I normally expect a file to be at least 1000 in one direction. I however tend to work 2000+ and give the person it's for up to 1600 in either direction unless they have paid for a higher quality piece. Since normally 1600 since it makes for an adequate wallpaper for their desktop or smaller poster print out.

I always give the commissioner the full size and then the resized image as well, though normally I don't need to do so because a finished piece rarely reaches over 2000 pixels wide...

It really depends how much detail there is; if you put a ton of detail in your images, when it's expected to be much larger, probably averaging 2500 wide or so, but if you're like me and draw mostly cartoons, then 1200x1200 is my average

Highly ranges for the artist :/

A typical A1 paper size would be a nice canvas size for finished commissions. Check here for references: http://www.prepressure.com/library/paper-size

I haven't commissioned from you yet, so a nice and large size would be very good. :)

Also, if it's free artwork, or something quick, I wouldn't care if it's small or large--it'd be totally up to the artist.

I'd like for it to be nice and big, and not pixelated, so I can zoom in and look all of the details over.

That's just it in a nutshell for me.

Depends on the price, honestly.
I personally work on a HUGE canvas, 5000x5000 but I dont always fill up the whole thing.
For commissions; my larger projects always get a "resized" version (upload size) and full rez.

^This :'D

Hmm... okay, cool. :D
(yes i'm totally replying to my own journal like it's a forum shhhh)

I used to do at least 2000 pixels, but lately I've been working bigger and bigger. The last few commissions I've done have been 3000-6000 px at the biggest side. So that seems like a good size range.

most of my canvases run 2kx2k up to 5kx5k.

just depends on how detailed i plan on working o.o'

I work on a 4000x4000
Seems better quality for small details and lines that way. I usually email the commissioner the full sized piece if they want it. ^-^

Depends on the picture in all honesty
Sometimes I work normally 1500x1500
Sometimes I make it larger or smaller
I fuck around with it all the time

Unless it's supposed to be something small, I agree with Syntharia - at least 1000px in one direction. For more expensive commissions, I'd probably expect something more in the range of 2000-3000px in one direction.

I go by the same guidelines in my own art. Sketches are around 1000px, higher-detail paintings are more in the range of 3000px.

That being said, I don't think there's ever been a time when I've received a commission and been bothered by the size of it in any way. I don't print a lot of them though, and it would probably matter more if I did.

I expect the art to be about 2x size in each direction of the FA version. It could be 1.5x to 2x and I'd be happy.

For digital art, mine are about 9x12" at 600dpi. Hyooge! And I do give that size to my client, but with the request that they don't redistribute it and just keep it for personal uses. I don't actually paint in all the tiny details zoomed in or anything, but it makes it really easy to make nice big prints later.

Dang, that's big! D:

You bring up a good point; I always feel obliged to make it look all clean and detailed at 100% zoom, so sometimes big canvasses can be the death of me. But I'm learning (slowly) to put details where they belong, and leave the rest implied...

I usually start with a digital canvas of 20inx20in, though actually I usually size up the canvas as I'm drawing. I dunno, it just works for me.
I post a 10inx10in or smaller with watermark on FA though for my page, and give the commissioner both files. They're welcome to post either size on any art or personal website, I don't really mind either way as long as I get credit.

You're quite welcome! ovo

I love hearing what other people have to say about various things; it's so nice having such a wide array of responses!

I like to start with canvases around 2500 or 3000 a side and draw zoomed out to about 25%. Then I can zoom in for finer details :3 I've found working smaller can make it hard to get facial details, hands, and that kind of thing right...

as far as uploading, I try to keep it under 1000 per side, but will email/link commissioners to higher resolution copies if they desire.

My pictures often exceed 2500x2500, so when i size it down, it still retains it's quality ^.=.^
Unless i absolutely have to size it down, i don't size it down. I just post it and send out the file to the client ^.=.^