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The New Sot Times - Five Years of Commissions
5 years ago
Hey everyone. Hope you're having a good day.
This journal is a two-for-one news update.
Since July 1st, I have been posting artwork every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on my usual accounts, then putting that artwork onto FA on the weekends. I've been making a lot of art!
The year is winding down, so I'm taking a break for December to cool down on making and posting artwork. There won't be anymore art posts for the rest of the year.
My Patreon blog will still be getting updates for a few more weeks this December, but then I will be taking a deliberate break from making art for the rest of the year and early January. Thank you to everyone for pledging to me, but also sharing and enjoying my artwork everywhere!
Now for the second update!
In January 2016 I began to take commissions on a more regular basis. Now it's the end of 2020. It's been five whole years of commissions! I guess I should at least say something to mark the occasion.
First off, it's been a weird transition going from making art for myself for several years and then making my art into a business for making money. Looking back at what I was doing before, I wouldn't say I was wasting my time, but I was kind of floating in space just trying to learn art. I was also actively going to school, and honestly I wasn't very happy there. I'm in a happier place than where I was before in my life.
I sometimes wonder if I stretch myself too thin, but I'm still always happy to draw things for other people. Commissions, gifts, etc. I was already making gifts for people before I was taking commissions, but now people want to pay me for something I already felt happy to draw for them for free. That doesn't always happen, but that entire circumstance happening at all is a huge blessing for me.
If you are looking to open for commissions for your first time, I do have some advice to share so that you don't get super overwhelmed.
- If you feel anxious on when you should open for commissions for your first time, wait until 5 to 10 different people ask you if you are open for commissions. That way when you open for your first time there is already going to be some interest ready right out of the gate. Start with sketches and work from there.
- If you keep getting tips, raise your prices. I recommend keeping a tally on how many times you've been tipped. When I would reach a certain number of tips over a period of time, I always had to raise my prices the next time I opened for more slots.
- Don't be afraid to say no if you find yourself uncomfortable drawing something. Try and work on coming to a compromise for drawing something else instead. If someone really wants to commission art from YOU, they will want to accommodate for you if it means you're going to make better art for them overall.
- Giving general updates to clients goes a long way! Telling someone that the commission is still on the way rather than saying nothing at all for a few months makes a big difference. It's enough of a small gesture to show to your client that you're thinking about them and the work they paid you for.
- Last but not least, none of my advice could apply to you! I have met many people who handle commissions differently than I do, and they are all doing good work just fine for themselves. I think about this often when sharing all of this advice. If you find none of this advice applies to you whatsoever, you don't have to take my words as gospel.
Above all, remember to have fun drawing -first- more than anything else. After that, doing commission work is all about the follow-through. Doing commissions often and at a good pace builds up not only a portfolio of clients, but you will also be known for being reliable. At times I am bad at predicting my stamina, thinking I can take a commission in October but finish it in November. Now it's December, and I still have a few commissions to do. Whoops! But even though that happens, I have finished every single commission I have been paid for.
But with that, I'm not without fault. Have I forgotten about your commission? Feel free to let me know. I'm on twitter, and I also read any FA notes I get sent my way.
Be well out there! Take care today!
This journal is a two-for-one news update.
Since July 1st, I have been posting artwork every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on my usual accounts, then putting that artwork onto FA on the weekends. I've been making a lot of art!
The year is winding down, so I'm taking a break for December to cool down on making and posting artwork. There won't be anymore art posts for the rest of the year.
My Patreon blog will still be getting updates for a few more weeks this December, but then I will be taking a deliberate break from making art for the rest of the year and early January. Thank you to everyone for pledging to me, but also sharing and enjoying my artwork everywhere!
Now for the second update!
In January 2016 I began to take commissions on a more regular basis. Now it's the end of 2020. It's been five whole years of commissions! I guess I should at least say something to mark the occasion.
First off, it's been a weird transition going from making art for myself for several years and then making my art into a business for making money. Looking back at what I was doing before, I wouldn't say I was wasting my time, but I was kind of floating in space just trying to learn art. I was also actively going to school, and honestly I wasn't very happy there. I'm in a happier place than where I was before in my life.
I sometimes wonder if I stretch myself too thin, but I'm still always happy to draw things for other people. Commissions, gifts, etc. I was already making gifts for people before I was taking commissions, but now people want to pay me for something I already felt happy to draw for them for free. That doesn't always happen, but that entire circumstance happening at all is a huge blessing for me.
If you are looking to open for commissions for your first time, I do have some advice to share so that you don't get super overwhelmed.
- If you feel anxious on when you should open for commissions for your first time, wait until 5 to 10 different people ask you if you are open for commissions. That way when you open for your first time there is already going to be some interest ready right out of the gate. Start with sketches and work from there.
- If you keep getting tips, raise your prices. I recommend keeping a tally on how many times you've been tipped. When I would reach a certain number of tips over a period of time, I always had to raise my prices the next time I opened for more slots.
- Don't be afraid to say no if you find yourself uncomfortable drawing something. Try and work on coming to a compromise for drawing something else instead. If someone really wants to commission art from YOU, they will want to accommodate for you if it means you're going to make better art for them overall.
- Giving general updates to clients goes a long way! Telling someone that the commission is still on the way rather than saying nothing at all for a few months makes a big difference. It's enough of a small gesture to show to your client that you're thinking about them and the work they paid you for.
- Last but not least, none of my advice could apply to you! I have met many people who handle commissions differently than I do, and they are all doing good work just fine for themselves. I think about this often when sharing all of this advice. If you find none of this advice applies to you whatsoever, you don't have to take my words as gospel.
Above all, remember to have fun drawing -first- more than anything else. After that, doing commission work is all about the follow-through. Doing commissions often and at a good pace builds up not only a portfolio of clients, but you will also be known for being reliable. At times I am bad at predicting my stamina, thinking I can take a commission in October but finish it in November. Now it's December, and I still have a few commissions to do. Whoops! But even though that happens, I have finished every single commission I have been paid for.
But with that, I'm not without fault. Have I forgotten about your commission? Feel free to let me know. I'm on twitter, and I also read any FA notes I get sent my way.
Be well out there! Take care today!
