I have seen artists start auctions at 200GBP.. its crazy, their artwork is amazing but a lot of people can not afford it.

and that's why it's stupid. they have limited their work to only a few people, thus if commissioners ever decide not to commission said artist, then there goes a huge chunk of income.

Now if the like detailed piece was $65 I could understand that.
I have seen auctions go up to $350.
I am not dissing the artists or anything but some prices are crazy.

I am not dissing them either, but any artist that charges that much is just insane to think it right in any way as a set price. auctions are different, that is the people's choice, but not set prices

That's what I've never understood--unless your sketches are super-detailled and super-clean, who would pay that high for a set of sketches?

I have some negative feelings for prices on YCH pieces, as well........

well, i know some who charge around $20 at most for a full color YCH. i agree though and even if you have super high detailed sketches, it's only a bloody sketch. the hell?

Yeah. My issue with YCH is the limitation of the character--some body-types are immediately exempt from a piece. And brings on “mass production” of art. Digital may be the thing now...but it has also brought down the originality of individual artist works--or at least to me.

If I'm getting a physical traditional piece, I'd gladly pay $50 to an artist. I'm more wary when it comes to a digital piece, how much I'd be willing to pay if I could get commissions like that. But maybe it's me personally........because I'm old and from a pre-digital era.

no, not at all, what you say makes perfect sense. though with only a few exceptions, i noticed the same with YCH

It may be that the internet has influenced people who offer commission work, too. If someone sees someone selling art for $30, they may think they could easily offer the same, even if they're not established as a commisson artist. I think that may be why sketches and amateur artists charge more money than they should for works.

I agree to an extent due to that seems very likely, but also that the smart artists ask others opinions on that and go from there ^_^ and no, i am not insulting any artist

I went to a panel at FC that talked about commissioning and they said that you should always weigh the amount of time you spend and materials used when setting your prices. Once again...this sets me to thinking digital vs. tradtional--I could see traditional costing more, over digital. Because...trust me, if you're paying $7 per art marker...traditional's not cheap. Yet...I think I see digital artists charging MORE than traditional artists for pieces. It's weird to look at things...weighing the artist's thoughts and the commissioner's thoughts...and the real cost of doing a piece of artwork.

they see the fact that the art is done fast it should cost more, or the fact their equipment costs more raises prices, the realism costs more, just so many dumb variables

Yeah...when, really...a digital artist will never run out of a color in the middle of a piece.

I've done that...and had to completely change how I colored a character, because at the time I couldn't buy Copic markers around here.

I know what you mean, the only thing they need to buy is pen nibs if they use a tablet. that's why my mate doesn't extort her prices, though no one commissions her yet

From what I understand...pen nibs do last awhile, unless your hand is heavy. The tablet I was given is different and doesn't replace the nibs...but the pen takes batteries. It's like a battery-driven stylus (like for the Nintendo DS systems).

okay, i see what you mean then, and they do, and is also my point that it's in-expensive

Yep, from those I know with Bamboo tablets (which seems to be most people), you can even buy pen nibs in packets of 5 or more--so overall, if your paying like $10 for a pack of five nibs...a tradtional artist has to pay $70 for a basic set of art markers, or $20 for a basic set of paints (+ $10-20 more for brushes, cleaners, etc.).

So the next time a digital artist tries to slam a put-down on a traditional artist...I'd like to hand them my bill for art supplies.

lol, i know what you mean

Hmm, I do agree with you Malix, that is a bit outrageous for just plain sketches. Now, if the sketch was super detailed, almost like a portrait, then yes, I could see charging $45 for it, but not $65.

Now, to go with what you and keirajo had been discussing, about digital vs traditional: I do feel that sometimes digital should be cheaper than traditional, however, digital artists pay just as much as traditional artists when it comes to their art. While traditional artists have to pay for materials and supplies, digital artists have to pay for equipment and programs as well. Most decent art programs I've come across cost at least $300 or more, and that's just for the basic program. If you want the extra features that the program offers, then that's an additional cost as well. You figure that most digital artists have three art programs that they bounce between, so that's, at the bare minimum, $900 right there. Now, in order to do their art properly, they need a good tablet. The cheapest, good quality, tablet I've found ran for $75. BUT, if they want to do amazing art, then the artist will probably spring for the higher end tablets, or a tablet PC, which can range anywhere from $200-$700. The artist has to make that money back some how, so that's why some artists charge more for digital than traditional.

I'm not saying that doing traditional isn't cheaper than digital (believe me, I'm a traditional artist, so I know how much my supplies cost!), but I just wanted to bring up somethings that have been over-looked in the discussion above. I think it just really boils down to how talented the artist is, and what they feel is fair pricing on their art. If they feel like they deliver better art digitally in an hour than I do traditionally in a day, then they do have the right to charge more than me. But if they're at the same level as me, or below my level, then they should at least match my prices, if not be lower.

The best way to figure out what to charge for commissions, at least in my honest opinion, is to just look around at what others who work in the same medium as you (sculpture, digital, traditional, crafts, etc, etc.), and see what they charge, then compare what your skills level is against theirs. If you can do the same as them, then make your prices similar. If you feel you're at a lesser level then them, then you might be forced to sell your stuff cheaper. At the bare minimum, at least, charge the price of supplies/materials.

Sorry for the long-ass comment, just getting my opinions out there on this. xD

don't worry, I understand what you are saying, and unless connected like i am, you do pay out the ass for your programs and such, but my focus is monocrome sketches, not even inked. but you have very valid points to what you say. I however being oh so very conected in this world am able to get things for less than most. you are one person that helped with that, but i got all of Adobe for very cheap. though im a connected bastard XD though long, your thing was insightful in the least