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Commissioning, A Buyer's Perspective
9 years ago
Wierd title but here me out on this. Recently a few of my friends have been having frustrations with people either wanting free art, and getting huffy when they say no, or being very antagonistic when told that it will cost 'X' ammount of money. Basically they are being told that 'well you charge too much I could get this drawn for a lot cheaper!'
Her's my opinion then, go to that person that is offering the cheaper art, don't as Wil Wheaton would say 'Be a Dick.' (and that's probably as harsh a language you'll get out of me)
Full disclosure: I *have* received gift art in the past. My use icon was a wonderful sketch that a friend *did not have to draw me* but did. I also will not turn down any gift pieces friends are willing to offer me. However, as someone who has no talent at all in the visual arts I am perfectly willing to commission folks.
Now, one might be wondering why I tend to only one commission one person. There are several factors in that, a large one is that this person is one that I trust implicitly not only with producing results, but also how they treat my characters.
There is another reason unfortunately, that is cost. Yes, I've just gone on record saying that if you don't like the price get over yourself and now I'm talking about people being too expensive for me to commission. Well, here is the rest of the story: I would pay their prices if I could. See its not *there* fault that I do not have a large sum of disposable income. There are *several* artist that I would be ecstatic to commission. One, because their art is absolutely gorgeous, two, because I trust them. I'm not mentioning names because I don't want to be seen as trying to butter someone up to suck free art from, no that isn't what this is about.
What it is about is the fact that this art, is an artists job. Its kind'a in the job description, and in the name after all. Its how they make a living. I don't want to hear 'oh they should be doing it for the fun of it' or 'well they should do free art for exposure!' Hey, big news flash folks. Exposure and 'fun' don't pay the bills. The same way with every responsible person out there artists have to make money. I also don't want to hear 'well they should get 'real jobs' and do the art as a hobby. News flash people, artist *IS* a real job! You can even go to college for it!
As people who admire and love their art, we should be willing to pay their fees, its how they can continue to make money. And if, like me, you find yourself in a position that you can't afford someone you really want to commission? Don't be a dick. Just don't bother them.
And hey, I have a better idea! Even if we can't afford them ourselves? Instead of demanding they lower their prices lets point people we know who *can* afford them and are quite willing to buy things from artists to them! It'd be a great way to help them out!
Her's my opinion then, go to that person that is offering the cheaper art, don't as Wil Wheaton would say 'Be a Dick.' (and that's probably as harsh a language you'll get out of me)
Full disclosure: I *have* received gift art in the past. My use icon was a wonderful sketch that a friend *did not have to draw me* but did. I also will not turn down any gift pieces friends are willing to offer me. However, as someone who has no talent at all in the visual arts I am perfectly willing to commission folks.
Now, one might be wondering why I tend to only one commission one person. There are several factors in that, a large one is that this person is one that I trust implicitly not only with producing results, but also how they treat my characters.
There is another reason unfortunately, that is cost. Yes, I've just gone on record saying that if you don't like the price get over yourself and now I'm talking about people being too expensive for me to commission. Well, here is the rest of the story: I would pay their prices if I could. See its not *there* fault that I do not have a large sum of disposable income. There are *several* artist that I would be ecstatic to commission. One, because their art is absolutely gorgeous, two, because I trust them. I'm not mentioning names because I don't want to be seen as trying to butter someone up to suck free art from, no that isn't what this is about.
What it is about is the fact that this art, is an artists job. Its kind'a in the job description, and in the name after all. Its how they make a living. I don't want to hear 'oh they should be doing it for the fun of it' or 'well they should do free art for exposure!' Hey, big news flash folks. Exposure and 'fun' don't pay the bills. The same way with every responsible person out there artists have to make money. I also don't want to hear 'well they should get 'real jobs' and do the art as a hobby. News flash people, artist *IS* a real job! You can even go to college for it!
As people who admire and love their art, we should be willing to pay their fees, its how they can continue to make money. And if, like me, you find yourself in a position that you can't afford someone you really want to commission? Don't be a dick. Just don't bother them.
And hey, I have a better idea! Even if we can't afford them ourselves? Instead of demanding they lower their prices lets point people we know who *can* afford them and are quite willing to buy things from artists to them! It'd be a great way to help them out!
That said, commissioning is a matter of business. Business requires both parties to agree. The one making the request must agree to the price and other terms (including the artist's style). The artist must agree to the request. In general, the more asked for the more it's going to cost. And by "more asked for", I include artist reputation, speed of results, detail of request, involvement of the requester, etc.
People who take matters of business personally don't understand what they're doing. And that goes for both sides.
Forcing someone creative to do something against their wishes is a good way to become the subject of something that will hurt (figuratively) a lot more than the bauble you requested. The story of the Monkey's Paw comes to mind as well.
Besides, "don't be a dick" is good advice for life in general.