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Commissions I Don't Do
16 years ago
For those of you who have recently requested *commissions* from me, I do appreciate the sentiment. An offer of money is one way of saying my work has value to you. But...
I do not easily do art stuff that involves money or payment. It is almost a mental impossibility for me. I truly enjoy taking a mental image and (using various techniques learned over the years) putting it into a physical form, either as a visual picture or a written story. This is a *hobby* for me, and as such, provides me with enjoyment and entertainment. That is the true value *to me* of this sort of activity.
Money is simply not a good enough motivator. True, money is a necessity. It is required to function in society today, but it was never a great motivator for me. Money is not something I chase because I *want* it. I only pursue it because I need it to live in this society.
Now, that being said, I throw out something for the consideration to those individuals who offer money for commissions. Consider the implications of what you offer. A $20 line art commission given to an artist who completes line art drawing in one hour is pretty cool. $20 an hour pay is not bad. Certainly better than minimum wage. But for those less accomplished artists who are not speed demons when it comes to finishing art (I consider myself to be among the 'slow-pokes'), a $20 line art commission may, in fact, be a terrible financial burden. Line art will generally take me about 6 to 10 hours per piece. If I average that to 8 hours, that means a $20 commission is paying me $2.50 an hour, or only *ONE THIRD* the rate of minimum wage gotten by your average burger-flipper.
One third minimum wage? And I'm supposed to consider this a compliment? Well, some might argue that it's better than nothing, but is it? Is a financial slap-in-the-face better than no slap at all if I really don't need the money in the first place?
Like I said, money for art holds no attraction for me. I have a day job that pays the bills. I do art for fun. If someone gives me a suggestion that interests me, I may do it. Then again, I may not. Without money attached to it, I'm free to choose whether I do anything about it or not. Money offered constitutes a contract - which for me, pretty much guarantees it will never get done because its just taken all the fun and freedom out of it.
Final word? Commissions are closed - permanently. (They never were really 'open' to begin with.)
However, *suggestions* are always welcome.
I do not easily do art stuff that involves money or payment. It is almost a mental impossibility for me. I truly enjoy taking a mental image and (using various techniques learned over the years) putting it into a physical form, either as a visual picture or a written story. This is a *hobby* for me, and as such, provides me with enjoyment and entertainment. That is the true value *to me* of this sort of activity.
Money is simply not a good enough motivator. True, money is a necessity. It is required to function in society today, but it was never a great motivator for me. Money is not something I chase because I *want* it. I only pursue it because I need it to live in this society.
Now, that being said, I throw out something for the consideration to those individuals who offer money for commissions. Consider the implications of what you offer. A $20 line art commission given to an artist who completes line art drawing in one hour is pretty cool. $20 an hour pay is not bad. Certainly better than minimum wage. But for those less accomplished artists who are not speed demons when it comes to finishing art (I consider myself to be among the 'slow-pokes'), a $20 line art commission may, in fact, be a terrible financial burden. Line art will generally take me about 6 to 10 hours per piece. If I average that to 8 hours, that means a $20 commission is paying me $2.50 an hour, or only *ONE THIRD* the rate of minimum wage gotten by your average burger-flipper.
One third minimum wage? And I'm supposed to consider this a compliment? Well, some might argue that it's better than nothing, but is it? Is a financial slap-in-the-face better than no slap at all if I really don't need the money in the first place?
Like I said, money for art holds no attraction for me. I have a day job that pays the bills. I do art for fun. If someone gives me a suggestion that interests me, I may do it. Then again, I may not. Without money attached to it, I'm free to choose whether I do anything about it or not. Money offered constitutes a contract - which for me, pretty much guarantees it will never get done because its just taken all the fun and freedom out of it.
Final word? Commissions are closed - permanently. (They never were really 'open' to begin with.)
However, *suggestions* are always welcome.
I can understand where you come from on the whole commission thing, I think it's what honestly burns out alot of artists out there, drawing what others allways want and not what they want themselves.
I respect your decision personally, it lets you work on your personal ideas and drives, but you still concider the input of others for ideas in what to draw next, not many out there do that, their ither bear plurely commission based, or, pardon the phrase, stuck up their ass.
Good luck with your up coming peices and ideas, I personally wouldnt mind seeing a return of the kitsune lass from the old comic you did
I'm with you on a lot of those points--money is *not* a motivator for me (though the lack thereof is a de-motivator). I do stories/art because they're fun and challenging, not because I would get paid for it.
But you know what? I never thought about it the way you described it. Thank you for that mental twist.
So you're saying you'll do commissions if they start at around $100-150?
*ducks and runs for cover*
Firstly, I wasn'r quite sure what your use of the word "Cycle" meant. Does it simply mean the "Story"? If so, chapter 18 of Winter's Shard comes right after chapter 17. The url for 18 is http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2053565/ But those are the chapters in my 'Scraps' section, which was only the first draft of the story. The less typo-ridden version is in my gallery and it's not divided into chapters. It was redone in 5 'parts'. There may be some confusion from chapter 17 to chapter 18 in Scraps because I put the enlarged version of the story thumbnail in between those two submissions. If you click on *that* thumbnail, it will just bring up the full sized Winter's Shard cover picture. Skip over that and go on to the next thumbnail which should be 18. Or just use the above URL.
BTW, what's a pda converter? Did you mean pdf converter?
Actually, I did mean converter. for the PDA. there is a version that allows you to read documents on the PDA with proper word wrapping, and I had a lot of fun reading your story at work.
Adobe for the Palm OS. I like it.
I use the PDA to play games. a lot like a gameboy, but more versatile. in fact, I may buy a Gameboy advance just for that purpose. I am not alone in this, I know guards older than me that take playstations to work and play between rounds. (and I am fourty freeking six)
You're welcome, Thank You for providing something interesting to pass the time on shift. Could any of your next stories involve a heroine that's a Security Guard? (kidding)
Of course Max may not want Raven in that situation. Even without that reason, it's probably still a no-no, but hey, it's just a suggestion.
If not that, just keep on drawing Nohni. I'm sure that'll keep people happy.
I just came into this art thing to please myself. The added pressure of being obligated to also please someone else does take away some of the fun, unfortunately.
Cant say I've made that much off the books since they've been published.
But have you ever drawn any rabbits?
I ask this because you manage to combine great curves and softness with some of that animal savagery. Especially seeing in one image a lovely body and then a sharp set of teeth. It's very interesting that way. Exciting if you will.
Hence my curiosity how this might look with bunnies / rabbits :)
So, you wouldn't have some old art with that, would you?
I look forward to seeing Cirrel-style rabbits :)
It is truely refreshing to see an artist that draws for the love of it, rather than just catering to the art/attention whores all the time. Thank you.
Money doesn't really seem to have much value in the writing world these days, does it? 'Tis the reason I just dabble here and there. I do understand, though, what would serve as motivation over a meager financial sum: An idea.
This is my first time running into your page, but I personally think a good idea is worth a lot more than the sum of even the most expensive commission. Even if you were paid 200 dollars for a single sketch, what would it mean you were paid to draw a character, and little else? The same can be said of an overly simple story...What anyone who creates really needs to be motivated is an interesting idea, I think. Something that keeps them coming back for more, changing details and re-writing their story piece by piece, until they think it is absolutely perfect.
This is just what I think motivates an author and an artist alike. What do you think?
But an *idea*.... That can last forever.
It's why I'd rather be a "Maker" rather than a "Taker".