The commissioner loses out as well. Unsustainably low prices means:
- lower quality as artists rush work and/or cut corners;
- increased unreliability as artists take on other sources of revenue (a "real job") and/or have their lives disrupted by money troubles;
- experienced artists deciding commissions are no longer worth their time;
- new artists deciding not to offer commissions in the first place.
You get the point, I hope. Unfair prices are in no-one's interest.
- lower quality as artists rush work and/or cut corners;
- increased unreliability as artists take on other sources of revenue (a "real job") and/or have their lives disrupted by money troubles;
- experienced artists deciding commissions are no longer worth their time;
- new artists deciding not to offer commissions in the first place.
You get the point, I hope. Unfair prices are in no-one's interest.
Hmm, I think I know what you're trying to say, but here's the flip side of each point:
Many artists work full time or part time jobs in addition to doing artwork. I work full time, but it doesn't affect the quality I put forth when I take a commission. If an artist is working another job they should be aware of the type of time they can dedicate to art.
Many experienced artists will still take commissions, they are just priced accordingly. That, or they are working a full time art gig in which they just wouldn't have the time or energy to put towards private commissions.
New artists deciding not to offer commissions is really their choice in what they are comfortable with. If they don't feel ready to offer their work for money and they were to try to take commissions anyway, it would hurt both the commissioner and the artist.
The sad thing is that there are plenty of people out there that expect artistic perfection on 'value budget' pricing, and the worse thing is there are skilled artists out there that are willing to give into it.
Thanks for the response! I agree with your points. I might add some further comments:
Corner-cutting: I see your point, but isn't that more about why an artist might charge too low prices than how they cope with low prices? I know from experience that artists sometimes use shortcuts to square that circle, such as tracing or using a photomanip as a background. One guy I commissioned for a 20-page comic even subcontracted the work to a less-skilled friend of his (without telling me).
I agree that a commissioner should do his homework before approaching an artist. Finding the right artist, writing a proper brief, getting decent ref images together - it takes time but pays off in the end.
Experienced artists: Again I agree with your logic. But when any artist is considering opening for commissions it is presumably a cost-benefit analysis of how much that will earn them versus whatever else they could be doing with that time. If the market prices are low that means experienced artists will be more likely to decide to do something else, right?
New artists: I get the impression that starting to take commissions is a big step (at least it is if they are taking it seriously). Low prices is just one more reason not to make the leap, even if they feel otherwise ready.
Sadly, low pricing seems to be a feature of many creative industries, not just private commissions. Look at comic book artists, or movie SFX, and it's the same story writ large.
Uh, I mean happy New Year!
Corner-cutting: I see your point, but isn't that more about why an artist might charge too low prices than how they cope with low prices? I know from experience that artists sometimes use shortcuts to square that circle, such as tracing or using a photomanip as a background. One guy I commissioned for a 20-page comic even subcontracted the work to a less-skilled friend of his (without telling me).
I agree that a commissioner should do his homework before approaching an artist. Finding the right artist, writing a proper brief, getting decent ref images together - it takes time but pays off in the end.
Experienced artists: Again I agree with your logic. But when any artist is considering opening for commissions it is presumably a cost-benefit analysis of how much that will earn them versus whatever else they could be doing with that time. If the market prices are low that means experienced artists will be more likely to decide to do something else, right?
New artists: I get the impression that starting to take commissions is a big step (at least it is if they are taking it seriously). Low prices is just one more reason not to make the leap, even if they feel otherwise ready.
Sadly, low pricing seems to be a feature of many creative industries, not just private commissions. Look at comic book artists, or movie SFX, and it's the same story writ large.
Uh, I mean happy New Year!
As for the corner cutting, that's another good reason to research the artist. There is a difference between cutting corners and method though. For example, many concept artists and matte painters will use photographs and textures to work into the image, usually in pieces. As long as the the artist is clear about what is being used & they have the proper rights to use those photos (hopefully they took the photos themselves) then it is acceptable. But they can't tell the client that they just painted everything if they used a photo - transparency is best in this case.
That artist that sub-contracted the work is completely wrong. If you noticed that the work was not his then he should be obligated to re-do the work himself. If you did not have a contract, I'd recommend always using one for projects like that.
That artist that sub-contracted the work is completely wrong. If you noticed that the work was not his then he should be obligated to re-do the work himself. If you did not have a contract, I'd recommend always using one for projects like that.
Time is money, pretty much. But once in a while even an experienced artist can find themselves between art gigs. Depending on how experienced or in-demand they are they are probably more likely to look for a long-term job rather than doing private commissions, which can be unreliable. Usually an experienced artist will resist pricing their work below what they should though.
Yep, that's why for artists thinking about doing commissions but maybe are not quite ready, I always suggest doing more trades or the like.
Yep, that's why for artists thinking about doing commissions but maybe are not quite ready, I always suggest doing more trades or the like.
It is a sad truth indeed D: