Commission 101: In Depth Tutorial (Patreon)

A few days ago I asked my Patrons what tutorial they'd like to see, and here I am to deliver! An In Depth Tutorial about everything you need to know surrounding commissions. I will release one lesson every week because it'll be the size of a small book and it's easy to get overwhelmed. I'll also create a Google Document with all the lessons for my Patrons as they get published. 

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Curious about commissions, but not sure where or how to start? Let’s start with.. What is a commission? 

A commission is a service done by artists for a person or a company in exchange for money (or other services). It's a contract! 

Artists who take on such work calls themselves Freelancers. For an artist to be able to render a good service and create a good experience several things must be in place. And I'm here to help you do that.

The things I will talk about in my Commission 101 lessons will concern any type of artist of any size - be it a way to get some extra cash or be it your livelyhood. 

Lesson 1: Are you in a position to take on commissions?

Many artists who open commissions for the first time aren't.

First you need to decide if you are in the right mindset. Are you ready for the commitment? Do you have time to take on serious work? Do you want to draw for others? Will you be able to finish it? You will be expected to take a commission seriously and a good freelance artist need to be able to work almost every day.

I've seen artists take on work and then bail because they weren't mentally ready to take on the work. This hurts the freelance community and the artist themselves, giving artists a bad name and the artist a feeling of shame and disappointment.

Secondly, you need to know if you have an audience/consumer base. People who would be interested in working with you - clients.

Theres two ways to get work - a strong online presence or a strong presence in your local community. A name means a lot for an artist. You are, in a way, a brand.

If only your mum, your cat and your 48 twitter followers knows you are looking for work, it'll be hard to find work. Simply because people don't know you exist! Work on being a presence in your community. I'd say you need around 400 followers/watchers/likers online to be guaranteed at least one enquiry.

Your work also need to be of a certain quality. Take a look at your work - we are our own harshest critics - and ask yourself.. would you pay for this? Would you pay for someone else to create what you create? People prefer to pay for things they wouldn't be able to create themselves. But even if the answer is no you can still open commissions, because we artists are often blind to our own work and it’s hard to certify the quality of your own creations.

Being nervous before your first commission is normal. Being nervous is not a reason to not start. You need to see deep within yourself, past the insecurities, and find out: Are you in a place to accept hired work?

If the answer is yes, then stay tuned for Lesson 2! If the answer is no, then keep on creating for yourself! 

PS: Do not work for free. Work on your own personal projects. Work on things you are passionate about. There is no better way to grow. And if you take on free work and then decide you want to get paid, you might get some sour faces and it can get you down. 

All the lessons will be gathered in this Google Document.