I might have a few different views on the whole "what it's worth" thing because of how I value art relative to my other "more justified investments" (a car vs art - car wins; rent vs art - rent wins; candy vs art - art wins), but... Have you noticed the people that complain the most about commission rates often don't draw themselves? Not that long ago, I hissed and spat about an artist charging $300+ - but that was my view; because I couldn't justify spending that much money on one piece.

His [Zhaarteth's?] main argument, though, that to charge more than $60, though, is... Cheap. >_O I'm no Michaelangelo, but even my most expensive pieces are $75.

*Raises an eyebow*

Oh well.

HOW THE HECK ARE YOU, ANYWAY?! *BROHUGS*

"Because I couldn't justify spending that much money on one piece."

I later conceded that yes, if an artist could get that much for their commissions, all the power to 'em! But I wouldn't - nay, couldn't - justify buying from them at that price. $150 per piece is about my personal limit, not because I don't think an artist is entitled to their wage, but simply because it's all I can justify on my income. ;D

Yeah, there's always going to be a limit to what people can afford, and that's fine, but it doesn't mean those that can't afford it should go around telling the artists to lower their prices like this guy seems to be implying.


Anyway,
I'm well. Things are all pretty good in my life right now. Work is treating me well enough, though I could do with maybe one less shift per week than what I'm getting.
I've finally got back into some physical activity after about 6 months off due to injury and sheduling problems. Now I train in martial arts with some friends on Sundays and it's a lot of fun. I end up very sore on Monday though.
I'm still plodding along with my daily sketches and making progress on my skills and techniques there.
I've got plenty of good video games and books to keep me entertained too, so everything is good.
Since the start of this year I've been learning to play guitar thanks to the new video game called Rocksmith. It's like Guitar Hero but you use a real guitar instead of a plastic toy with buttons. I just got some new songs for that so I'm pretty keen to practice that some more too.

*brohugs* *ow have you been?

Ah, let them be cranky... the world is not about to change because of them. If an artist can get money for what they're doing, good luck to them I say!! I love buying commissions from artists that I love.

While I can't charge by the hour for my sewing (a plush like Enigma's thylacine would cost me $280 alone, $19 x 20hr), it's not a career for me. To be honest, I don't think I will take commissions on a regular basis. I've had A LOT more fun with gift plushes than any of the commission plush I made in the past. I love the challenge of pattern manipulation, commissions mean you have a time schedule and a demand. It can be stressful. Like any artist though, if I sold a commission slot, I'm not going to do it for a peasant's wage!

$60 for a plush that took me 25+ hours? I could go busking for more money per hour. Stuff that!

Yeah, that's the same reasoning that keeps me away from doing paid commissions most of the time.
No one will want to pay me appropriately for my time and I refuse to rip myself off by offering things dirt cheap.
Still, I've been getting faster and faster with my drawing and painting, so one day it may be possible for me to sell art and still charge a reasonable hourly rate for it.

I'm not going to reply on that journal, because it seems to be full of drama and anger. Pity that he got so huffy with you.

I agree, the prices on that image are too high, and comparing furry art to professional illustration isn't reasonable because it works so differently and the art goes to different purposes. Also, the level of skill is consistently high (and formally qualified) in the industry but in the fandom there are people at a range of skill levels.

However, I do think the prices for art in the fandom are very low, and they usually work out to a very low rate per hour. What I have noticed is that it is very difficult for qualified, talented artists to earn a living out of furry art even if they are working full time or more and have no trouble filling up their commission list. As you say there is unintentional undercutting going on because there are so many artists who don't depend on furry art for income or are entirely hobbyists charging money as a bonus.

But yeah I get it, hundreds of dollars for one thing is a big buy even if it's top quality, and being able to afford art is a big part of the furry fandom for lots of people. I think that image did have a good point, despite using an exaggerated example - the prices in the fandom are comparatively low, so buyers should recognise that it is an unusual opportunity and not a given. Of course that doesn't excuse artists being arrogant, but I haven't encountered that myself.