#Also when i say im undercharging myself

[nycleren]

Holy shit I could never be a full time artist. Doing my first commission for an acquaintance/friend and it makes me want to kill myself 🙃

(tags have more context if you're interested idk)

[aurumacadicus]

I once heard someone say that fiber arts is one of the least friendly communities and I couldn’t help but wonder how many times he’d said “You could sell these.”

I showed up to a knitting group that had been advertising in my local coffee shop and said “Im Rei and I’m making lace for the first time” and they all gave me tips before they gave me their names. Someone pulled up a chair for me even tho I was going to do that myself after I got my coffee. They jumped into updating me about their lives like I’d been coming to the group for months. I was instantly One Of Them. When I showed up and said I was learning to crochet specifically to make coasters that look like cat butts, they hooted and hollered in glee and were super supportive (some people are honestly shocked that knitters and crocheters don’t hate each other? My guys, each art has its place. I’m not gonna crochet socks and I’m not gonna shit on granny squares you feel me.) I’ve seen that in almost every fiber arts group I’ve been to, because we love to see people get into the hobby.

You know what doesn’t get reacted to well? Being told the project we’re working on could be sold. Either we were already planning on it, or we have no intention of it. Fiber arts is one of the most undercharged hobbies out there, not because fiber artists don’t know its worth, but because people don’t want to pay a fair price for it. “I’d pay fifty bucks for this sweater, maybe,” someone says about a hundred and twenty hours of my work. “I wouldn’t go higher than twenty for this lap blanket,” someone says about two hundred hours of my work. A coaster takes me about an hour, depending on what type I’m making. Six of them wouldn’t sell for over five dollars because “it’s just coasters.” That’s less than a dollar an hour for skilled work.

The fiber arts community is the friendliest out there. They’re just also the most aware of their items’ worth (and if they’re not, other fiber artists let them know quickly, if only so people don’t see low ball prices online and say “can’t you make me that for less?”).

[trianglart]

Hello! Im a young artist and i want to open commisions but im kind of scared? Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

Hi! I’ll just start by saying that I don’t actually have a ton of experience with commissioning and am just starting out myself, but here are a few things I picked up from (very) casual freelancing and reading about other artists’ commissions:

1. Try not to undercharge/undersell yourself. It’s not too big of a deal imo if you’re not trying to make a living out of commissions/freelance, but you want to get compensated fairly for your work! I think calculating the prices based on an hourly rate is a good idea. Personally I would want to make slightly above minimum wage at least.

2. Make a post about your commissions! Something that looks nice and is able to sell your abilities, show examples of your work and state what you’re willing to draw. You can look at other artists’ commissions posts to get an idea of what you want to do. A lot of people do digital sketches, line art, and colored versions of original characters or fan art, but some people have a unique series of commissions (like iguanamouth’s dragon hoards!) which is really cool.

3. Practical things: I personally want people to message me on Tumblr for commissions. If you want people to email you about commissions, I would make a separate business/commissions-only email, just because I don’t like giving out my personal email to strangers. I also like using Paypal for accepting payments since Paypal is pretty trustworthy. Please make sure you get paid before you give away the commissioned artwork!

Obviously, if you are underage do NOT make anything nsfw.

Mostly, I would say just put yourself out there! When I wasn’t sure if I could open commissions I just looked at some other artist’s commissions and said “If they can do it so can I!” 

Good luck!! I believe in you!!! 

[dragonpressgraphics]

Right? oh my god. Like anyone wants to be poor. Ugh

I had a pair of fingerless mittens that I made that everyone who showed interest in said "No, I'm not paying that." It was too much for a custom elbow length set of mittens but I'd ALREADY lowered the price from charging 5 bucks an hour. *5* bucks. that's not even minimum wage.

I had a rare commission off Etsy that was enjoyable, but I had a SINGLE WEEK to get done and mail to Australia - And I totally undercharged because I don't normally work that large and underestimated how long it would take me to get it done. 

As for conventions - those are hit or miss. And one of the problems is that I'm the single supporter of a family of 3 with one car. I can't afford to take risks on cons that require me to shell out money for a hotel and ticket because I can't guarantee I'll get it back. nor can I go too far away for days at a time with the only vehicle in the house. which means I usually only do 2 cons a year, both local, that I barter my way into in exchange for goods and services : Anime Boston in the spring and AAC in the fall (And AAC had some... logistical issues this year)

And i heart the people who are up front and honest ... They say its too much... But not because they think I'm charging too much but simply because they cant afford it. Completely understandable. Been there myself.

And I've had lots of people - fellow artists and the like- tell me they think im undercharging for my work in general but when i adjust for that i lose money. So i must be doing it wrong but, like... Where is the sweetspot?

Also... That guy with the dogs... I hear ya. *sigh*

*cries*

It’s a little like a twist of the knife when you show people your artwork and they act all amazed and flabbergasted and then say things like:

“You’re lying! No way, that can’t be yours!”

“If you’re this good, why are you working here?“ 

and 

"She’s poor because she wants to be poor.”

…

Then I look at any of the places I try to sell things (trickles), or at my poor, lonesome little commissions post that hasn’t had any bites yet.

Right. I choose to be poor. 

*bangs head on the table*

No, what it is is that I suck at marketing myself for a variety of reasons.

*sigh*

In fact, I think being good at art is only step one towards being successful at art

you also need luck - getting seen by the right people at the right times

you need the skill to market yourself

you need the time to dedicate towards a plan to market yourself.

basically, I’m screwed.