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Changes to Future Commissions
7 years ago
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Hello FA friends!
So I'm starting to reconsider my monthly commission opening model, as it's obviously no longer working out. I may close my main commission queue for a long time and just start taking smaller things like icons, badges, iPad headshots etc as and when bills come up. It means I wouldn't be taking big illustrations regularly anymore but I think I need to close for them for good until my queue is finished. By underpricing and overworking myself for years I can now no longer work to the same output I could when I was younger and lived at home. When I started taking commissions I was still very green, let's be honest, but I have since held this feeling of not being worth the prices I charge for my entire career and all it did was shoot myself in the foot years later. I'm still stuck in that 2010 mindset of overcompensating in fear of the client feeling cheated.
I... don't want to be another burnout artist with a queue as their legacy. My queue keeps me awake at night. I see so many artists I looked up to for years ending up in holes they may never escape from. I also see those that raise their prices to fairly compensate themselves are often attacked for being seen as greedy, so I shy away from it.
I always finish my work, always, but it's just taking so much longer now. I'm nearing 30 and I have chronic pain in my wrist from trying to be the invincible art machine I felt I was. A one month turnaround isn't something I can manage anymore, and I need to take responsibility and figure out how else to do this. I never, ever want to compromise on quality. If anything I'm dying to improve.
I have lovely people email me all the time asking for commissions they have their heart set on, and I really do wish I could make art for you all. My fave part is bringing your ideas to life, but I just can't keep up with demand, even with my prices raised. It's all a real goddamn pickle.
I'm going to start opening for slots one or two at a time, to my twitter and my t.me/tazupdates, as and when I need to make ends meet. I will not be offering full illustrations or cel-shaded pieces again until the ones I have outstanding are finished to a high standard.
If you would like a big piece from me in future, please email me and I'll give you a reasonable time-frame in which we can discuss it. I promise your artwork will always be a one-off, and just how you like it. But I can't crank em out like I used to, pals. Life finally started happening to me whether I wanted it to or not!
If you're one of the kind souls on my queue who have been waiting 2-3 months already for their piece and you've had enough, please email me for a full refund. Otherwise, just sit tight, and keep an eye on Trello because it is coming!
I wish you all the best for 2019! Art is coming, and it'll be great. OvO
So I'm starting to reconsider my monthly commission opening model, as it's obviously no longer working out. I may close my main commission queue for a long time and just start taking smaller things like icons, badges, iPad headshots etc as and when bills come up. It means I wouldn't be taking big illustrations regularly anymore but I think I need to close for them for good until my queue is finished. By underpricing and overworking myself for years I can now no longer work to the same output I could when I was younger and lived at home. When I started taking commissions I was still very green, let's be honest, but I have since held this feeling of not being worth the prices I charge for my entire career and all it did was shoot myself in the foot years later. I'm still stuck in that 2010 mindset of overcompensating in fear of the client feeling cheated.
I... don't want to be another burnout artist with a queue as their legacy. My queue keeps me awake at night. I see so many artists I looked up to for years ending up in holes they may never escape from. I also see those that raise their prices to fairly compensate themselves are often attacked for being seen as greedy, so I shy away from it.
I always finish my work, always, but it's just taking so much longer now. I'm nearing 30 and I have chronic pain in my wrist from trying to be the invincible art machine I felt I was. A one month turnaround isn't something I can manage anymore, and I need to take responsibility and figure out how else to do this. I never, ever want to compromise on quality. If anything I'm dying to improve.
I have lovely people email me all the time asking for commissions they have their heart set on, and I really do wish I could make art for you all. My fave part is bringing your ideas to life, but I just can't keep up with demand, even with my prices raised. It's all a real goddamn pickle.
I'm going to start opening for slots one or two at a time, to my twitter and my t.me/tazupdates, as and when I need to make ends meet. I will not be offering full illustrations or cel-shaded pieces again until the ones I have outstanding are finished to a high standard.
If you would like a big piece from me in future, please email me and I'll give you a reasonable time-frame in which we can discuss it. I promise your artwork will always be a one-off, and just how you like it. But I can't crank em out like I used to, pals. Life finally started happening to me whether I wanted it to or not!
If you're one of the kind souls on my queue who have been waiting 2-3 months already for their piece and you've had enough, please email me for a full refund. Otherwise, just sit tight, and keep an eye on Trello because it is coming!
I wish you all the best for 2019! Art is coming, and it'll be great. OvO
Following the basic rules of supply and demand isn't greed, it's just getting compensated correctly for your time! But it sounds like you already know that, and are just a bit nervous about doing it, which is completely understandable. Scaling back, for now, is probably a wise choice. But once you get things back under control, I wanna make sure you've heard at least one voice saying it's perfectly fine to raise your prices to meet demand. Anyone who calls you greedy is, in fact, being greedy; they're expecting you to work for less than you're worth for their benefit. That's the whole point of supply and demand. Your time is limited and valuable, and you don't owe art to anyone.
Either way, best of luck clearing your queue and getting back in the groove! <3
I wish you luck on those endeavours and hope this change works out well for you!
I've been following you for a long while, and you ARE on ly shortlist of artists to get commishes from. However - yes, you need to take care of existing queue first!
Queus getting too big? Raise your damn prices. Like others have said. Yeah, the people that will be mad are the ones that can't pay you what you're worth. Others - the ones that still sign up and get added to that queue, will be fine.
But yeah. I've always thought your prices are on the "cheaper side of reasonable". Not exactly outright underselling your work but still cheap for what you draw.
Thank you for your comment :D
However if your wrist is hurt, you indeed may need to take some time off to let it regenerate - otherwise your work is not sustainable.
A higher price would reduce both your workload, giving you more time to finish pieces in a less strenuous way and shorten your queue - while still making sure you earn a living.
There will always be someone who complains about too high prices.
I think you are very affordable right now - so an increase would be completely fine. If someone is truly a fan of your artwork, they should understand the reasoning behind that and be able to save up a little longer for a commission.
And thank you for that last part! I have a friend who wanted to commission you last time and I don't want to steal a slot from him (He also made a mistake last time, since he wrote an email instead of using the form - but I explained how it works afterwards.)
I might come back to you later this year - but first, I also need a good idea of course
Anyway - I will probably say "Hi" again at CFz in May. See you there!
For me, alternating is the best way to go. Just do whatever type of commissions I more feel like drawing at the time, which makes it all much easier... Though I have also only recently gotten properly organised with commissions. Making a specific schedule helped me a lot. (I actually hired someone to do my scheduling and invoices for me, and that investment has ended up with me making way more profit! Seems like a small thing but it really helps!) And like others said I think you could charge more too. (: But I understand it also puts more pressure to ''perform'', so doing cheap quick stuff can be fun sometimes too?! EITHER WAY I AM ROOTING FOR U
I really admire how you've been doing them for so many years!!! You're amazing! I always love seeing your drawings and hope I can be so productive with commissions someday too!! LOVE AND MISS YOU AND I HOPE WE CAN MEET AGAIN SOMEDAY.. (pls come to japan and i will show u a good time)
I can't believe how long I've kept this up either man, time has absolutely flown! I WILL COME TO JAPAN SOON I MISS YOU <333
Take it easy, reduce your workload (and yes increasing your prices is one legitimate way to do that) and work through your current queue. I'm sure there are plenty of us here who will support you ^_^
Also for the record I do not mind the current long wait time at all and have no problem waiting. I really appreciate working on reducing your queue but above else don't work yourself to the point of burning out!
Take care and stay awesome Taz ^_^
Thanks so much Freeclaw<3 You're always so great to work with our pieces always turn out great I think! Can't wait for the current one to turn out!
Glad to hear the good vibes here helped, stay positive Taz <3
You’ve got a good thing going here and I wish for your best.
BTW, your purple bird sona is new to me but looks cool. OvO
I never really posted them here, I keep neglecting FA but I don't really have a refsheet of them yet! Maybe soon you'll all get to see the griffin haha.
I always love commissioning you, because I know that you deliver within a reasonable timeframe and create really high quality. Plus communication with you is great. That's a factor that shouldn't be forgotten.
Artists should be able to make a living from doing art, preferably without burning themselves out. I also fully understand that dropping quality for a quicker turnover is no option at all. There is a decision to make about how much output you can achieve, how high/low your prices are and what your goal is to earn at the end of the month. By increasing your prices you wouldn't lose any money or business as you can't even remotely cover all of the demand right now. With increasing your prices I might have to save money for a month or two more, but it's still affordable. I'd say charge more for your art. You are worth it. :)