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Can any fellow artists help me? + Meaningless venting.
15 years ago
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~ ATTENTION ARTISTS ~
So, how did any of you guys go with selling your art the first time you tried? Did it take as long as this is taking me? I haven't even sold ANYTHING. And it's making me slightly upset and frustrated. v.v;;
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MEANINGLESS VENTING ~
So, Mazza just talked to me about Radfur... I then began to get slightly depressed... I can never go to one of these things, only till I'm like 25... I just know it.
My life has been filled with poverty, and I hate it, I can't even get a job now that Mum thought it would have been best for me to stay home today, even though I can't go to school all of next week due to surgery and the week after due to School Holidays, Mr. Kinna told me to give this Tax File Number shit to him, not send it off myself!
So I'm screwed, I can't get new clothes till Christmas, can't go to anything fun, but the fortnightly FurMeet of which Mum gives me $20(which deprives us of some food money, anyway, so Mum then makes me feel guilty on the next Tuesday and Wednesday when we're literally starving)... this year, she says will be different, but I know that nearing AVCon she will back out saying I can't go, like last time.
So it isn't even worth saying I wanna go to Radfur instead, seeing that the plans will be ruined anyway...
TL;DR~ I whine too much about petty little things and dunno how to stop it. >w<;;
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As for selling your art, don't be in any rush. I rushed into it when I was 16 and I regretted it. It meant that I couldn't develop my style and I got ripped off a few times.
Heres my first comish: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1678730/ which I did four years ago and I was kinda stuck with that style until recently where I have been able to experiment a bit more with my commissions.
That much said, if you understand what I am saying and still want to go into commissioning, here are some tips:
Don't undersell yourself. So many artists fall into this trap when they start off. If an artwork takes you 6 hours to complete DO NOT sell it for $20. Your time is worth more than that.
Spend time on your art. I usually spend 15 hours on each commission these days. The more effort and time you put in, the more it will show in the final artwork.
set up a paypal account, if you haven't already.
Ask for the payment upfront, or get a deposit.
Join 'Artists Beware' http://community.livejournal.com/artists_beware
Get critique from others. (I usually use /ic/, but they can be really harsh. You've been warned)
Critique your own work, and fix the problems.
Study anatomy. http://snigom.deviantart.com/art/Ma.....terns-44663581
Use photographic references while you are starting out.
Don't eye-ball other artists work.
Experiment with styles. Don't just draw manga, you won't learn much.
Do some drawings from life. Once you are 16 you can (with parental permission) go to life-drawing classes. I highly suggest doing it. I joined when I was 16 and it has helped me TONES, and it is really cheap, and sometimes free. My first life drawing class was $10 a fortnight, that covered the art supplies (paint, paper, charcoal) it paid for dinner (pizza, garlic bread yum!) and you get free drinks for the entire night.. but since you are under 18 they will only let you have orange juice, water or coke. :P
That is pretty much it.
Life drawing and practice are the two most important ones there. You'll find that once you get more experience and more quality to your artworks the commissioners will flock to your page. ;)