! (I managed to get banned in one when I was new because I broke the rule ONCE by accident). As for the "stay safe, stay vigilant", it is because many newbies fall into scams and I hate that. :( Just now, I had a referral run away from a finished work, they just dropped a down payment and don't want to pay for the whole thing (they don't have the file), and another redditor has blocked me after I finished an artwork (but I did ask for 25% down payment which they paid and no, they don't have the file either). I have been a freelance for 10 years now and crazy enough, nowadays, if people saw something in your art or a photo you shared online, you can get bullied for the stupidest reasons like on what happened to me. I was cyberbullied after I post a photo of my workspace reveal and on the right side of that photo, a transgender flag is peeking just a teeny tiny bit next to a Gundam display and they targeted me for that. They bullied me by posting nasty transphobic things in my artworks and talk shit about my artworks, some even call me fraud and use AI without a proof. It's insane. I have to go on a hiatus for 3 months after that, bec I just can't find work from all of that b.s and attacks. So I say, stay safe out there. And about the comments getting removed, I didn't know YT does that, guess I won the lottery for that one now haha!
To this day, I will never understand artists using the "sketch & lineart" options instead of just sticking with their FINISHED art. Unless they're an amazing sketch or line artist (cuz there are some artists like that 👍), they should NOT bother; especially if they underpay themselves. Sheesh, and these are the same artists that go on twitter & complain about ai or not getting noticed while screwing themselves to no end...
It depends on the job that they are applying for e.g. If I'm a writer and colourist looking to create a comic book series, I may want to team up a penciler who can also do inks.
Yeah I totally agree. Even if you did get hired for a line job, the pay makes it worthless, doesn’t it? How much better is it to have the satisfaction of a bigger paycheck AND a finished portfolio piece? 💪 no contest
This is a compilation of my most helpful videos on this topic from the last two years, and nope, there’s literally nothing that has changed. You can still use these methods and land clients, they work for me, and they work for everyone I coach . How long have you been using these platforms?
@@TheArtMentor Thanks for reply, it's been while I have watched your video these methods only worked for me twice in year. Have you tried any other methods? Like google ads, reddit ads or anything to supplement to reach?
@MultiHeheboy well what else are you doing to get the attention of clients, including in your artwork as well? Also why pay ads if you’re already not getting any returns out of free, algorithm-free posting? It’s not a good return either way. Are you trying to sell a product or get art commissions?
@@TheArtMentor Trying to get art commission. :) I have tried to do post once a week and publish at least one quality art week, joined and interacts with most of the reddit community like gamedev, dnd etc... Sometimes I get like 5,6k likes on some community. Still no commission worthwhile, so just thinking might as well as pay for ads rather than waiting and posting for months.
I am trying to get started at miniature and figure painting and I created a fiverr account. Before I took my first commission my account was disabled by violating the terms of service. No reason was given.
@TheArtMentor Not sure. There are a few other miniature painting services there. On the positive side of things, I did get my first commission on Instagram.
I work as a storyboard artist. I mostly work for animation studios. The job pays ok and usually contracts last for months. Also they let me work from home. 🎨🖼✏✒
That’s a sweet gig! How long have you been doing that, and are you seeking to get more freelance work now too?
@@TheArtMentor
Thanks. I have been a storyboard artist for animation for like 9 years now.
And yes I am looking for more opportunities. We just don't know when this gig will end.
I am also looking into concept art even 3d art.
Hi! I hpe everything is well with you, just want to know how the storyboard market is with I.A. I was wondering if I can work with it too.
how do you get hired as a storyboard artist?
What exactly did you study? If you don't mind me asking
I started making bank of furafinity ! The front page is chronological (no algorithm yay!) And clients are very very respectful and pay well!! Plus when people post your work on their page, their friends come to you for commissions also :)
One month I managed to get extra 300$ from clients that found me through their friends.
While mostly furry art is popular there, I sometimes get human/humanoid requests as well !
That’s awesome! 👏 so cool that you’re killing it there! How long have you been working in that niche?
@@TheArtMentor thanks ^^! It's been a year since I've started but I only managed to be at my best pace during summer break from uni. I hope to gather an audience there, and have a steady income from the website after I put in more work with posting 🙏
I've seen people (with a big following tho) sell somewhat simple designs for 500-1000$ at auctions. Artists I like that their queue full almost all the time . Hope to achieve that kind of success.
Furry artists are known for being very respectful of artists and they pay decently
I tried both DA and reddit. I did find some comms on Reddit, but they are overwhelmed by other folks. Your work needs to be either amazing or unusual to be given comms.
Most comms are for NSFW/anime art and there are loads of folks who already do that.
I don't really think these options are viable for continuous commissions, and I'd love for the Art Mentor to show us where he goes, how he talks to clients, and what his pay structure looks like.
I believe that this would help better than just telling us "go there".
How long have you been watching my content out curiosity? These are the exact places I go and how I get clients to this day. Also, I just last week compiled all of my tips for how I get art clients and how to prep more effectively for commissions, including how I speak to clients and more. Did you watch that, or would you like a link?
I’m a very open book, my friend. There’s nothing I show you here that I haven’t done myself 🙂
@@TheArtMentor I would like the links since I just started watching you. Also do you do art critiques? I'd love to have a professional opinion on my art.
When you got the " GROW YOUR FOLLOWING ? " part ... oh my god .... I'm just starting and spent the past few years building up my skill. I said I'd get to a point where i can post online then I'd grow my following to a point before ever doing even one commission . Today i watch your video and you inform me that this thought process is incorrect . The amazon example makes so much sense . @The Art Mentor thank you so much for pointing this out. I'm new and still learning how this all works .
Oh yeah, isn't that the strangest and most popularized advice you hear all the time? And how many artists try to grow a following fail, and then never create again? That's a tragic reality for too many artists
Thank you so much for this video. It really put me on the right track. I appreciate the compilation format, the updated info, and the way you take the time to respond to comments. Took sooo many notes, too.
Realizing that social media clout has little to do with art success is great news for me. Interacting with people is far more palatable than dealing with social media stress and toxicity. 😄 I don't want the harassment that comes with making it big on social media anyway.
I've spent a long time aimlessly and half-heartedly posting to Instagram, Tumblr, and others with barely any response. It's empowering to know that it's up to me to meet clients where they're at rather than wait for them to find me. Things just got quite a bit more exciting. Thanks again. 💖
That's great to hear how much you got out of this video! And it's all true isn't it? I mean, out of a huge following, would you be surprised to know that less than 10% of those people actually see your posts? And then from that, only 1% might even consider purchasing something from you? It's a big waste of time and totally out of your control when you look at things that way, isn't it?
goddamn thank you so much for this video. Genuinely the only video i've found that ACTUALLY explains how to get clients, i've been just getting lucky getting people from word of mouth or random dms on twitter-
Now i can have an actual plan!
Thanks a ton I'll put this into practice as soon as i've cleared my waiting list
happy to hear all of this! I used to be in the exact same place as you years ago, and on my channel, I want to help people just like you get better faster. So, I'm thrilled to hear this! What advice was most helpful for you in this video?
@@TheArtMentor Specifically knowing where to get clients via Deviant Art and Reddit!
I'm gonna clear my current waiting list and once that's done i'll try those platforms and hope for the best! Thanks again for the great video
i am hesitant to try deviant art before nightshade comes out. they had some shady practices in the past like using everyone's works for their own A.I out of nowhere.
what is nightshade?
@@monkeychichichi a special software to trick A.I training programs . it makes the A.I think your art has a completely different style and content. you can try glaze too which does something similar
@@ali32bit42 thanks
Yeah Deviant Art is a no go for me. But to each their own.
Oh yeah? Have you used it for clients before?
Deviantart is so frustrating. So many people are low balling artists, and I'm competing with people lying about AI usage.
How long have you been using it for commissions?
@@TheArtMentor3 months. I'm still working at it every week, and I'm increasing my skills as I go. I remember you didn't get a good commission for at least half a year when you started, so I'm still trying...but it's really disheartening to battle AI users lately
True, and it may take you time. But can I offer you this insight? Clients who want AI art won’t buy your art, and clients that won’t buy AI art also would rather work with an artist like you. Ai users won’t persuade anyone to one side okay? They aren’t a problem for serious clients. Only for the cheapest.
@@TheArtMentor I've been working on DA for 5 years now and in the last half a year things have been really bad for the site, I can only earn $300 instead of $1000 per month as before from my commissions and adopters ((I think this is because of their policy regarding AI and new algorithms
So what other platforms have you tried?
I appreciate that you have made compilations of your videos. I can watch them out easier.
Great to hear! That’s exactly what I was hoping for 😁 have you been enjoying my other compilation videos?
@@TheArtMentor Yes, when I have enough time, I try to watch them in chucks when I finally have time to draw. :D
I discovered your channel this month, and I've been watching your videos about commissions hoping to gain more knowledge (by the way, you're incredible, there's no one on TH-cam who teaches better than you in my country) and now you simply release a GENERAL GUIDE about everything the subject, I'm very excited!
Well thanks so much! It’s great to have you here 😁 so where are you from?
@@TheArtMentor I am from Brazil. There are many artists here who teach well too (like Guilherme Freitas from the Brush Rush channel) but on the subject of "commission" in specific, you do very well
Thanks for that! Happy to hear it’s been so informative for you and those in your country 😁 I hope you keep enjoying my content!
This is genuinely the most informative “art commissions” video I’ve seen! I’ve never thought of trying Reddit before, but I might give it a go. I’m not sure what sort of clients to look for though…I mostly draw feminine/fashion characters and I paint with gouache. 🎨✨
Also I just made an artistree page, but I didn’t know about the setbacks, so thank you for pointing those out. ✨✨
That's such a great medium! What kinds of commissions do you imagine yourself making?
@@TheArtMentor I’d mostly like to do character designs/ fashion illustrations.
I don't do digital art, but your advices are also helpful to me. You inspired me and gave new ideas. 🤗 Thx
happy to hear that! What was most helpful for you in this video?
man, i am getting addicted to his content 😅
Well thanks for your support and I'm happy to hear you're enjoying this! 😁
i started planing to do comissions for quite a while and by chance i found your channel, i thank you for sharing your knowledge. i'm quite unsure if i'll get clients since my art is not as professional as i would have liked it to be
Happy to hear this helped you! What kinds of commissions are you trying to get?
@@TheArtMentor Character Designs, basic ilustration and maybe model sheets. But i'm getting a litle discouraged since my competitors have better quality compared to mine sadly
Those are some really solid tips :)
(freelance illustration is brutal! Way harder than I ever imagined, even compared to being a comic book artist! At least, that sounds like that to me.)
Glad to hear you enjoyed! What was most helpful for you in this video?
@@TheArtMentor The first tip. I only realized the importance of staying in my lane and diversifying much later in my career. If I had recognized this earlier, things would have been much easier for me. So, this is the most valuable tip for newcomers, as I wish someone had shared this advice with me sooner.
exactly why I made this video! I want to help y'all get ahead of when I started 10 years ago lol
Sir most of us Artist sucks are selling our works, that Includes me, thank you for this video. I just hope that things will go better from this moment. Your video was a lot of help. Wish us luck 🤞
So glad to hear! What advice helped you the most in this video?
@@TheArtMentor maybe new updates about the current art market, and the changes about sites you endorsed and warned us about last time
glad to hear that helped!
I wished I had discovered this page much much sooner. I learned so much helpful information here for a couple of hours of watching your videos than I could in all of the art channels I followed on YT for the last 5-8 years. Very much appreciated! Liked and subscribed!
Thanks so much for your support, I'm thrilled to have you hear! What's been most helpful for you?
@@TheArtMentor It's more on the sense of direction for me. I've been struggling to get consistent job opportunities as a freelancer because I don't know where to look, where should I be looking for jobs, and/or choosing in-demand niches. Watching your videos has given me that sense of direction and I got a little bit of my confidence back. So thanks again for sharing your knowledge and imparting encouraging words through your videos. Highly appreciate it!
lmao! this is very helpful, I was very guilty that I responded a lot of times the same way they did. I need to improve on this.! thank you so much for this
Oh in regards to talking to clients or in posting examples?
Great video, I'll be adding some of these into my work searching routine!
Great to hear! Which practices are you excited to start using?
Thank you for giving me hope. I thought my only options were becoming an influencer or getting paid less than minimum wage on fiverr.
You’re very welcome my friend! It’s so obnoxious how prevalent that popular advice is? And how many fail at being an influencer? 😅
Thanks for this video! I plan to start doing this next month!
One thing I'm unsure of how to handle - with the idea of putting out so many offers/feelers, what is a good thing to do if get too many people taking you up on it? I know that's not likely, but I am still concerned about offering services to so many people, and then more than I can handle agreeing.
Good luck with your beginnings! For your question, can I offer you some advice? I'd expect that not to happen unless you are seriously undercharging yourself or if you have an insane social media following. Do you happen to have a considerable following?
TYSM man, your tips has been helping me alot keep it up 🔥
thank YOU for watching as well! What was most helpful for you in this video?
a great info ive actually been burning myself up on doing the jack of all trades system which i can do but it really is tiring and slow, i decided i would focus on NSFW for now and nail it
oh yeah, it's exhausting isn't it? how long have you been making art for that niche?
Tysm! Also i would like a part 2 for best sites, and i am curious about newgrounds.
Working on it!
@TheArtMentor cannot wait to see it. 😊
I quit DeviantArt years ago because of the complete lack of engagement. I would be willing to try again, but i frankly do not trust that the platform has artist's interests at heart and don't want to upload my art for them to potentially feed into an AI machine (like they already tried to do). I would be willing to try the forums however. Do you think linking to an external portfolio would be effective, or should I not bother if I don't have a strong body of work on DA itself? Thanks for the tips tho. I recently lost my job at Boring Office (tm) and figured it was as good a time as any to try giving art a shot again, these have been really useful and incredibly appreciated, as an introvert that hates marketing 😂.
Sorry to hear about your job loss! I hope you find something better.
For the forums, I would not recommend external links since people won't click on them. Would you like my guide on DA and how I used it to gain better engagement? The practices still work to this day
@@TheArtMentor thank you!
I see. I guess I might as well give it a shot. I lose nothing by trying, and your tips haven't failed me yet haha
I make handmade papercutting potraits, yeah portraits made with only papers.... I never had a US client till now, i hope that happens soon. I have a pretty good portfolio, made some artwork for celebrities etc.
That's quite an interesting story. What celebrities have you made those for? Also, how solid are you on the specific niche of those portraits?
Hello there!!
I can't find the job offers forum in DA
Can you give me the link or some way to find it please??
It's in the same place I show in this video, but the forum is called "Hire an Artist" now since they very recently retitled it
I'm having trouble understanding what kind of art people look for. Is it full on illustrations? Character sheets/designs, a bit of everything...
Can I reverse your question? What do YOU want to make art of?
I once did commissions.
Usually I try to get the grasp of what and how my commissioners want their pieces to be like. Mostly it's commissions using my art style, no style restrictions (I only take commissions that can fit my usual anime style). During the brainstorming/sketching phase, I seek feedback from them, in case they have some criticism that I must work on not just to retry the mistake, but to improve my art. At the end of the art process, I just scale the time taken on my art pieces with the final price, but I have a LOT of room for negotiation and consensus if they cannot meet my desired paycheck.
I might start getting myself organized and rack a good resume for commissions and for freelancer work. Declaring commissions is like racking up a good cover letter. But now that you brought up CONSISTENCY, then I'm more than relieved to just focus on what's more of my taste (Experimental is ALWAYS without time limit, where I have freedom in playing around with art styles, brushes, or discover something I never knew would help me in the future).
I think this applies to also doing UI or visual art (Web Development territory, mostly Front-End because this is where the fun begins)?
*_Unless anything I said about commissions might have beginner red flags, please do spread the word about how artists like me can really shine while still maintaining a stable business. I hope to find interesting takes on this._*
So can you clarify: are you getting paid before sketching?
@@TheArtMentor Most of the time it's just sketch for feedback (WIP previews, so I can hear some suggestions when it comes to tackling my weaknesses in art), "Preview of [final artwork]", get feedback, redo/improve, and if both me and my commissioner are okay with it, I then charge them at the end BEFORE giving the final artwork.
Not sure about the "paid beforehand" part, because recently I was warned about fake commissions (Scams requiring personal info which is TABOO on my end). I didn't really have legit experience with "Advanced Paychecks" (getting paid early since it scales with my time taken, plus the breaks in-between?).
Great info! For artists and those who want to hire artists.
This video is gold! I was already selling my commissions online, but I'll apply these advice to improve. Thank you so much
Great to hear! What advice in this do you want to implement into your current practices?
I've been working on DA for 5 years now and in the last half a year things have been really bad for the site, I can only earn $300 instead of $1000 per month as before from my commissions and adopters ((I think this is because of their policy regarding AI and new algorithms, Although I try as before and even more, putting all the love into my art..
Can I ask how you're seeking commissions on the platform and what you're doing differently? Also, what new platforms have you tried?
@@TheArtMentor I usually don’t do anything special, I just draw and people come to me themselves, unless I use DA groups) Now I'm trying Toyhouse and getting orders from there, but it's all much less than before QwQ
Hello i had a question about deviant art, the way that the page is set up now is “customer focused” I was trying to see if I could reach out like the method you mentioned in the video but the way the site is set up now artists are just posting and hoping for some client to pay for work. There are so many low ball prices I don’t even think I should post.
Oh wait Nevermind I figured it out 🤣
I can't reach or never find clients in deviant art.
I even opened full body piece as 40$ but no one seems to be interested.
May be I have bad luck or smth like that.
Have you done your prep work like I outlined in the video prior to this?
@@TheArtMentor
I haven't yet and I'm trying after watching yur vid.
I hope it'll be helpful.
it definitely will
One time I asked a client what they wanted so I could determine the price and they just wouldn't accept that answer because they didn't know what they wanted. I tried to explain that more complex work would be a higher price and then they went and commissioned someone else. Extremely annoying.
Yeah I’ve encountered that too! Doesn’t it make you wonder why they even messaged you in the first place? Lol.
However, you’re aware that they were a scammer, right?
I have been posting on DA forums for several months now and I got no response. I have also posted on Reddit, Facebook groups and I got scammers. Still I keep on posting hoping to get clients
It takes a while okay? Also, are you posting exactly according to how I recommend in this video?
Hey I am looking for a Comic artist I like to commissions two illustration
@koalafromtomorrow5656 Sounds interesting. Could you please send me a DM on instagram? My link is in the description
Hey I am looking for artist I be willing to pay half upfront
Did you see my previous response?
l'm actually a client watching this video to find out where the artists are. I'm SOOOO tired of all the bad artists posting on Fiverr or Deviantart or wherever else. So many actual artists have left those platforms, and it's confusing to find a way to commission them now, especially with all these "artists" using other people's pictures, ai work, or cringy fetish stuff to get buyers or else having very unprofessional, unclean looking work. Was hoping to see where the artists are opening commissions these days.
But I will say that I don't like "hourly" pay online, because--if we're being honest, there's no way to PROVE that they spent 5 hours or 15 hours on the material, and as a commissioner I'm also uncomfortable with ambiguous prices when I'm planning out my budget. If it's $50 or $1500, I want to know up front. At some point, the final product has a set worth based on what it is, not how long it made to create it--though the time spent creating works should be considered when estimating the final price, I agree.
It's cool of you to be here and offer your thoughts, so thanks! I've been toying with an idea of making a video for art clients on how to commission an artist and where to find them. What do you think about that?
@@TheArtMentor That would be awesome!
@@AmiAzuren It varies. Can be things like character concept art, or illustrations, cover arts, landscapes--I usually like to commission a variety of different styles.
Walmart of Artists...what a stigma. 😂 Thanks for that. It's important to play to your strengths and not do everything.
Glad to hear that hit home for you! 😁 thanks so much!! How prepared are you feeling to get started freelancing?
@@TheArtMentor thanks! To be honest, I'm just happy making and selling original music on my website. I'm polishing my skills this year before cranking out a worthy portfolio. My strengths definitely lie in upbeat and ambient electronic music. So, if clients ever want orchestral game music, I'd have to steer them to someone else. 😊
that's a great goal, and I wish you loads of success!
You keep on mentioning that we shouldn't underpay ourselves, but how do we even know how much our art is worth? Plus wouldn't it be better for the client to know how much money should they be expected to pay before they reach out to the artist? It would be less embarrassing for them if they don't have enough money for the commission.
I would love to charge more for my art since my country's currency is more expensive than USD so I'll still get less money regardless, but if I start charging more I might lose the clients I already have
Can I answer that with a question? Why does your geography matter so much and the current clients don’t represent the future you want? It’s great to appreciate what you have, but if you tether yourself to your circumstances and current clients then you have no hope of surpassing where you are right now. How does that sound?
@@TheArtMentor understandable, but honestly when u live around people who wouldn't even pay the equivalent of 10 dollars for your art, suddenly the 40 Dollars that you get from other people outside of your country matter a lot that you fear if you ask too much you'll be back to square 1.
You know your stuff, can you tell me how much should I expect for the drawing in my profile picture for example? I'm sure I can figure out the rest from there 💜🫰🏻
27:20. If they ask, is it a good idea to ask what their budget is? 🤔
Good question! I would never recommend asking that because it takes the power away from you. Just lead them through a qualifying conversation and end with what your price is, not theirs. Does that make sense? I have a whole video on how to discuss with art clients if you'd like. Would you like a link?
@@TheArtMentor Sure! That would be helpful
th-cam.com/video/BrExD3WUDkw/w-d-xo.html
How specific would you say one should be when deciding on what art they make? For example should I say I do video game fan art or would it be even better to focus on only Zelda art or Sonic art commissions?
Good question! I’d say very specific to the niche. Like for me, I do DnD and fantasy, but I’m not overly focused into “elf only dnd”. Does that clarify? Also, have you tested those markets and seen if there is a demand?
@TheArtMentor yes that clarifies things. It seems like the more specific the genre or subject the better. Also while I'm not sure if there is much demand or not for Zelda fan art comissions. I do know there is in the sonic fandom. However I don't think my heart would be in it. I'd much rather draw something related to Zelda or Final Fantasy if there's a somewhat considerable demand
Mr Mentor! What's your opinion on UPwork?
It could be okay for small jobs, but for longevity, it’s not much better than Fiverr 😅
Hello!
How do you deal with devianart notes not allowing you to send artwork? Do you ask the client to move to Discord DMs or what's the best way to approach sending work?
Easy answer! So I usually chat with them for a bit and then move right over to Discord DMs for the entire rest of the discussion. That way it's unlimited as far as what you can do. How does that work for you?
@@TheArtMentor Oh, I found a way to share images through devian art using the "stash" but Discord is still my favorite way of communication. Thanks for the reply
I can't draw but this was quite interesting to watch~
Thanks! From your differing perspective, what was helpful for you?
@@TheArtMentor It was a bit interesting that the commission page was something not to do. I've seen them often enough that I thought it was just what you did at first.
I also thought it was interesting that the price point was so low for some of that stuff and that the artists could get like 3~4 times more.
@Sb129 yeah those are some frequent issues I’ve noticed with especially beginner artists. Thanks for watching and chatting!
Curious… say you actually are some sort of Kim Jung Gi, Michelangelo, or other ninja turtle… wouldn’t you have separate portfolios with no bleed over to share around to your proper perspective clients?
So to be clear, you’re asking if you should have separate portfolios for separate styles/genres?
@@TheArtMentor in a more succinct manner, yes; that’d be my question
Honestly, that's a recipe for disaster and disappointment. Did you see the video prior to this on what you can do to set yourself up better to attract clients? It's always better to focus and lock into one niche rather than try to spread yourself thin. You may think you'll maybe gain some jobs across five different ways, but realistically, you'll more likely fail five ways instead of succeeding in one. Does that make sense?
@@TheArtMentor of course I’d seen the video; I’ve been taking notes on all of your content as though I were cramming for finals since I’d found your channel! Awesome stuff, man!!
I was more hoping than anything else, I suppose
200% on the ultra cheap "character sheets" artists. Thanks for pointing it out. A bunch of them are talented (which makes it even more painful to watch), but specially in Discord groups dedicated to commissions, they keep undercutting prices to each other, a race to the bottom maybe worse than Fiverr (as in, undercutting but without the Fiverr's traffic, worse of the worse). That said, some do some money, a very small few make a living due to taking most of the commissions, but helping increase the mediocrity of the business as a whole. Anyway, not sure if this entire whole commissions world is going to survive at all with AI.
Can I offer you some good news though? AI isn't hitting the market of commissions very much. Just the cheapest clients who never wanted to pay anyways. I made a whole video about that, have you seen it?
@@TheArtMentor Not yet... I will watch it. :) And I hope you are right. :)
AI didn't ruin art commissions, but this did...
th-cam.com/video/5kBcJgeBH0A/w-d-xo.html
I believe my first comment was removed? Yeesh.
You should update this video. I went to 2 of those subreddits you mentioned, one only asks free artworks, the other is not accepting new artists right now.
Idk why my first comment is not here, but this is a heads up to baby artists out there who's just started dipping their toes in art commissions. stay safe, stay vigilant.
I haven't deleted any comments on this video, but YT does that sometimes. Those subreddits may have changed or altered since I recorded that segment, but what other subreddits have you explored? There are tons more that are very lucrative to this day. Myself and many artists in my community make the majority of their commissions off of that platform.
Also, why the warning about staying safe? It’s far from a dangerous endeavor. Scams aside, which I’ve also made content of, it’s really great for all artists 👍
@@TheArtMentor
For reddit, I have been going to subreddits for art comms for about 5 years now. I'm quite adept around it and it's power tripping mods hahahaha! (I managed to get banned in one when I was new because I broke the rule ONCE by accident).
As for the "stay safe, stay vigilant", it is because many newbies fall into scams and I hate that. :(
Just now, I had a referral run away from a finished work, they just dropped a down payment and don't want to pay for the whole thing (they don't have the file), and another redditor has blocked me after I finished an artwork (but I did ask for 25% down payment which they paid and no, they don't have the file either). I have been a freelance for 10 years now and crazy enough, nowadays, if people saw something in your art or a photo you shared online, you can get bullied for the stupidest reasons like on what happened to me. I was cyberbullied after I post a photo of my workspace reveal and on the right side of that photo, a transgender flag is peeking just a teeny tiny bit next to a Gundam display and they targeted me for that. They bullied me by posting nasty transphobic things in my artworks and talk shit about my artworks, some even call me fraud and use AI without a proof. It's insane. I have to go on a hiatus for 3 months after that, bec I just can't find work from all of that b.s and attacks. So I say, stay safe out there.
And about the comments getting removed, I didn't know YT does that, guess I won the lottery for that one now haha!
Sorry to hear all that! I wish you loads of success though
thank you@@TheArtMentor I hope we both get great success
What’s all those parts behind you?
You mean in the background of my videos?
saw a beefy orc gal' .. SUBSCRIBED.
That’s a win in my book! Haha thanks
To this day, I will never understand artists using the "sketch & lineart" options instead of just sticking with their FINISHED art.
Unless they're an amazing sketch or line artist (cuz there are some artists like that 👍), they should NOT bother; especially if they underpay themselves. Sheesh, and these are the same artists that go on twitter & complain about ai or not getting noticed while screwing themselves to no end...
It depends on the job that they are applying for e.g. If I'm a writer and colourist looking to create a comic book series, I may want to team up a penciler who can also do inks.
Yeah I totally agree. Even if you did get hired for a line job, the pay makes it worthless, doesn’t it? How much better is it to have the satisfaction of a bigger paycheck AND a finished portfolio piece? 💪 no contest
@LauraTeAhoWhite that’s legit in some circumstances so long as it’s respectable pay. What do you typically offer?
I found where but ready for me 😅
Can you clarify please? Happy to help, but I didn’t understand your question 😅
@TheArtMentor
Oh sorry, I found where to find clients. In a Facebook group 😅
There is an error in the sentence.
"I found where, but *not ready for me"
Video seems to be from 3 years ago, any update on this? Have you commission recently? It seems to be changed.
This is a compilation of my most helpful videos on this topic from the last two years, and nope, there’s literally nothing that has changed. You can still use these methods and land clients, they work for me, and they work for everyone I coach . How long have you been using these platforms?
@@TheArtMentor Thanks for reply, it's been while I have watched your video these methods only worked for me twice in year. Have you tried any other methods? Like google ads, reddit ads or anything to supplement to reach?
@MultiHeheboy well what else are you doing to get the attention of clients, including in your artwork as well? Also why pay ads if you’re already not getting any returns out of free, algorithm-free posting? It’s not a good return either way. Are you trying to sell a product or get art commissions?
@@TheArtMentor Trying to get art commission. :) I have tried to do post once a week and publish at least one quality art week, joined and interacts with most of the reddit community like gamedev, dnd etc... Sometimes I get like 5,6k likes on some community. Still no commission worthwhile, so just thinking might as well as pay for ads rather than waiting and posting for months.
@MultiHeheboy you realize that your issue isn’t exposure though, right? That’s all an ad will do. How many subreddits are you posting to?
Yup, INSTAGRAM is 100% the worst place to find and create your commission.
Have you found it useless as well?
I am trying to get started at miniature and figure painting and I created a fiverr account. Before I took my first commission my account was disabled by violating the terms of service. No reason was given.
Was it because of it being a physical product-based service?
@TheArtMentor Not sure. There are a few other miniature painting services there. On the positive side of things, I did get my first commission on Instagram.