suggestions on actually getting commissions??
10 years ago
General
Okay, so, I generally don't gripe about not being able to pick up commission work, especially since I went, like, two years on a commission hiatus (which was great, don't get me wrong, it was the best idea). But now that I want to do commissions and I feel comfortable doing them....there's nothin'.
I think I've picked up maybe five things of paid work in the last couple months?
I can't figure out what's 'wrong'. I have a pretty wide range of prices and I always state that what's not on my comm sheet can always be inquired about. I'm offering both digital and traditional stuff (though i need to do a price sheet for traditional work, i suppose now) with pieces from headshot sketches to full color badges.
I've been posting everywhere I have a site (here, facebook, instagram, tumblr, weasyl, sofurry, reddit - those primarily), but I haven't been posting so much it's been obnoxious, I don't think (cause i know when i see people doing that it can get kind of annoying). I've been using appropriate tags on the places that have tags, my stuff has been signal boosted by both friends and relatively popular artists in the fandom (waitress/hensa and anya/loadedpistol in particular).
It's so frustrating because I'd like to be doing commission work and I'd like to be bringing in a little extra cash to help with all the crap going on in my personal life (bills, vet bills, other bills, etc., etc., the never-ending bills of adulthood).
I just...I don't know what I'm missing or what I maybe should be doing, where else I could advertise, what else I could do to get more interest at all.
Suggestions??
I think I've picked up maybe five things of paid work in the last couple months?
I can't figure out what's 'wrong'. I have a pretty wide range of prices and I always state that what's not on my comm sheet can always be inquired about. I'm offering both digital and traditional stuff (though i need to do a price sheet for traditional work, i suppose now) with pieces from headshot sketches to full color badges.
I've been posting everywhere I have a site (here, facebook, instagram, tumblr, weasyl, sofurry, reddit - those primarily), but I haven't been posting so much it's been obnoxious, I don't think (cause i know when i see people doing that it can get kind of annoying). I've been using appropriate tags on the places that have tags, my stuff has been signal boosted by both friends and relatively popular artists in the fandom (waitress/hensa and anya/loadedpistol in particular).
It's so frustrating because I'd like to be doing commission work and I'd like to be bringing in a little extra cash to help with all the crap going on in my personal life (bills, vet bills, other bills, etc., etc., the never-ending bills of adulthood).
I just...I don't know what I'm missing or what I maybe should be doing, where else I could advertise, what else I could do to get more interest at all.
Suggestions??
FA+

Other than that, all I can say is that 25 bucks seems to be a rather steep pricepoint. I don't know how long it takes you so I can't comment on whether or not it's a good value, but I can safely say that you're being undercut by other artists offering anywhere from 5-20 dollar sketches.
Maybe work on offering some 'line-only' sketches without so much detailing? Your Character Here pieces also seem to be popular.
I'd also second Loadedpistol's comment that branching out into styles with a broader appeal could help, though I wouldn't go as far as to suggest you should draw porn. That's a matter you need to decide on your own.
I am going to be 100% honest with you here- I honestly, really truly believe that the 'kemono' style (humanoid faces) generally, does not have a popular niche in the fandom. Muzzles and toony styles seem to reign supreme for the most part- your style looks pretty human in terms of face- and I've noticed that, in my own work, if I am drawing human type faces and post them here they don't get too much recognition versus the things I draw with the muzzles.
That being said, broadening your style may garner more views and in turn get commission work. People really seem to appreciate style diversity, so it really takes a lot of experimenting and getting out of your comfort zone.
Going through your gallery you have a lot of flat coloured work. You may want to try some shading outside of cel shade and experiment more with colour theory to make your work pop. The more noticeable your work is on the front page from everyone elses', the more views you get, the more interested people are to commission.
Also? Porn- or tasteful nudes... especially on this site. I hate to say it, but people loooove the stuff. It gets your work out there.
Ads help too, pretty much everything TheBraveLittle said. You need to be posting at least somewhat regularly- once a day or so. I don't really do that, but I have learned not to clean out my gallery so peoples' favorites of my work will be noticed and clicked on and get watches.
Also, it's con season- so a lot of people are saving up for them. Don't really be discouraged. In the end I just say, keep doing what you're doing, keep posting art.
And as I've said before, though the artist might not want to hear it, practice human figures. Loose sketches, observational studies, especially hands and feet (which are your weak spots). Even rough sketches with proper anatomy is better than seeing someone drawing wibbly shapes with giant dongs tacked on. Unless that's your thing and it makes you money, so be it.
Which leads me to agree again with
There's a ton of people on here drawing what you draw for less money. That's the sad fact of the furry art market. Either offer something others do but better, offer to a niche market, or hope you can snag repeat business. Such is the nature of the beast.