Thank you man. It's thanks to your tips that I managed to have quite a lot of commissions. I also learnt alot from this video too. Keep up the good work. I can say you've helped me with my life and financial issues
@@TheArtMentor Right now I just do for a project called Feywild. This is just a side project because it only pays through shares. I just recently finished a commission and is still searching/ waiting for a new one. Gonna try that sub reddit you just showed me in the video.
Thank you so much for the info. It gave me a clear image on how to start selling my services as an artist. I've been making digital art for 3 years now and had a hard time thinking and planning how can I monetize my art or make a living as a freelance artist. This helped me a lot man. Keep up the good work.
@@TheArtMentor My first ever post on reddit got a hundred likes and a gold! But I havent even gone on the site ever since. I'm watching some videos on it to get more familiar with the platform cause I heard it's really big now
@@TheArtMentor I see 🙂 Im mainly a 3D artist and musician. I know a lot of art fundamentals from 3D which carry over nicely to drawing (anatomy, lighting, shapes) so might get into drawing soon
I know this is an older video, so no idea if you still see comments for it, but it’s still very helpful! I’ve tried Reddit before, but got caught in some auto spam filter and the entire account got nuked, I guess because they assumed it was a bot. Got no notice about it or anything. Appealing account bans can take months, so I think I’ll just start over on a new one (and be more careful this time lol). So don’t just beware the moderators, also beware the aggressive spam filter! If you’re posting to multiple subreddits and your account is fairly new, you’re best off changing the wording or the order of images a little, or waiting a little while between posting to one subreddit and another. Plus, I made the mistake of linking to my portfolio a couple times too many, I suppose. Ah well, you live and you learn lol.
Have you considered just making a new account? I've seen that happen to someone once before, and there's no reason why, but it fixed the issue immediately
someone on twitter recommended your channel , im really wanting to earn money from freelancing and so far these videos seem like great advice ! defnintely gonna watch through a bunch ! ^-^
Hi, u gain one subscriber today. thank you for not sugarcoat anything and be straightforward. That makes me understand alot more easier. I will follow your guide after this.
I've been making digital art for over two years and I now want to get into art commissions. Thank you for providing such well structured and in depth information and advice on art business side of things, they really help. There's not quiet enough out there, keep em coming! And also best of luck for your channel!
@@TheArtMentor Thank you very much. I do fantasy and scifi themed illustrations and character designs. Would you mind if I would ask you some questions regarding commissions?
@@TheArtMentor Oh its nothing private. Maybe other people can gain something from it too. I wanted to ask if someone commissions me for a full Illustration, should I also charge for the Character Design seperately ? Or should I include it in the price of the Illustration? My other questions were if its fine to use contract templates or should I make my own? And how do Artists who live for example in Europe take Commissions from abroad? Would you advise to just charge in their currency or your home currency? Thank you very much !
@@TheArtMentor my classes we old fashioned, mostly learned about certain art styles and nonstop Bauhaus. My computer art class was taught by a blind man who’s wife did slide shows and programs nobody uses. My human study had no people to draw and nobody taught us how to do a portfolio. I had to learn anything professional on my own and through RUclips. I had to pay for college on my own too lol.
That sounds like a nightmare! Not to mention an embarrassment for the institution lol. It’s sad how relatable that story is to so many. Did you have any decent classes there??
Thank you so much for this video! 🙏🏼 It came in a good time, I just started to offer commissions on Reddit and your tips are so helpful! I just realized some mistakes I was making 😅 and now it's time to adjust everything starting from subscribing to your channel! Thanks for sharing these tips and all the content I'll dig through right now! 😆 I wish you the best and all the success! ❤️
@@TheArtMentor Commission sheet, long comments with too much information, too much links. Artists got this mindset that we have to throw all the info out there so we won't miss the opportunity. We see everyone doing it and assume that's the right or best way.
Haha that’s so true! I actually want to make another video on contracts and terms and conditions for commissions. There are so many wordy and unnecessary like that. Everybody wants to throw the whole kitchen sink at prospective clients, as if they’ll read half of it right? Lol
I've been wanting to improve on how I market my commissions since I haven't gotten any proper commissions at all these past few years and I feel this'll be a big help! Though, I did kinda get scared at the end when you mentioned the redditor mods. I'll probably post somewhere else, like Discord or Facebook. Thank you!!!
I watched two videos today about commissions, one said to make a price sheet with examples because it avoided the situation of the client asking how much an art would cost, and he ends up discovering that it is out of the budget, and in this one he says that it is not good to do that because it would transform the negotiation to a shopping experience and the ideal is to get customers to engage and negotiate and not just buy a product. What a comical situation, I'm more adept at not doing it. I like to negotiate, I know this fear is a bit of a reflection of what society is becoming because of anxiety, but I think it was an honest tip.
Were those both my videos? Personally, I’m full on against commission sheets for exactly what you said and many other reasons. It’s too transactional and makes the process feel so cold, doesn’t it? Btw have you seen my video on commissions sheets? It highlights all of the issues in them
@@TheArtMentor It was from another RUclipsr, I was searching more about the topic. Great you have a video about commission sheets, I will check right now!
cool videos ive posted everywhere, its been 5 days and ive gotten 1 commission. Its not my first time doing them. Last year i was unprofessionally doing commissions. No sheets, no price in mind, wasnt aiming for work but i got ppl asking every now an then. I made good money from just a few artworks. So i thought ok next year i will do this but more professionally with commission sheets, email, invoices, TOS and rules, google forms. Promoting it to groups n stuff. I dont know. I believe in myself, waiting is a bit nerve wracking
It can be unnerving, can’t it? Trust me, I’ve been there tons of times so I know how you feel. Are you still making new artwork while posting and seeking clients?
@@TheArtMentor yeah. I have 1 commission so far and I'm almost done with it. And I have a personal drawing thats also close to finishing too. I'll finish it after the commission and post it
13:10 This is actually very helpful, but I am still quite curious! Is it okay to put the starting price? Like the price start at one, and goes up depending on complexity, etc. I do only full pieces with background, and want people to have an idea of how i price. Though that did clear some questions, since it is a lot easier to price this way. Not only that but you get the right price for each piece, and don't work more than expected.
Hey thanks so much for watching! I hope you continue to stick around and find the rest of my content helpful 😁 so which video first attracted you to my channel?
Interesting! As a reddit user and an artist I've never thought of monetizing my art through reddit. Worth a look, even if I'm no longer a digital artist. 🤔 However, as a client, I *never* engage with an artist of I don't have a clue of their commission pricing. This is why I've been listing my prices as well (though broadly, like "this and this style/size starting at X"). As an artist (and a seller of anything), I really hate the 'negotation' and wasting time with the back and forth that results in nothing. That's time off of making art!
I understand that position, however, what if I told you that you’re underselling yourself by not engaging in a conversation first and you will, if you aren’t already, kneecap your pricing potential?
I’m curious to know how to arrange payment through Reddit? Should you be paid before illustrating or after? Can you pay through Reddit or do you just send the client your information? 🎨✨
@@TheArtMentor Oh okay! I think I just view that video yesterday too. 😀 before I thought it as a sheet with data and stuff with how much commission you did before!
Hi! First up, your guides are amazing, especially this one! Just one question: At 12:55 you talk about commission rates and what to do if someone asks about them in you comments. However, what exactly are commission rates? I googled it and it was something non art related stuff about percentages or fixed amounts. What would be a good commission rate for someone who just started out doing commissions?
Easy to answer my friend! Your commission rate is just what you charge for the job. I’m sure googling that questions nets you some percentage of profits lol. Does that clarify?
@@TheArtMentor hmm, I think the most helpful for me was your personal story that you can easily get commisions on Reddit, it gives me hope. Things can feel pretty hopeless at times
Glad to hear! Yeah it can seem pretty hopeless at times or you may fall into some common myths and lies about commissions. Have you watched my other videos about those yet? Many people don’t market themselves well and propagate a lot of false discouragement 😅
@@TheArtMentor Not yet, but I plan to watch more later. You know, I seem to get commissions pretty fast when I aswer a post asking for one, but a Commissions Open kind of post fell completely flat.. I think I may have posted at a low traffic time too. Whats your intuition on this?
thank you alot for your videos man, your methods and tips actually helped since theyre direct and not vauge. but im having trouble with my confidance since i feel that the competition will be too hard for my skill level. i feel like people would ignore me due to my artwork not being good enough, should i just post anyway and hope for the best??
I’m glad to have helped! I’m all about actionable steps instead of a lottery mentality for commissions. Thanks for the question! I think we all deal with what you’re feeling, so the best thing to do, imo, is to just throw yourself in. What’s the worst that could happen? You already don’t have clients, right? So what’s the worst case scenario?
@@TheArtMentor its just that, why would anyone commission me? when theres higher quality people who can do fantasy art better than me in a cheaper pirce with better quality
I know how that feels from experience. That’s your imposter syndrome talking there, trying to convince you to not take risks and be safe. The good news is that not everyone can afford those amazing artists you’re comparing yourself to, and that amount is more significant than those who can afford their rates. That then creates a void for you to fill, where those clients will come to you instead of those other artists. Try thinking of it like that, okay?
@@TheArtMentor just want to say thank you!! This just gave me the push. You’re right and the chances of landing the first gig is very much in the realm of possibility. Everyone gotta start someplace.
Glad to hear your response! I wanted to insert a tiny bit of entertainment to make the point of how unprofessional people are when applying for jobs. If you liked this, would you like to see more like that?
Hey btw, I really love your interaction on my channel! I don’t know if you heard, but I’m doing a Q & A soon. Anything about myself, art, commissions, or anything else you’d like me to answer?
yea! It's really refreshing from all the information even though its what we're looking for, I feel other viewers will also enjoy this. Your content is great >:0
@@AverageGuy2002 Oh, dude, what time is the RIGHT time? You see, I'm from UTC+03:00 and it's very hard for me to find the right posting time, considering USA and EU. It would be nice to know your recommendations.
You, sir, have gained a new subscriber. You highlighted some really important points that I havent considered before - hopefully they'll make the difference on my freelance journey :) Thanks a bunch! A couple of questions though. I cant seem to find r/fantasyartists (professional freelance illustrators) anywhere. Have they changed names or did it just die out? I've also got a question concerning the timing of posts. Would you recommend posting in accordance with US time, or is it the day that's more important? I live about 6 hrs ahead of the US and It'd be a shame to miss "the wave"
Thanks so much for your support! 😁 I hope you keep enjoying my newer content as well. For your questions: 1) many subreddits are in protest right now, and some are outright closing. It may have done that too. 2) yes, I do recommend posting closer to US time. It makes a broader audience see your post. What time zone are you in?
@@TheArtMentor You're welcome (: I already have, I like your takes on AI art. It gives me hope that going to art school was the right decision after all. What a shame, it seemed like a good subreddit. Hopefully some of the ones that I've found will work just as well. Ah that makes sense! I'm in Sweden, so Central European Summer Time (GMT+2).
Lmao, power tripping trolls who have evolved into super online dictators is unironically the most accurate way I've heard reddit mods be described. Super helpful video too :D
How often do you post on Reddit? Do you mostly post artwork and wait for people to respond or do you like to hunt for [Hiring] listings where people are looking for artists?
Thanks for the question. Did you finish this video? I go over every single practice and show you how to do it with best practices. Did you catch those parts?
Hello! Just saw your videos and they've been very helpful to know where to start. I do have a question, I have a portfolio personal website, would that be good to share in comparison to Artstation or a Devianart folder?
Thanks for watching! So my consistent advice is to never try to bring clients off platform, okay? It’s clunky and undesirable. Your portfolio pieces can be easily uploaded and shown on this or any platform. Does that make sense?
Of course. In fact, if you aren't taking a deposit BEFORE work is done, it isn't a deposit. That's just payment lol. Have you ever considered taking a deposit before you do any work at all? That's a real deposit, and it's not uncommon and very helpful
It’s just a lame response that doesn’t show any enthusiasm or genuine interest. Also, how did you come to that conclusion? Might wanna watch that part again my friend bc I think you might’ve missed an important part 😅 happy to clarify tho
Hey, man! I've stumbled upon your channel recently and been watching every video since :D I have a question about right posting time on Reddit(I think it'll be fair for other platforms as well). I live in a UTC+03:00 so it's quite a problem to find the 'perfect' time for posting. So, which time offset I should keep in mind while posting on Reddit? x)
Okay so with your time frame, which in all honesty I had to research first lol, I would recommend posting around 3pm EST (US), which should be about 9/10pm your time. That way it gets picked up by everyone in the US/European areas at night. Most nerds come out to play at night so it’s a good idea to post them lol. How does that work with your schedule?
@@TheArtMentor oh, thanks a lot! Finally, some clarity :D It works with my schedule just fine, since I'm a night owl, hehe. Btw, keep up the good work! Your channel is just brilliant.
Glad to hear! It’s quite easy to upkeep right? And thanks for the support! If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to share it with someone you know 😁
I've applyed to hundred of these hiring posts and never got any client, I manage to get a lot of clients in other platforms. I think these posts are just to farm karma lol
@TheArtMentor I can't be sure, but these posts can get a lot of interaction, which is perfect for karma. I’ve also talked with other artists, and they either get scammed or ghosted by these hiring posts
I've been trying to get commissions on platforms put all I have to do is draw dragons I love drawing dragons do you know a perfect commission so I can draw dragons and get paid for it
Hi im just asking when i have a client... Is it okay After i do the rough sketches, they will send to me the downpayment first and then I'll start doing the art? New here
Good question, and welcome! The answer: absolutely not. That’s a really popular art scam so that people get free art, say they don’t like it, and then claim it as their own. I recommend taking split payments up front, and then the remaining amount upon approval of a sketch or line art. Does that make sense? I’d hate to see you or any artist out there conned out of your time and money
Yeah they do that when they get too many submissions for their team to review. Check their posts or at least every month to see when they’ll be back open for new submissions. Anything else I can answer for you?
Reddit tends towards all freelancers, not necessarily those known to have a "professional" reputation. Rumor has it that fetish-fuel and kink stuff can be relatively easy money (I've heard it pop up enough, so I doubt it's just a meme), but it's also the dark path if you don't run some kind of alt account for those jobs first. (Not to mention you may need eye-bleach at some point if playing into that.) So that's probably why you're seeing the NSFW stuff get mentioned on those gig venues. More or less, practically nothing should faze you if you're willing to go there. Thus I can understand why it's on the don't list.
Have you ever gotten work off of Reddit though? What if I told you that from years of using it as a platform for finding clients far outside of those niches, that you’ll find better and higher paying clients than any other art platform? Btw those clients exist everywhere so Reddit isn’t anything special lol
I’m a bit new to Reddit, so posting looking for work, is just posting once good enough or should post every few months or weeks with in that subreddit, I don’t want to be spammy if possible
GREAT question! So I wouldn’t post more than once a week or else you may start looking like a spam bot and get banned. Would you believe I’ve been banned for posting my videos in some subreddits bc I’m consistently making content every week? Lol. Once a week should be enough imo. Any other questions?
@@TheArtMentor thanks for advice, I’m considering taking character design and storyboard jobs, I’m thinking of making separate post but not in the same subreddit, are story-boarders in high demand on Reddit?
I personally haven’t noticed a demand for storyboard artists, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t out there or being sought after. Try it and see what happens! For character designs, do you know what specifically you want to do with that? That’s a very broad topic
I just got a message on deviantart from someone trying to commission me for $10...they even had the audacity to say that the character would be full body.
@@TheArtMentor I messaged them saying that it was too low of a price point and I'd basically be getting paid like around 5$ dollars an hour for my work and that if they're serious about commissioning me then we can discuss a fair price point. They haven't responded. Also, when they had first messaged me they were saying my art was amazing. All that praise to then say $10 was really a slap in the face especially since I had just done a $130 commission where the guy paid me in full before I even began working.
@@TheArtMentor it works on some people unfortunately which is why they think they can get away with it on everyone. I get pricing yourself low if you're just starting out, but I don't agree that you should ever do something for $10. The person is commissioning you because they like your work and your style so just in that sense it's worth more.
@@TheArtMentor hi! Yes i was asking something specifically for physical art because most of these are focused on digital. No worries tho! I found one :)
Oh okay well, it’s the same process 😅 you’d just have to configure if you’re going to supply a digital copy of the finished work or if you’re going to charge extra to mail it. How’s that sound?
Really nice video. Please make more videoz how do aware from moderator because moderator decline my [for hire] post I still don't know why. Can you share some important community for an artist. Sorry about that because I really need some after 3 month i got one project only. Also make a video we should don't do these things for account suspension. Also how to unsuspend my Reddit account. Also can you share platform where i can get more Clint.
Absolutely! I still do all of this without any change to date and everything works. Same goes for a lot of people on my discord community and mentorship 👍
@@TheArtMentor oh thank you. i love how engaged you are with your community. It's so nice to see you reply even though this video is 2 years old. Would you be okay checking out my artwork? I've been developing my style for 2 years but I've never really posted anywhere and I would love to get some feedback or help with pricing because I never find the right amount no matter how hard i try.
I have a discord community where you're welcome to share your images for feedback! It's in the description of my newest videos. Glad to know you're enjoying!
Oh that’s an easy one! Just find a bunch of subreddits related to the art you want to make and just post your artwork there and comment on as many posts as possible. You can accrue all the karma you need in a day or two 👍 how’s that sound?
I never had any luck with it, I have tried hungry artists, art commissions and one other, and none of my posts got any upvotes or comments. Yeah mods and even users tend to be very uptite and elitist. I made a post in artist lounge, asking for advice and I responded to one of them that they are missinterpreting what I am saying (they blamed for something I have not said anywhere) and that user got 15 upvotes and my post basically got to -10 votes out of spite because I am somehow ruining their supreme artist vibe.
I kept the post simple and included multiple examples. I think they are looking for a specific level of quality that mimics proffessional/high end art. That to my observation is what gets upvotes on all of these.
That’s my observation as well as on any site. I wish I had some guaranteed method for each website, but there’s only best practices I can offer. Keep it up though! It took me a while to gain traction
@@TheArtMentor No one ends up seeing my art, they only see my art if I make a comment how no one sees it. Which by extent aggrovates them. It's like: "how dare you bring attention towards yourself!"
5:15 Killed me. 🤣 Granted I'm REALLY weird about showing my artwork to people. Unless they're freaks like me, I try to find artwork of mine that is the most nonoffensive thing ever that I wouldn't mind grandma seeing that I can show that client. Lately I've been winging it. I winged it for my first client he gave me references to use and I did it and he was very happy with it, and now with my current client, I did fast sketches and one quick painting and met with her and she was ecstatic for me to partner with her to do a CHILDREN'S BOOK with her and in the future, a short 5 minute animation for her. And children's content is not my Forte. 🤣 Honestly there's people offline you can network with you'd be surprised. Glad I found your channel. Right now, I feel like my plate is full with my current client, but I do want to try to get online commissions through reddit and especially try again on dA. dA scares me more than reddit (because you can't spell deviantart without the deviant in it and we have history) and I'll definitely rewatch that video you did of it. 🤣
I’m also thrilled you found my channel! If you know anyone else who might be helped by this info, it’d be cool if you’d share it with them. I really appreciate artists like you and your interactions with me. I wish you lots of luck and hard work 👍 I look forward to talking with you more here
Thank you man. It's thanks to your tips that I managed to have quite a lot of commissions. I also learnt alot from this video too. Keep up the good work. I can say you've helped me with my life and financial issues
That’s awesome to hear!! Good for you I’m proud of you for that! What are you currently taking commissions in?
@@TheArtMentor Right now I just do for a project called Feywild. This is just a side project because it only pays through shares. I just recently finished a commission and is still searching/ waiting for a new one. Gonna try that sub reddit you just showed me in the video.
@@TheArtMentor I frequently also saw your posts haha
That sounds like fun! Let me know how it turns out. And let me know if you have any further questions 👍
@@TheArtMentor Sure. It's still early tho.
Thank you for your great service to the art community
Thank you so much for the info. It gave me a clear image on how to start selling my services as an artist. I've been making digital art for 3 years now and had a hard time thinking and planning how can I monetize my art or make a living as a freelance artist. This helped me a lot man. Keep up the good work.
you're welcome! Are you prepared for what to include in your posts? I have a few playlists for people like you looking to start out
Found this by accident, i dont draw but this was insanely insightful for getting yourself out there as an artist :0
That’s great, and thanks for watching! Have you ever tried Reddit for this before?
@@TheArtMentor My first ever post on reddit got a hundred likes and a gold! But I havent even gone on the site ever since. I'm watching some videos on it to get more familiar with the platform cause I heard it's really big now
Yeah Reddit is huge now, and one of my fav places to get commissions. What kind of art do you make?
@@TheArtMentor I see 🙂 Im mainly a 3D artist and musician. I know a lot of art fundamentals from 3D which carry over nicely to drawing (anatomy, lighting, shapes) so might get into drawing soon
That so cool! I’d like to learn more 3D software someday. What kinds of things do you make in 3D art?
I know this is an older video, so no idea if you still see comments for it, but it’s still very helpful!
I’ve tried Reddit before, but got caught in some auto spam filter and the entire account got nuked, I guess because they assumed it was a bot. Got no notice about it or anything. Appealing account bans can take months, so I think I’ll just start over on a new one (and be more careful this time lol).
So don’t just beware the moderators, also beware the aggressive spam filter! If you’re posting to multiple subreddits and your account is fairly new, you’re best off changing the wording or the order of images a little, or waiting a little while between posting to one subreddit and another. Plus, I made the mistake of linking to my portfolio a couple times too many, I suppose. Ah well, you live and you learn lol.
Have you considered just making a new account? I've seen that happen to someone once before, and there's no reason why, but it fixed the issue immediately
someone on twitter recommended your channel , im really wanting to earn money from freelancing and so far these videos seem like great advice ! defnintely gonna watch through a bunch ! ^-^
Thanks so much, and welcome to my channel! I hope you learn a lot! What kinds of freelance jobs are you looking for?
Hi, u gain one subscriber today. thank you for not sugarcoat anything and be straightforward. That makes me understand alot more easier. I will follow your guide after this.
Thanks so much for your support! What advice did you find most helpful?
@@TheArtMentor every one of them is helpful especially the good example of posting
I've been making digital art for over two years and I now want to get into art commissions. Thank you for providing such well structured and in depth information and advice on art business side of things, they really help. There's not quiet enough out there, keep em coming! And also best of luck for your channel!
That’s awesome! I wish you the best of luck on your new endeavor! What kind of digital art do you enjoy making right now?
@@TheArtMentor Thank you very much. I do fantasy and scifi themed illustrations and character designs. Would you mind if I would ask you some questions regarding commissions?
Absolutely! Wanna DM me on IG? Is that easier?
@@TheArtMentor Oh its nothing private. Maybe other people can gain something from it too. I wanted to ask if someone commissions me for a full Illustration, should I also charge for the Character Design seperately ? Or should I include it in the price of the Illustration?
My other questions were if its fine to use contract templates or should I make my own?
And how do Artists who live for example in Europe take Commissions from abroad? Would you advise to just charge in their currency or your home currency?
Thank you very much !
I’m happy to answer these in my upcoming 1000 subscriber Q & A video, is that okay?
Man you rock, I’ve learned more from you and Ness than I have in my 4 years of art college!
No YOU rock for watching and leaving this awesome comment 😁 so I’m curious, what has my channel taught you most that art school didn’t?
@@TheArtMentor my classes we old fashioned, mostly learned about certain art styles and nonstop Bauhaus. My computer art class was taught by a blind man who’s wife did slide shows and programs nobody uses. My human study had no people to draw and nobody taught us how to do a portfolio. I had to learn anything professional on my own and through RUclips. I had to pay for college on my own too lol.
That sounds like a nightmare! Not to mention an embarrassment for the institution lol. It’s sad how relatable that story is to so many. Did you have any decent classes there??
Thank you so much for this video! 🙏🏼 It came in a good time, I just started to offer commissions on Reddit and your tips are so helpful! I just realized some mistakes I was making 😅 and now it's time to adjust everything starting from subscribing to your channel!
Thanks for sharing these tips and all the content I'll dig through right now! 😆 I wish you the best and all the success! ❤️
That’s great to hear! Mind if I ask what mistakes you were making?
@@TheArtMentor Commission sheet, long comments with too much information, too much links. Artists got this mindset that we have to throw all the info out there so we won't miss the opportunity. We see everyone doing it and assume that's the right or best way.
Haha that’s so true! I actually want to make another video on contracts and terms and conditions for commissions. There are so many wordy and unnecessary like that. Everybody wants to throw the whole kitchen sink at prospective clients, as if they’ll read half of it right? Lol
I've been wanting to improve on how I market my commissions since I haven't gotten any proper commissions at all these past few years and I feel this'll be a big help!
Though, I did kinda get scared at the end when you mentioned the redditor mods.
I'll probably post somewhere else, like Discord or Facebook. Thank you!!!
I did that section being a bit more funny than serious, but as long as you follow the subreddit rules, you'll be fine okay? They aren't all bad haha
@@TheArtMentor Okay!!! Thanks for that! The question now is, which subreddit do I start with!
I watched two videos today about commissions, one said to make a price sheet with examples because it avoided the situation of the client asking how much an art would cost, and he ends up discovering that it is out of the budget, and in this one he says that it is not good to do that because it would transform the negotiation to a shopping experience and the ideal is to get customers to engage and negotiate and not just buy a product.
What a comical situation, I'm more adept at not doing it. I like to negotiate, I know this fear is a bit of a reflection of what society is becoming because of anxiety, but I think it was an honest tip.
Were those both my videos? Personally, I’m full on against commission sheets for exactly what you said and many other reasons. It’s too transactional and makes the process feel so cold, doesn’t it?
Btw have you seen my video on commissions sheets? It highlights all of the issues in them
@@TheArtMentor It was from another RUclipsr, I was searching more about the topic. Great you have a video about commission sheets, I will check right now!
Would you like a link to it?
cool videos
ive posted everywhere, its been 5 days and ive gotten 1 commission. Its not my first time doing them.
Last year i was unprofessionally doing commissions. No sheets, no price in mind, wasnt aiming for work but i got ppl asking every now an then. I made good money from just a few artworks. So i thought ok next year i will do this but more professionally with commission sheets, email, invoices, TOS and rules, google forms. Promoting it to groups n stuff. I dont know. I believe in myself, waiting is a bit nerve wracking
It can be unnerving, can’t it? Trust me, I’ve been there tons of times so I know how you feel. Are you still making new artwork while posting and seeking clients?
@@TheArtMentor yeah. I have 1 commission so far and I'm almost done with it. And I have a personal drawing thats also close to finishing too. I'll finish it after the commission and post it
13:10 This is actually very helpful, but I am still quite curious!
Is it okay to put the starting price? Like the price start at one, and goes up depending on complexity, etc. I do only full pieces with background, and want people to have an idea of how i price.
Though that did clear some questions, since it is a lot easier to price this way. Not only that but you get the right price for each piece, and don't work more than expected.
Just want to say: thank you. Your channel is really underrated. I viewed not so many videos but it already helped a lot.
Hey thanks so much for watching! I hope you continue to stick around and find the rest of my content helpful 😁 so which video first attracted you to my channel?
Interesting! As a reddit user and an artist I've never thought of monetizing my art through reddit. Worth a look, even if I'm no longer a digital artist. 🤔
However, as a client, I *never* engage with an artist of I don't have a clue of their commission pricing. This is why I've been listing my prices as well (though broadly, like "this and this style/size starting at X"). As an artist (and a seller of anything), I really hate the 'negotation' and wasting time with the back and forth that results in nothing. That's time off of making art!
I understand that position, however, what if I told you that you’re underselling yourself by not engaging in a conversation first and you will, if you aren’t already, kneecap your pricing potential?
I’m curious to know how to arrange payment through Reddit? Should you be paid before illustrating or after? Can you pay through Reddit or do you just send the client your information? 🎨✨
happy to answer! So you have to conduct payment off platform, so just send them your PayPal link or whatever you use. Any other questions?
@@TheArtMentor Ok, thank you! Should I ask for payment before I start working on illustration?
@@ameliaroseillustrationsmaybe 50% before and 50% after? That's fair, I think
What if you don't have commission rates? I never done commissions before, and I want to start doing it.
By that, do you mean a commission sheet or you don’t have any idea on how to price your work?
@@TheArtMentor commission sheet
You don’t need a commission sheet at all 😅 in fact, don’t use one! Have you seen my video on that? Or would you like a link to it?
@@TheArtMentor Oh okay! I think I just view that video yesterday too. 😀 before I thought it as a sheet with data and stuff with how much commission you did before!
Don’t worry, you’ll get better clients and more money without one 👍
Hi! First up, your guides are amazing, especially this one!
Just one question: At 12:55 you talk about commission rates and what to do if someone asks about them in you comments. However, what exactly are commission rates? I googled it and it was something non art related stuff about percentages or fixed amounts. What would be a good commission rate for someone who just started out doing commissions?
Easy to answer my friend! Your commission rate is just what you charge for the job. I’m sure googling that questions nets you some percentage of profits lol. Does that clarify?
@@TheArtMentor Ohh alright, thank you!
great video
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed! Are you looking to start commissions?
A lot of solid advice! Kudos!
Thanks I’m glad you enjoyed! What did you find most helpful for you in this video?
@@TheArtMentor hmm, I think the most helpful for me was your personal story that you can easily get commisions on Reddit, it gives me hope. Things can feel pretty hopeless at times
Glad to hear! Yeah it can seem pretty hopeless at times or you may fall into some common myths and lies about commissions. Have you watched my other videos about those yet? Many people don’t market themselves well and propagate a lot of false discouragement 😅
@@TheArtMentor Not yet, but I plan to watch more later. You know, I seem to get commissions pretty fast when I aswer a post asking for one, but a Commissions Open kind of post fell completely flat.. I think I may have posted at a low traffic time too. Whats your intuition on this?
@@TheArtMentor i will try again in like a few days with different art examples probably
thank you ! you deserved a SUB! don't low ball art industry! we will die if we sell cheap art!
you're very welcome! I'm glad to hear that from a fellow artist wanting competitive rates 😀 What kinds of commissions do you make?
@@TheArtMentor thank you! im doing portraits of OC and a comic strip artist for Giantess . ^m^
That’s really cool! Keep up the cool stuff and I hope my content helps you 😁
thank you alot for your videos man, your methods and tips actually helped since theyre direct and not vauge. but im having trouble with my confidance since i feel that the competition will be too hard for my skill level. i feel like people would ignore me due to my artwork not being good enough, should i just post anyway and hope for the best??
I’m glad to have helped! I’m all about actionable steps instead of a lottery mentality for commissions.
Thanks for the question! I think we all deal with what you’re feeling, so the best thing to do, imo, is to just throw yourself in. What’s the worst that could happen? You already don’t have clients, right? So what’s the worst case scenario?
@@TheArtMentor its just that, why would anyone commission me? when theres higher quality people who can do fantasy art better than me in a cheaper pirce with better quality
I know how that feels from experience. That’s your imposter syndrome talking there, trying to convince you to not take risks and be safe. The good news is that not everyone can afford those amazing artists you’re comparing yourself to, and that amount is more significant than those who can afford their rates. That then creates a void for you to fill, where those clients will come to you instead of those other artists. Try thinking of it like that, okay?
@@TheArtMentor just want to say thank you!! This just gave me the push. You’re right and the chances of landing the first gig is very much in the realm of possibility. Everyone gotta start someplace.
My pleasure! I wish you lots of luck and hard work 💪
Cheers for the tips!
Thanks for watching! Have you ever tried Reddit for commissions?
@@TheArtMentor I've posted on r/commissions a few times but no luck so far, I think I might have to check out other subreddits as well.
Keep it up and don’t give up! I believe in you 👍
@@TheArtMentor Thanks.
Lol the bad practices part was so funny but informative, ill definitely come back and look at this vid if I become a serious commissioner xD
Which one was your favorite? Mine was “hail fellow traveler…” lmao. Like I can’t believe I found that xD
plss that one got me too Q.Q I loved the vibe even tho it wasnt as professional
Glad to hear your response! I wanted to insert a tiny bit of entertainment to make the point of how unprofessional people are when applying for jobs. If you liked this, would you like to see more like that?
Hey btw, I really love your interaction on my channel! I don’t know if you heard, but I’m doing a Q & A soon. Anything about myself, art, commissions, or anything else you’d like me to answer?
yea! It's really refreshing from all the information even though its what we're looking for, I feel other viewers will also enjoy this. Your content is great >:0
I'm selling good with Reddit as my second point for getting commissions you just need to post in a right time of the day which is worth the research:)
I'm using fiverr as my first point well I just make it up for a high price because the fee is too damn big😬
Reddit has been a great platform for myself and other artists. What types of commissions do you do?
I didn’t know Fiverr incurred a fee! What is it?
@@AverageGuy2002 Oh, dude, what time is the RIGHT time? You see, I'm from UTC+03:00 and it's very hard for me to find the right posting time, considering USA and EU. It would be nice to know your recommendations.
There’s a great question! I’m responding to this on your other post 😁
You, sir, have gained a new subscriber. You highlighted some really important points that I havent considered before - hopefully they'll make the difference on my freelance journey :) Thanks a bunch!
A couple of questions though. I cant seem to find r/fantasyartists (professional freelance illustrators) anywhere. Have they changed names or did it just die out?
I've also got a question concerning the timing of posts. Would you recommend posting in accordance with US time, or is it the day that's more important? I live about 6 hrs ahead of the US and It'd be a shame to miss "the wave"
Thanks so much for your support! 😁 I hope you keep enjoying my newer content as well.
For your questions: 1) many subreddits are in protest right now, and some are outright closing. It may have done that too.
2) yes, I do recommend posting closer to US time. It makes a broader audience see your post. What time zone are you in?
@@TheArtMentor You're welcome (: I already have, I like your takes on AI art. It gives me hope that going to art school was the right decision after all.
What a shame, it seemed like a good subreddit. Hopefully some of the ones that I've found will work just as well.
Ah that makes sense! I'm in Sweden, so Central European Summer Time (GMT+2).
Absolutely! Hard art skills will always be in demand 💪 don’t worry about the big bad machine
What if a client is asking you for a project commission that your comfortable with, how to you refuse it without creating bad blood?
to clarify, you mean if a client wants you to make a project you are not comfortable with?
@TheArtMentor yes like if you're a sfw artist and someone is willing to pay you well, but they want nsfw from you. How do you refuse politely
Lmao, power tripping trolls who have evolved into super online dictators is unironically the most accurate way I've heard reddit mods be described. Super helpful video too :D
lol they’re way too much some times, aren’t they?
How often do you post on Reddit? Do you mostly post artwork and wait for people to respond or do you like to hunt for [Hiring] listings where people are looking for artists?
Thanks for the question. Did you finish this video? I go over every single practice and show you how to do it with best practices. Did you catch those parts?
@TheArtMentor I ended up commenting this before I finished the video. Thanks!
Hello! Just saw your videos and they've been very helpful to know where to start. I do have a question, I have a portfolio personal website, would that be good to share in comparison to Artstation or a Devianart folder?
Thanks for watching!
So my consistent advice is to never try to bring clients off platform, okay? It’s clunky and undesirable. Your portfolio pieces can be easily uploaded and shown on this or any platform. Does that make sense?
Is it okay for me to ask a deposit from my client before the artwork is finished?
Of course. In fact, if you aren't taking a deposit BEFORE work is done, it isn't a deposit. That's just payment lol. Have you ever considered taking a deposit before you do any work at all? That's a real deposit, and it's not uncommon and very helpful
You say that saying “im interested” is a bad example but the good example is someone saying they are interested twice in the same message?
It’s just a lame response that doesn’t show any enthusiasm or genuine interest. Also, how did you come to that conclusion? Might wanna watch that part again my friend bc I think you might’ve missed an important part 😅 happy to clarify tho
10:40 is it alright to say things like starting price at 25$ ?
Can I ask why you want to price so low? That's incredibly cheap 😅
Hey, man! I've stumbled upon your channel recently and been watching every video since :D
I have a question about right posting time on Reddit(I think it'll be fair for other platforms as well). I live in a UTC+03:00 so it's quite a problem to find the 'perfect' time for posting. So, which time offset I should keep in mind while posting on Reddit? x)
Okay so with your time frame, which in all honesty I had to research first lol, I would recommend posting around 3pm EST (US), which should be about 9/10pm your time. That way it gets picked up by everyone in the US/European areas at night. Most nerds come out to play at night so it’s a good idea to post them lol. How does that work with your schedule?
@@TheArtMentor oh, thanks a lot! Finally, some clarity :D
It works with my schedule just fine, since I'm a night owl, hehe.
Btw, keep up the good work! Your channel is just brilliant.
Glad to hear! It’s quite easy to upkeep right?
And thanks for the support! If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to share it with someone you know 😁
@@TheArtMentor hello, 3pm EST (US) it's a day time? or is it night, I'm confused
Dude do you have a course? Or do online mentoring?
Yes I do have a mentoring program 👍 do you follow me on Instagram?
I've applyed to hundred of these hiring posts and never got any client, I manage to get a lot of clients in other platforms.
I think these posts are just to farm karma lol
Oh so you’re saying those posting “hiring an artist” posts aren’t sincerely clients?
@TheArtMentor I can't be sure, but these posts can get a lot of interaction, which is perfect for karma. I’ve also talked with other artists, and they either get scammed or ghosted by these hiring posts
Do you know a good place to find work for fashion and lifestyle illustration? Thank you
Hm have you checked subreddits for that? And fashion for what? Do you mean actual fashion design or more on the adoptables route?
@@TheArtMentor I checked, there is no Reddits for fashion illustration. Oh well... Thank you for the reply.
Have you tried looking for more official online spaces? Sorry I’m not familiar with fashion enough to guide you
Thanks to your videos I see why I did so poorly all the time. Thank you. For sharing this knowlege you deserve to get richier than Bezos.
Well I hope that happens too! But until then, I’m happy to have helped you 😁
Really really AMAZING tips! Thank you!
You’re very welcome, my friend! What helped you the most in this video?
What's your opinion on pixiv request?
As in doing work for free?
I've been trying to get commissions on platforms put all I have to do is draw dragons I love drawing dragons do you know a perfect commission so I can draw dragons and get paid for it
Did you try looking for subreddits for that? There are tons of subreddits devoted to that and similar niches
Hi im just asking when i have a client... Is it okay After i do the rough sketches, they will send to me the downpayment first and then I'll start doing the art? New here
Good question, and welcome! The answer: absolutely not. That’s a really popular art scam so that people get free art, say they don’t like it, and then claim it as their own. I recommend taking split payments up front, and then the remaining amount upon approval of a sketch or line art. Does that make sense? I’d hate to see you or any artist out there conned out of your time and money
Your fav reddit is closed for submissions and I don't know when they will reopen, do you have any idea when they could be allowing applicants again?
Yeah they do that when they get too many submissions for their team to review. Check their posts or at least every month to see when they’ll be back open for new submissions. Anything else I can answer for you?
Reddit tends towards all freelancers, not necessarily those known to have a "professional" reputation. Rumor has it that fetish-fuel and kink stuff can be relatively easy money (I've heard it pop up enough, so I doubt it's just a meme), but it's also the dark path if you don't run some kind of alt account for those jobs first. (Not to mention you may need eye-bleach at some point if playing into that.) So that's probably why you're seeing the NSFW stuff get mentioned on those gig venues.
More or less, practically nothing should faze you if you're willing to go there. Thus I can understand why it's on the don't list.
Have you ever gotten work off of Reddit though? What if I told you that from years of using it as a platform for finding clients far outside of those niches, that you’ll find better and higher paying clients than any other art platform? Btw those clients exist everywhere so Reddit isn’t anything special lol
I’m a bit new to Reddit, so posting looking for work, is just posting once good enough or should post every few months or weeks with in that subreddit, I don’t want to be spammy if possible
GREAT question! So I wouldn’t post more than once a week or else you may start looking like a spam bot and get banned. Would you believe I’ve been banned for posting my videos in some subreddits bc I’m consistently making content every week? Lol. Once a week should be enough imo. Any other questions?
@@TheArtMentor thanks for advice, I’m considering taking character design and storyboard jobs, I’m thinking of making separate post but not in the same subreddit, are story-boarders in high demand on Reddit?
I personally haven’t noticed a demand for storyboard artists, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t out there or being sought after. Try it and see what happens! For character designs, do you know what specifically you want to do with that? That’s a very broad topic
@@TheArtMentor what I have in mind atm, is “full body original character illustration in manga inspired style, please DM for details”
You sound like you have a good focus. Good luck! 👍
10:37 that person doesn’t know what a simple sketch is 😭
it's just a bad practice and that's a great example of why this doesn't work
I'm kinda afraid using PayPal as my only way of my payment 😢
Why is that? The issues surrounding PayPal have been a little too sensationalized 😅
Great
Thanks for watching! Are you also on Reddit?
I just got a message on deviantart from someone trying to commission me for $10...they even had the audacity to say that the character would be full body.
That’s sad yikes. Unfortunately, that’s all too common
That’s sad yikes. Unfortunately, that’s all too common. How did they react to you?
@@TheArtMentor I messaged them saying that it was too low of a price point and I'd basically be getting paid like around 5$ dollars an hour for my work and that if they're serious about commissioning me then we can discuss a fair price point. They haven't responded. Also, when they had first messaged me they were saying my art was amazing. All that praise to then say $10 was really a slap in the face especially since I had just done a $130 commission where the guy paid me in full before I even began working.
Yeah I still get those too haha. Some people think they can praise you into a lowball offer. So insulting, right?
@@TheArtMentor it works on some people unfortunately which is why they think they can get away with it on everyone. I get pricing yourself low if you're just starting out, but I don't agree that you should ever do something for $10. The person is commissioning you because they like your work and your style so just in that sense it's worth more.
Hi! I was wondering if you know any specific subreddits where i could sell fine art services?
There are several that I mentioned in this video. Did you try those?
@@TheArtMentor hi! Yes i was asking something specifically for physical art because most of these are focused on digital. No worries tho! I found one :)
Oh okay well, it’s the same process 😅 you’d just have to configure if you’re going to supply a digital copy of the finished work or if you’re going to charge extra to mail it. How’s that sound?
ooh now i'm getting scaried about the moderator T.T lol
Oh don't worry too much! Just read the rules and ask them if you have questions
my head hurt everytime i watch art -business related ...so hard to be artist !
What stresses you out the most about stuff like this?
Really nice video.
Please make more videoz how do aware from moderator because moderator decline my [for hire] post I still don't know why.
Can you share some important community for an artist. Sorry about that because I really need some after 3 month i got one project only.
Also make a video we should don't do these things for account suspension. Also how to unsuspend my Reddit account.
Also can you share platform where i can get more Clint.
Thanks for the feedback! I have many videos in my commissions folder for you that would be helpful as well
Anyone watching this in 2024, does this still work on reddit?
Absolutely! I still do all of this without any change to date and everything works. Same goes for a lot of people on my discord community and mentorship 👍
@@TheArtMentor oh thank you. i love how engaged you are with your community. It's so nice to see you reply even though this video is 2 years old. Would you be okay checking out my artwork? I've been developing my style for 2 years but I've never really posted anywhere and I would love to get some feedback or help with pricing because I never find the right amount no matter how hard i try.
I have a discord community where you're welcome to share your images for feedback! It's in the description of my newest videos. Glad to know you're enjoying!
me being an artist and trying to post on reddit but not having enough karma to post anywhere and not getting any attention: 🗿
Oh that’s an easy one! Just find a bunch of subreddits related to the art you want to make and just post your artwork there and comment on as many posts as possible. You can accrue all the karma you need in a day or two 👍 how’s that sound?
o neat
Have you ever tried Reddit for this?
Have you ever heard of Reddit for art commissions?
I never had any luck with it, I have tried hungry artists, art commissions and one other, and none of my posts got any upvotes or comments. Yeah mods and even users tend to be very uptite and elitist. I made a post in artist lounge, asking for advice and I responded to one of them that they are missinterpreting what I am saying (they blamed for something I have not said anywhere) and that user got 15 upvotes and my post basically got to -10 votes out of spite because I am somehow ruining their supreme artist vibe.
I kept the post simple and included multiple examples. I think they are looking for a specific level of quality that mimics proffessional/high end art. That to my observation is what gets upvotes on all of these.
Sorry to hear about that experience. Seems like every site has its trolls and obnoxious people huh? Do you still post there?
That’s my observation as well as on any site. I wish I had some guaranteed method for each website, but there’s only best practices I can offer. Keep it up though! It took me a while to gain traction
@@TheArtMentor No one ends up seeing my art, they only see my art if I make a comment how no one sees it.
Which by extent aggrovates them. It's like: "how dare you bring attention towards yourself!"
5:15 Killed me. 🤣 Granted I'm REALLY weird about showing my artwork to people. Unless they're freaks like me, I try to find artwork of mine that is the most nonoffensive thing ever that I wouldn't mind grandma seeing that I can show that client.
Lately I've been winging it. I winged it for my first client he gave me references to use and I did it and he was very happy with it, and now with my current client, I did fast sketches and one quick painting and met with her and she was ecstatic for me to partner with her to do a CHILDREN'S BOOK with her and in the future, a short 5 minute animation for her.
And children's content is not my Forte. 🤣
Honestly there's people offline you can network with you'd be surprised.
Glad I found your channel. Right now, I feel like my plate is full with my current client, but I do want to try to get online commissions through reddit and especially try again on dA. dA scares me more than reddit (because you can't spell deviantart without the deviant in it and we have history) and I'll definitely rewatch that video you did of it. 🤣
I’m also thrilled you found my channel! If you know anyone else who might be helped by this info, it’d be cool if you’d share it with them. I really appreciate artists like you and your interactions with me. I wish you lots of luck and hard work 👍 I look forward to talking with you more here
what about art_mo? where you can sell art globally?
Is that a good subreddit? I haven’t heard of it
@@TheArtMentor i dont know but you can sell nfts, digital arts and physical arts/ sketches there
Have you tried the other subreddits I recommend in this video?