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Regarding Commissions
16 years ago
As a general rule for commissioning in the future, I will pay half when I see the sketch, the other half when the art is done. Any other options you may have, I will listen to but it will vary on a case-by-case basis.
I feel that paying first is actually a hindrance to the artist and very often slows things down among other things. There is no longer an incentive to finish it either. I believe that when something is paid first, it in effect "doubles" the burden or load upon the artist doing the work as they now have the job of doing the commission AND they now are in debt to the commissioner money-wise as well.
I'm well aware that many require payment first because they've done commissions before and never got paid, however, that has happened on both sides of the coin for many people.
If anyone has any thoughts on this matter, by all means share them.
I feel that paying first is actually a hindrance to the artist and very often slows things down among other things. There is no longer an incentive to finish it either. I believe that when something is paid first, it in effect "doubles" the burden or load upon the artist doing the work as they now have the job of doing the commission AND they now are in debt to the commissioner money-wise as well.
I'm well aware that many require payment first because they've done commissions before and never got paid, however, that has happened on both sides of the coin for many people.
If anyone has any thoughts on this matter, by all means share them.
If a artist requires payment first that is their choice due to some precious incident of not getting the money. For a fact though some (like me) if I know the person very well like a close friend I'll let them pay me whenever they can before or after the artwork completion. This way I know I'll get it eventually in the near future and not 5yrs down the road.
Theres also a half payment way. The artist will draw up concepts and linearts and the buyer can pay half. Once the final piece is done the buyer can see the piece but the artist covers it up with a faint watermark so they can't steal it. Once the final payment is sent they'll get the full sized and smaller watermark version. This of course only works on a digitla, but I'm sure people could work with it on real media as well.
Again personal thoughts around the situation, but no gurantee it would work for everyone.
I still feel that paying first is a hindrance (as mentioned earlier) whether it's realized, consciously or not.