That guy will keel over once he finds out how much money some paintings are worth, who cares if the Mona Lisa is a famous painting "its just a drawing"
I hate commissions. Instead of letting you be creative in your own style, they suddenly become artzillas and want you to combine 2 or 3 other artists’ style. Then why commission me when you know my style to begin with?
I hear you, Grace!! I have had my share of commission nightmares too (UGH!) and am putting my efforts into creating Passive Income because of that. Temi is right that these nightmares really test ones resolve & confidence.
i had been considering doing commissions but now idk. i used to make jewelry years ago and had the EXACT same frustrations that Temi is ranting about. and what you've said in your comment about someone wanting me to make something that's totally not the thing i do or my style of work. now i just make things for myself because i want to and it's utter bliss. and doing what i want has grown my skills already even though it's only been a few years. unfortunately though, bliss does not make money.
I "love" it when clients contact an artist with a distinctive style and then ask "could you draw this but in another artist's style?" ... Then why didn't you contact the artist whose style you want???!!! Literally every single artist that is on youtube or IG and does commissions has had those types of clients. I remember Frannerd talking about the same thing in one of her videos. I just can't understand people...
I am doing some art for a friend right now for somethings she is writing. The difference is, she actually appreciates it and doesn’t act terrible. She has been my friend for years and that is why.
Yeah well... I still make drawings for my “friends”, I don’t care if they don’t value it (they do in my case though). The process is fun and the art is still mine.
omg the issue for me is that i feel like commissions take the joy i used to have in art, instead of having fun drawing bcuz i like it, i just do it bcuz its work that needs to be done and not something i'd like to do, its been a while since i drew my own characters and have fun with them, im losing my joy in art and only seeing it as something i need to finish asap... even tho i thought of not taking commissions anymore cuz it stresses me out, but nothing sells like commissions for me, i tried merch, tutorials patreon etc,.. nothing works for me better than commission so i just suffer with them cuz i have no choice, its getting hard but hopefully i'll be able to stop doing commissions soon and start doing what i like to do >
I feel you,ion like stressful maps...this map host I got an animation part from would not leave me alone,everyday I got reminded and I had a two day deadline ->-
I did writing commissions and it made me start to really dislike writing, it scared me, and I stopped. Because writing is my favorite thing to do in the world. I now only write for myself, and if others want to read it, then awesome :)
I’m thinking of doing commissions as a side job. Another RUclipsr does them for a living. She charged very low to start off with then every time her bookings were full to 3 months worth, she would increase her prices til she got to the prices she needed. Doing this she had a change in customers from the ones that didn’t want to pay much and moaned a lot, when her prices were low. when her prices got higher, she gained the type of customers where they were very happy to pay, don’t moan and would never ask for a commission to be done cheaper. High prices show you are a very good artist and good quality instead of cheap. That has inspired me but still not taken the leap yet because I would have to start low and have all that bother😬 thank you for your video, it helps to see others experience with commissions. 😊
I'm not an artist, I work with translations but I understand the conflict that generates with disrespectful clients that want the best job for cheap prices, without considering the time consumed on the work and the quality range. I feel you, girl.
This is literally the reason why I stopped doing commissions They made me feel so undervalued and unworthy. I was even told I’m not an artist! Thanks to these scenarios I stopped drawing for 4 years. Now im drawing what I want when I want❤️
So sad to hear the first part, but is beautiful that you are still drawing. I still do commissions but I've learnt how to deal with stupid people over the years, trying to understand that is not my fault that there are stupid people in the world. I just discard possible clients that makes me lose my time by charging my clients at least half upfront, without the possibility of refund, and the other half after completion. That way I almost never lose a valuable client and I get rid of the annoying people who don't appreciate my work and time.
Please include the topic of " Temi's Art process and evolution" Talk about what you learned, where you learned, How you kept patience to get to this point, What motivated you, How did you maintain your confidence and more. Pleaseeee do this topic on temi's tirade...I would love to listen to it🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Pweaseee
I used to do chibi commissions and grown men and women in their late 20s would still complain about my $30 prices. I got fed up with it all so I deleted my insta.
@@mpeacraft8585 I been doing photography for free for years and models still give me a hard time. So I stopped too. Haven’t updated my Instagram for years. (Btw I pay you 50 if you can do a chibi of me)
Bro you were asked to do a commission during your GCSEs???!!!! That's amazing coming from a year 10 GCSE art student. I bet you got amazing grades too 💜💜 Please pray for me too 😭😭
Noooo, GCSE and A Levels were too busy for that, I did those commissions when I was at university on my placement year. But you've got this girl! Good luck ❤️
I just recently found you as I am trying to nurture a talent I never tried to perfect. My 15 year old got accepted into art school 😲 and I saw how much her work improved in a matter of months, how can i encourage hers if I'm wasting mine? You are inspiring both of us to keep getting better!!
I'm currently doing commission drawings during school year after 6 years of completely stopping drawing. My mom keeps telling me I should charge much more... As you say, there are so many things to take into consideration and I hurt when people make it feel like I ask too much. I spend so much time on a drawing and I remember I had stopped drawing years ago because my commissions weren't motivating me. Now I only accept projects that appeal me. But I'll stop soon because I won't have much time to spend on drawing when I start my career haha!
I just watched Temi's video about blending where she draws a strawberry. The drawing was beautiful and she said it took her about 4 hours to complete. The drawing is small (maybe 5"x8") and so you can just imagine how long it would take to draw a larger portrait of a complete face. People really don't appreciate the hours of time that goes into a work of art.
On a positive note, someone who genuinely loves your work so much, ask you for a commission, accepts your price, LOVES your finished result so much they CRY.... oh my gosh, that's an amazing honour, and the biggest compliment.
absolutely love and agree with this entire video, it's literally so heart breaking how much people will be willing to demoralize you just to get cheaper work (i.e exploit you). learnt to simply not reply to people who try to haggle. it's been a long journey
Yes! I 100% agree with all your reasons for not doing commissions Temi lol, I have had similar experiences. My husband is in IT and he gets people asking him to fix their computers all the time and expecting him to do it practically for free. I got him a t-shirt one year for Christmas that says, ‘No, I will not fix your computer.’ Last Christmas he got me a t-shirt that says, ‘No, I will not draw your dog.’ 😄 I love that you want to get in to teaching art. I lead primary school art classes and it was the best career change I have ever made. I love my job. All the best with your goals Temi, you will be superb. 😊
Gooood video. I don't sell paintings but I think that everyone who sells thing they make go through this. People who are not creative or artists themselves will always think that your art is too expensive. Which makes it hard for me to put a price on my own creations. I will never get the money for my time. I always sell my stuff too cheap. 🥺
Get into some pleasant art groups, and i wont lie here, there can be horrid and wholesome ones, but if you hit the jackpot, the advice they give on the market pricing can be extremely good to base your own opinion off, so if 20 people, artists, of your field, say your 5$ work is 20$, you can keep that confidence when telling this to your customer good luck :D
I am a self taught portrait artist who just started taking commissions only 4 months ago and I just made my first $1,000, which is humbling and exciting. Though It is incredibly time consuming and can also be quite creatively underwhelming at times lol. I 30 years old and disabled and unable to work, so I have more time than the average person. I draw mostly memorial portraits and truly love it! It's such a joy and honor to be a part of something so special and hopefully healing for others! Also It's helping me to supplement my disability income (which is very little), which is great and I hope one day I can make enough money from my art to live off of. That being said, it can get very monotonous and feel like a chore sometimes. It can also be very stressful when juggling different pieces (do not take on too many at once. (4 is my absolute limit) worrying about how long its taking you. It can also be quite nerve-wracking at times when telling ylur prices or when showing the final portrait to your customer. Though I can say that in these first 4 months I've never been told I charge too much and have only ever had really happy customers. Thank goodness! Im sure my time will come, and if it does, its important not to get discouraged. Doesn't mean you're a bad artist. There are some people you just can't please. For me though, all those hurdles are still worth it. Might try something else other than custom portraits one day, but for now I've been presently surprised in taking portrait commissions. If anyone reading this is still into taking commissions, here are some tips. Post, post, post! Make sure you advertise examples of your art work and make it known that you're taking commissions. Also helps to show a bit of you and your personality, as it helps potential customers connect with you and be more inclined to purchase from you. In the very beginning, when I was trying to get commissions, I'd start off by drawing some of my friends, family, their little ones, ect. I'd use them for practice and once I was done, I'd show them and if they loved it, I then asked if they'd like to purchase it. In the beginning I'd charge $40 per person and as I started to improve, I'd slowly increase my prices (depends on sizing too). I continued to draw friends and family and made sure to post all of it on all my social media platforms. For examples I would post the reference photos (with permission) next to my drawing and I also post progress videos. Helps to gain customers when people to engage with your art. Biggest thing is not to get discouraged! It takes time and a lot of patience! It takes willpower to keep going when you're not seeing results. You have to really love and kinda be obsessed with art in order to keep going. lol. But as long as you just continue to make art for fun and Steve motivated by money, success will come! People will start reaching out, they'll maybe post about it or recommend you to others, ect... I've only had one "customer" to continue to lead me on, saying she was interested, to then just ghost me completely. Other than that, I've had nothing but wonderful, kind and pleased customers! There is no better feeling than when a customer loves their portrait! So once someone is interested in having a custom drawn portrait made, this is how I do it. Once interested I ask how many people they're wanting and ask for as many reference photos as possible. Those who aren't artists themselves, don't really understand what a good reference photo is. So I ask for plenty to choose from to be safe. (If only given 1 picture of the subject and the quality is not very good. There's an app called remini that enhances blury and overall bad quality pics, It's an absolute life saver!). Then I discus sizing. As a 9x12 will cost less than an 11x14 and that'll be less than an 18x24, ect... If they're unsure, I tell them what I think would work best. Then I calculate the cost. Usually its around $50 a person unless bigger than an 11x14. Then it's a bit more per person. For example, an 11x14 portrait of 4 people, will cost $160. Where as an 18x24 portrait of 4 peoples will be around $240, plus shipping. Once I get all that info, I'll draw up the initial sketch, show it to my customer and if they like it, that's when I ask for a 40% down payment. I will not start adding color until that is paid (I've had no problems yet). I use cash app to get paid, its super simple. Asking for a down payment after your initial sketch, is how you weed out who's serious and who isn't. Its a way of protecting your time and money. You don't want to spend hours and hours on a portrait (or any type of art commission) and then have that person change their mind or just ghost you all together. Then, make sure you're honest with them when letting them know how long it'll take you. If you have other commissions you were working on 1st, let them know. It takes me weeks and sometimes months to complete and that's ok! Customer's don't what you to rush on their piece. Over that time spand, its important to make sure and keep in touch with customers and give them updates on their piece a couple times a week or so. I like to send hyperlapse progress videos of me drawing their piece too. That gets them excited. Though once finished, be careful about sending a picture of your completed piece as there are people out there that'll just steel and print that image without paying. So only share progress pics/videos unless you reshot trust that person. Also again, with permission of customer, make sure to post about your commissions on social media. Share your commissions and it'll attract new customers. Sorry that was such a long comment! If anyone actually read all this, i hope it was somewhat helpful at last! lol ♡
I really relate with the whole price thing. When I was learning my trade when I was 16, I was approached by a neighbor to do some repairs on his building. I quoted him fifty pounds, as I didn't want to rip him off. The job then took me 8 hours 😐 Today, I would quote one hundred pounds, as that is my worth. People who argue with your prices need to know that they aren't only paying for your time, but all of the years you yourself have put into learning your craft. Great video btw 👏
An old college classmate of mine commissioned me to draw two separate drawings of young Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston for his husband. I gladly accepted since I love both of those singers. When I was finished, I charged him the lowest I could go for his budget: $80 (never do this fellow artists). And you know what, he never paid me! I messaged him many times asking him when he was going to pay me and he still hasn’t responded. This was two years ago! I was angry because I spent so much of my time and energy working on two pieces of art that I could’ve charged so much more for and I felt completely used. Nowadays, I make it very clear with my customers that they have to pay me, no matter what and if they can’t then no commission. Plain and simple. I even give them an option where they pay me half before I start and pay me the rest when it is finished. I try to be reasonable with any paying customer because I know that money is tight for everyone, but I still expect a full price in the end. I personally still like doing commissions because it gives me a challenge to do something out of my comfort zone, but I can understand why you no longer do commissions and that is okay.
I have been asked to do commisions, to sell my stuff etc. I just have a hard time with equating my work into monetary terms. Artwork takes hours and hours...do we charge by the hour? That would make them very expensive. I also don't think I want to open my self up to such a critical eye. 'Just a drawing??' Its hard work! Im still very dubious about the whole thing.
I quit my "regular" job to pursue my art full time as a career. Charging for it also doesn't sit well with me, but it's all I can do to put myself in a better situation. If I charged per hour, my prices would be triple what I actually sell them for and that just proves that capitalism is problematic and needs to go by the way side. I'm only selling my art until I can afford a piece of land and live on as little money as possible and I'll only give my art away from that point on. Art is a priceless experience for the artist, not something to devalue by attaching a false, monetary concept of value. For now, I charge at least several times the materials and compare the average rates of similar pieces. I try to walk away with no less than what I made in a week at a retail job per piece even if takes more than a week to complete. I'm a super sensitive soul and accepting criticism isn't my strong point, but there is far less criticism toward pre-made pieces than custom ones. Typically the haters stay silent and the lovers speak up and make it easy to find your audience. I'm hoping for a better future where people can enjoy art without worry since that worry strictly stems from life being monetized
Beautiful lady! It was a pleasure to listen to you and it's such a relatable video! The best part is, this applies to almost every creative profession. I'm a jewellery maker and I swear, every single one of your reasons is literally my own! I stopped doing comission, because it was too draining, depressing and exhausting. You're working so much more, for much less and often you're forced to justify the price of your work. I felt completely empty and wasn't able to creat art. Now I work only on my own designs and I'm much happier :)
Feel you, dumb me was doing free portrays of my classmates in highschool for FREE, because I didn't know my art could actually cost money, and some of them were the most ANNOYING ever, a guy wouldn't stop moving around and complain that I was too slow 🤦🏻♀️ that was the last live portrait I drew, from then on I just started drawing celebrities and stuff like that in my room where no one bothered me
I'm really picky about who I take commissions from. I've had hellish experiences where they really didn't know what my strengths were (Suddenly I need to be an underpaid graphic designer, character designer, colorist, hyperrealist, biologist etc.) and really beautiful, horizon-expanding ones where I'm collaborating with a friend who appreciates what I do. But I've never been able to crank things out on command, I really admire artists who can do that. Of course, the cheaper the commissioner is, the worse the experience. They'll have you crawling over broken glass for a few pennies. At that point the hell you've made for yourself is doing extra work for money that isn't worth your time. Conversely, the well-paying ones are heavenly. As far as painting/drawing from references, the ideal is to have multiple, crystal-clear shots with a good light source and a few variations for you to pick from.
I actually just discovered you on Twitter and as someone who recently decided to reduce my amount of commissions to prioritize my personal time and make sure the pay was worth my work(to a degree) I truly appreciate your video!
YES!!! I can totally relate to everything you have said here! One of the worst things about commissions is not only the quality of the photo given but how distant the person/persons or animals can look on it. If it was a celebrity HD photo...I'd draw it!! I totally concur with your experiences and thank you.
This reminds me exactly of 2 situations i had in high school. 1- The first one, my father ask of me if I could paint a poster for a friend of his for a cabin. I told my father that I would do it for an amount of money that his friend will pay, nor cheaper or expensive. He was shocked that I told him the amount that he will pay, telling me it was to much for me to ask for that money, when it should be fair for the amount of time and work that needed. I ended up not doing it, because it feels like they pay you less only for your age and for being "the son of..." and it only feels like slave work. It sucked that it was asked and told by your own blood. 2- The second one, was in high school. I went to a painting club, and we had an exhibition. In there we put all the pictures we made whether be on oils, acrylic or pencils. A history profesor of mine asked for how much for a picture I made. Previously I talked to my painting teacher for how much would be fair to charge. And he advised me well. I told the amount to my history professor and he moked me arguing that it was far to expensive (I think he thought that I wouldn't know the fair price for it so he could "steal me money"). I didn't change my mind for the money, not for ambition, but because I hate people wanting to get advantage of others only for their positions, age, etc. Seriously, thank you for posting this, because it reminded me of my worth, not matter in what I'll give my services for. P.S. Sorry if my speaking it's not very fluent. It's been a while since I've talked english. Greetings from the other side. :)
It's so interesting that Temi has aphantasia, I actually have the opposite which is hyperphantasia, people always just think I have a photographic memory though because of my autism. Also, I can really relate to the undervaluing yourself thing, I just look at my art and think it's bad, even if people say it's brilliant I'm like 'meh, could be better'. I do the same with my music, but I don't judge anyone else that harshly, just myself
I never liked doing commissions because the customers were never happy or satisfied with my work Plus my ex friend suggested I do that I just don't like it anymore
I've been looking for others who have stopped doing commissions and it's a relief to see these videos! I've been talking with family and friends for months about wanting to stop commissions and they can't understand it and think I'm being fussy or ungrateful for not taking on work. Going to start saying no from now on
That picture in the background.... The expression in the face; You managed to capture it perfectly. I have seen that exact facial expression before -- not like it, but that exact one. Wow! Awesome art!
Loveeeee this video. Can't lie ... I love watching your bullet journal and art videos and pretending like maybe one day I might be any good at art. But this is a very relatable video and also transferrable in my opinion. We all need to value our time appropriately... we shouldn't undersell ourselves and we also should trick ourselves in the 'self employed world' that we are earning a lot when what we really need to do is add up the hours and understand how much time we are putting into our work. Its so easy for people to see one part of us and value it the way they think but we alone know how much time it has taken and its a hard lesson but we need to turn that customer away if they are unwilling to spend the money that is justified.
I’ve just stumbled on this video and that made me think about doing commissions with my art. I have been in the art game (mostly school) for years and I’ve never done commissions, so I’ve kept on doing my fundamentals to improve in my own craft. Hearing “commissions horror stories” like this just makes me get put off cos people can undervalue you as an artist and that can drain you mentally. So what I’d rather do is make and sell a bunch of stickers, prints and so on to make money while I sleep, as you say that is always an better alternative than doing commissions. Keep it up and stay well
Love this video!! I've always done free commissions because I thought I wasn't skilled enough to be paid... even then it would be too much to handle because people want it in their own vision! I usually turn people down now, and I'm glad other people feel the same way! I'm in 3D art now and am exploring and experimenting with finding my own animation style
Blurry photos - that's what I also deal with it a lot. I'm not able to just imagine details that are not visible in a photo either. I can only draw exactly what I see in a photo, so blurry photo = blurry drawing. I also get asked a lot to leave certain objects, that are in the photo, out of the drawing which are covering the subject, and then people expect me to imagine what's behind those objects, and just draw something else there. Very frustrating. And indeed the time it takes for the communication, the emails back and forth, people often just don't realize that.
I’m with you on this one. I’ve done commissions for people and it was okay but the pay never seems to cover the time spent on everything as a whole as you said. I’ve done a commission before for someone and they didn’t like it when it was finished so they didn’t take it😂 I also had a bad experience with prints(not selling online but in person) where I haven’t gotten paid still for 3 prints and it’s been 5 months, guess I was ripped off. I should’ve taken a deposit!
My thing was commissions is, it seems that society really pressures that to be the one big way to make money being an artist, but it's not everyone's way. I know for me, commissions was never really my thing, and I very rarely take commissions. The thing is, I like to draw from deep within my heart and soul, not trying to interpret for someone else. I like to express myself through my art, not be paid directly for that picture. I don't like the pressure, I wanted to be a free thing to do. This is why I aspire to be a mangaka, a Manga comic writer. It depends how lenient that person is. For example if they want an emotion expressed, and they don't want anything in particular, they just want to get a certain emotion from it, I could deal with that a little better, but I still prefer no commissions. For all you young artists out there, if you feel like you pour your heart out when you do art, and you feel pressured to do something that's outside of you when you do commission, then don't do commissions. There's other options out there, you could sell your art, become a youtuber, whatever. There's so many more options than being a commissioner
Originally, I never ever wanted to really do commission work. I ended up giving in and trying because of my friend group being all 'I would love a commission from you, your work is amazing' all that positive and hyped up BS and started sharing my work more, even asking people to also share my work... ya know, usual stuff for the audience gain. No one ever did share my work to help me reach out more, there's only so much you can do with sharing by yourself. I only ever got 1 friend commissioning me in the end. It was a waste of time trying to set a lot of things up. I got disheartened and felt like nothing I produced was actually worth it and now I barely draw. I'm trying to get that want to draw more again and this time I'm not touching commissions.
Oh my God, I just started doing commissions recently, very cheaply since I'm new to this, and 'I could as well go to warehouse for that wage, and at least I wouldn't tire my eyes' is something that crosses my mind pretty often XD
@@annawodek2540 Your countries currency should have nothing to do with your prices. Or else everyone would commission indians or somethibg. Also youre driving the price for us all around the world down that have higher living standards. If youre confident then charge what you should recieve
@@幽霊船-o4h I know that. My skills just aren't on the level to charge highly or get many commissions, so it's not like I'm dumping prices for professionals. When I draw like one, I'll charge like one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'm sorry that you went through all of that, i'm an artist too and i don't do requests because they can be overwhelming and stressful that could waste your free time. This is why i'll never do art requests for anyone
These are the reasons why I'm glad I never agree to do commissions. I even asked my friend who draws why she didn't do commissions back when we were in school and now I see why. I enjoy art on my own terms and time. It helps me to relax and I have more creative freedom to do what I want. I also never want to hate my God given talent - that is something I fear.
Been there. Been under appreciated with my work by a couple of relatives. At frist, I have tried my best, but they would just tell me to "just trace it" like, what? The worst was when I've spent hours on a 24x32 canvas and my sister just could not make up her mind on what she wanted. I yelled at her that she was wasting my time and my materials that I paid out of my own pocket! She never bothered or asked me ever again after that. To conclude, commission business is not for me.
Watching the video I winced a few times when I realised how often I'd encountered the same situations. I've got a well paid job as a designer yet as an artist I would take commissions that paid terribly small amounts. I think another important thing with commissions is learning to say 'no' and to not feel bad about it. That remains a struggle for me even though I'm more established as an artist.
50 Pounds=almost, ALMOST 70 dollars USD Gurl. no. If someone doesn't even accept THAT, move on. so glad you eventually realized your value! Your talent is so valuable and beautiful. So glad im subscribed!
I’m doing pet portrait commissions and I feel all of these to the core. I still feel like I undervalue my work and dealing with bad reference pictures (but pets have passed away) is sometimes so tiring. I cannt just make something up 😂 I don’t have too many negative reactions but some people never send a message when they have received a portrait and that makes me insecure sometimes.
You're a lady, an engineer, and an artist! Same hi!! I don't think I've ever met/seen someone who's all three as well. I don't even know why I clicked on the video as I'm not interested in doing commissions but I'm glad I'm here!
Oh. My. Gosh!! You’re soooo right. Commissions can be a right turn off! I recently had a customer who wanted a drawing of her friends baby 8x10 for 60. After I had finished drawing her baby (mind you I had to reschedule my work hours for this commission) she didn’t like it and she wanted a frame for free. This is why I’m very selective with how I do commissions for. I very much prefer to teach children and adults how to draw. It’s so much easier
That's hilarious. A friend of mine made a really nice cake for someone. When client came to pick it up she tried to cut the price by $10! My friend said no. Client walked away (trying to call bluff?) so my friend posted it on Instagram for anyone local to come pick up for FREE!
I relate to this so hard lol. I’m a professional tattoo artist and I can’t tell you how many times someone says I want a portrait of my grandmother’ okay let’s see your reference photo. And it’s a blurry photo probably taken on a calculator of your family member standing at least 25 feet away from the camera with a glare in the lens, eyes not even visible and their dog running in a blur in front of them. Then you tell them you cant do that and they get pisssssed lol
IT IS SO SAD THAT THOSE UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE CAUSED YOU NOT TO WANT TO DO COMMISSIONS. THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE AND WOULD LOVE YOUR WORK. IT WOULD BE TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE ONE OF YOUR PIECES ON MY WALL.
The algorithm blesses me today, fun video and you're absolutely right! Looking back as a graphic designer I regret the amount of work I did underpaid or just gave away
i really wanna see a video explaining how to price artworks! I'm still in school and draw digitally so the cost of materials wouldn't be as considerable as drawing with graphite and etc. Thank you for this video! I learned a lot.
This had me rolling! 🤣😭 No she didnt try to belittle you like that!! Wow, people are something else 😑 I did 1 commission and the person never fully paid and that was the last one I decided to do. Five years, I only paint what I want 🙌🏾 So glad I found your channel, you got the vibes over here 💕 YAAAASSS and beautiful work 🥰
These mess ups need to be talked about because it happens. Not only as a warning, but also for people like me who did freelance and we regret how we approached it.
Commission work is like any commercial art job - it requires the artist to please the customer. That is the big problem with it. Since most customers have no clue about what they want and if they do, their vision and the artist's are generally not the same. Good commercial artists are probably good at sales too. They are able to "sell" their ideas enough so that the compromises they need to make do not result in a very ugly or unprofessional product which would embarrass the artist and, eventually, the customer. I was a commercial artist for a long time. I understand why you don't want to do commission work anymore. While it can be rewarding, it often results to an unsatisfying experience. For many artists, however, those times when they work with a customer who not only knows what they want but has good taste and a solid understanding of the business can be very rewarding on all levels. Hang in there! Things will improve. One day, you may find that most customers will be very reluctant to tell you, an extremely successful artist, how to do their job. It just takes a little time.
I feel very similar to you about doing features as a rapper. I used to do EVERY FEATURE I was asked to do and severely under value myself, knowing some complete wasteman charge £2k for 8 bars and they're not even good but I always put in maximum effort, brand new exclusive verses, sent back mixed in like a week. And they caused me SO MUCH STRESS like any problem that could happen did happen at one point or another and it really sucked energy, inspiration and TIME from my OWN projects -_-
I also have to acknowledge that im a different type of artist from you so some different rules do apply and there's totolly nothing wrong with making money outside of commissions. I think that thats kind of the dream for a lot of us so keep doing what you're doing.
I feel this so hard. I hope my art someday gets good enough or a good enough following that I can just sell prints, write comics, etc. I only am open for commissions because I need the funds. But if I'm ever financially stable I'm never doing another commission. The story about the blurry photo rang to me. Lol I had a commission where I was given a tiny photo (pretty much thumbnail size) that was so pixelated. I drew the person to the best of my ability, and the response was "It looks nothing like him." Nothing like who??? I got pixels, ok??? Also I've undercharged for my art for yeeeears. Also practically under minimum wage. Yeah, commissions are kind of a nightmare!
This video just came up as suggested for me and I've found you and I am going to go and watch a bunch of your videos! New subscriber from Australia! Loved hearing your chat!
On Friday I made the decision to stop doing commissions because clients have really ruined my interest in art, I agree 100% with all the points you’ve made. I’m closing out all the commissions I’m working on now and NEVER doing them again !
How to make money as an artist is up: ruclips.net/video/j45xdBDqSLA/видео.html
I am first one to comment
When that guy said “why would someone pay 50 for just a drawing” I low key wanted you to say “oh sorry did I say 50? That was supposed to say 150”
That guy will keel over once he finds out how much money some paintings are worth, who cares if the Mona Lisa is a famous painting "its just a drawing"
Ha
@@TheGrandSilence That painting is worth millions now
Or how about manga? They tend to be pretty darn expensive for a reason
I hate commissions. Instead of letting you be creative in your own style, they suddenly become artzillas and want you to combine 2 or 3 other artists’ style. Then why commission me when you know my style to begin with?
I hear you, Grace!! I have had my share of commission nightmares too (UGH!) and am putting my efforts into creating Passive Income because of that. Temi is right that these nightmares really test ones resolve & confidence.
They also have no clue about what the person REALLY looks like, especially with their kids.
i had been considering doing commissions but now idk. i used to make jewelry years ago and had the EXACT same frustrations that Temi is ranting about. and what you've said in your comment about someone wanting me to make something that's totally not the thing i do or my style of work.
now i just make things for myself because i want to and it's utter bliss. and doing what i want has grown my skills already even though it's only been a few years. unfortunately though, bliss does not make money.
Omg. I'm not the only one struggle this on art Commission. They want me copy exact pose like other artist drawn. it takes away my motivation.
I "love" it when clients contact an artist with a distinctive style and then ask "could you draw this but in another artist's style?" ... Then why didn't you contact the artist whose style you want???!!! Literally every single artist that is on youtube or IG and does commissions has had those types of clients. I remember Frannerd talking about the same thing in one of her videos. I just can't understand people...
I also learned to never do a commission for a “friend.”
I tried to be nice and make a free one for a friend but its obvious they just want art when thats all they ask
I am doing some art for a friend right now for somethings she is writing. The difference is, she actually appreciates it and doesn’t act terrible. She has been my friend for years and that is why.
Yeah well... I still make drawings for my “friends”, I don’t care if they don’t value it (they do in my case though). The process is fun and the art is still mine.
Real mates will wanna support you and insist 🌟 I’m that friend and I have those friends too, but I’m no stranger to that situation!
...or family. Still waiting on the "I promise I'll pay you when I get the money" - money to show up.
People really disrespect artist so much. It’s so sad that they don’t appreciate the amazing work that you guys do and the effort.
It's the sad truth unfortunately :(
True, I had experienced it many times.😒
omg
the issue for me is that i feel like commissions take the joy i used to have in art, instead of having fun drawing bcuz i like it, i just do it bcuz its work that needs to be done and not something i'd like to do, its been a while since i drew my own characters and have fun with them, im losing my joy in art and only seeing it as something i need to finish asap...
even tho i thought of not taking commissions anymore cuz it stresses me out, but nothing sells like commissions for me, i tried merch, tutorials patreon etc,.. nothing works for me better than commission so i just suffer with them cuz i have no choice, its getting hard but hopefully i'll be able to stop doing commissions soon and start doing what i like to do >
I feel you,ion like stressful maps...this map host I got an animation part from would not leave me alone,everyday I got reminded and I had a two day deadline ->-
THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS
Me too! I spend all my time drawing other people's characters and neglect my own.
I hate it so much..
People really do be sending pictures of the back of their grandma's head asking you to use "creative license" to draw her face.
🤣
and then be like "i'm not paying for that. my grandma looks NOTHING like that"
Lmao
😂😂
Lol
I did writing commissions and it made me start to really dislike writing, it scared me, and I stopped. Because writing is my favorite thing to do in the world. I now only write for myself, and if others want to read it, then awesome :)
I’m thinking of doing commissions as a side job. Another RUclipsr does them for a living. She charged very low to start off with then every time her bookings were full to 3 months worth, she would increase her prices til she got to the prices she needed. Doing this she had a change in customers from the ones that didn’t want to pay much and moaned a lot, when her prices were low. when her prices got higher, she gained the type of customers where they were very happy to pay, don’t moan and would never ask for a commission to be done cheaper. High prices show you are a very good artist and good quality instead of cheap. That has inspired me but still not taken the leap yet because I would have to start low and have all that bother😬 thank you for your video, it helps to see others experience with commissions. 😊
I wanna see the video "how to make money as an artist" your personality is great!
Yes me too 🤗
Me too
Me too! 💖
Yes pls!
Great topic!
I'm not an artist, I work with translations but I understand the conflict that generates with disrespectful clients that want the best job for cheap prices, without considering the time consumed on the work and the quality range.
I feel you, girl.
This is literally the reason why I stopped doing commissions
They made me feel so undervalued and unworthy. I was even told I’m not an artist!
Thanks to these scenarios I stopped drawing for 4 years.
Now im drawing what I want when I want❤️
So sad to hear the first part, but is beautiful that you are still drawing. I still do commissions but I've learnt how to deal with stupid people over the years, trying to understand that is not my fault that there are stupid people in the world. I just discard possible clients that makes me lose my time by charging my clients at least half upfront, without the possibility of refund, and the other half after completion. That way I almost never lose a valuable client and I get rid of the annoying people who don't appreciate my work and time.
Jeez, yall really gotta work on your confidence and learn that when you do commissions, you have to treat it like a business and leave your emotions.
Please include the topic of " Temi's Art process and evolution" Talk about what you learned, where you learned, How you kept patience to get to this point, What motivated you, How did you maintain your confidence and more. Pleaseeee do this topic on temi's tirade...I would love to listen to it🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Pweaseee
Oooh I love this idea!
@@TemiDansoArt Thank you so much for replying...glad you liked it..if you ended up making it...I CANNOT WAIT🤗🤗
Yeah I'd love to see this too. Fab suggestion!
This broke my heart when you said you charge 30 and undervalue yourself. They took your kindness for granted. :-(
I used to do chibi commissions and grown men and women in their late 20s would still complain about my $30 prices. I got fed up with it all so I deleted my insta.
@@mpeacraft8585 I been doing photography for free for years and models still give me a hard time. So I stopped too. Haven’t updated my Instagram for years. (Btw I pay you 50 if you can do a chibi of me)
I’d love to see a commission horror story vid
Also great vid
Seconded lol
Bro you were asked to do a commission during your GCSEs???!!!! That's amazing coming from a year 10 GCSE art student. I bet you got amazing grades too 💜💜 Please pray for me too 😭😭
Noooo, GCSE and A Levels were too busy for that, I did those commissions when I was at university on my placement year. But you've got this girl! Good luck ❤️
@@TemiDansoArt omg wow I was thinking 😅😅 thank you sm luv u💜💜
I just recently found you as I am trying to nurture a talent I never tried to perfect. My 15 year old got accepted into art school 😲 and I saw how much her work improved in a matter of months, how can i encourage hers if I'm wasting mine? You are inspiring both of us to keep getting better!!
I'm currently doing commission drawings during school year after 6 years of completely stopping drawing. My mom keeps telling me I should charge much more... As you say, there are so many things to take into consideration and I hurt when people make it feel like I ask too much. I spend so much time on a drawing and I remember I had stopped drawing years ago because my commissions weren't motivating me. Now I only accept projects that appeal me. But I'll stop soon because I won't have much time to spend on drawing when I start my career haha!
Darn
Girl i love how you're so honest. I live for your accent tho. You're pretty asf
I just watched Temi's video about blending where she draws a strawberry. The drawing was beautiful and she said it took her about 4 hours to complete. The drawing is small (maybe 5"x8") and so you can just imagine how long it would take to draw a larger portrait of a complete face. People really don't appreciate the hours of time that goes into a work of art.
I would be super interested in the 'how I make money as an artist'!! Love your videos SO MUCH 🥰⭐️🌎
I once got commissioned to do a fanfic illustration and the payment would be the honor of appearing on the said fanfic lol
Tell me u did not 😭 omg im sorry i laughed
@@axlrosebritanico5310 I told her my prices and she ghosted me afterwards lmao
On a positive note, someone who genuinely loves your work so much, ask you for a commission, accepts your price, LOVES your finished result so much they CRY.... oh my gosh, that's an amazing honour, and the biggest compliment.
absolutely love and agree with this entire video, it's literally so heart breaking how much people will be willing to demoralize you just to get cheaper work (i.e exploit you). learnt to simply not reply to people who try to haggle. it's been a long journey
Yes! I 100% agree with all your reasons for not doing commissions Temi lol, I have had similar experiences.
My husband is in IT and he gets people asking him to fix their computers all the time and expecting him to do it practically for free. I got him a t-shirt one year for Christmas that says, ‘No, I will not fix your computer.’ Last Christmas he got me a t-shirt that says, ‘No, I will not draw your dog.’ 😄
I love that you want to get in to teaching art. I lead primary school art classes and it was the best career change I have ever made. I love my job.
All the best with your goals Temi, you will be superb. 😊
Gooood video. I don't sell paintings but I think that everyone who sells thing they make go through this. People who are not creative or artists themselves will always think that your art is too expensive. Which makes it hard for me to put a price on my own creations. I will never get the money for my time. I always sell my stuff too cheap. 🥺
Know your worth and don't undersell yourself. In the longterm it'll breed resentment and it'll do you no good. Best of luck to you.
Get into some pleasant art groups, and i wont lie here, there can be horrid and wholesome ones, but if you hit the jackpot, the advice they give on the market pricing can be extremely good to base your own opinion off, so if 20 people, artists, of your field, say your 5$ work is 20$, you can keep that confidence when telling this to your customer
good luck :D
I am a self taught portrait artist who just started taking commissions only 4 months ago and I just made my first $1,000, which is humbling and exciting. Though It is incredibly time consuming and can also be quite creatively underwhelming at times lol. I 30 years old and disabled and unable to work, so I have more time than the average person. I draw mostly memorial portraits and truly love it! It's such a joy and honor to be a part of something so special and hopefully healing for others! Also It's helping me to supplement my disability income (which is very little), which is great and I hope one day I can make enough money from my art to live off of. That being said, it can get very monotonous and feel like a chore sometimes. It can also be very stressful when juggling different pieces (do not take on too many at once. (4 is my absolute limit) worrying about how long its taking you. It can also be quite nerve-wracking at times when telling ylur prices or when showing the final portrait to your customer. Though I can say that in these first 4 months I've never been told I charge too much and have only ever had really happy customers. Thank goodness! Im sure my time will come, and if it does, its important not to get discouraged. Doesn't mean you're a bad artist. There are some people you just can't please. For me though, all those hurdles are still worth it. Might try something else other than custom portraits one day, but for now I've been presently surprised in taking portrait commissions. If anyone reading this is still into taking commissions, here are some tips. Post, post, post! Make sure you advertise examples of your art work and make it known that you're taking commissions. Also helps to show a bit of you and your personality, as it helps potential customers connect with you and be more inclined to purchase from you. In the very beginning, when I was trying to get commissions, I'd start off by drawing some of my friends, family, their little ones, ect. I'd use them for practice and once I was done, I'd show them and if they loved it, I then asked if they'd like to purchase it. In the beginning I'd charge $40 per person and as I started to improve, I'd slowly increase my prices (depends on sizing too). I continued to draw friends and family and made sure to post all of it on all my social media platforms. For examples I would post the reference photos (with permission) next to my drawing and I also post progress videos. Helps to gain customers when people to engage with your art. Biggest thing is not to get discouraged! It takes time and a lot of patience! It takes willpower to keep going when you're not seeing results. You have to really love and kinda be obsessed with art in order to keep going. lol. But as long as you just continue to make art for fun and Steve motivated by money, success will come! People will start reaching out, they'll maybe post about it or recommend you to others, ect... I've only had one "customer" to continue to lead me on, saying she was interested, to then just ghost me completely. Other than that, I've had nothing but wonderful, kind and pleased customers! There is no better feeling than when a customer loves their portrait! So once someone is interested in having a custom drawn portrait made, this is how I do it. Once interested I ask how many people they're wanting and ask for as many reference photos as possible. Those who aren't artists themselves, don't really understand what a good reference photo is. So I ask for plenty to choose from to be safe. (If only given 1 picture of the subject and the quality is not very good. There's an app called remini that enhances blury and overall bad quality pics, It's an absolute life saver!). Then I discus sizing. As a 9x12 will cost less than an 11x14 and that'll be less than an 18x24, ect... If they're unsure, I tell them what I think would work best. Then I calculate the cost. Usually its around $50 a person unless bigger than an 11x14. Then it's a bit more per person. For example, an 11x14 portrait of 4 people, will cost $160. Where as an 18x24 portrait of 4 peoples will be around $240, plus shipping. Once I get all that info, I'll draw up the initial sketch, show it to my customer and if they like it, that's when I ask for a 40% down payment. I will not start adding color until that is paid (I've had no problems yet). I use cash app to get paid, its super simple. Asking for a down payment after your initial sketch, is how you weed out who's serious and who isn't. Its a way of protecting your time and money. You don't want to spend hours and hours on a portrait (or any type of art commission) and then have that person change their mind or just ghost you all together. Then, make sure you're honest with them when letting them know how long it'll take you. If you have other commissions you were working on 1st, let them know. It takes me weeks and sometimes months to complete and that's ok! Customer's don't what you to rush on their piece. Over that time spand, its important to make sure and keep in touch with customers and give them updates on their piece a couple times a week or so. I like to send hyperlapse progress videos of me drawing their piece too. That gets them excited. Though once finished, be careful about sending a picture of your completed piece as there are people out there that'll just steel and print that image without paying. So only share progress pics/videos unless you reshot trust that person. Also again, with permission of customer, make sure to post about your commissions on social media. Share your commissions and it'll attract new customers. Sorry that was such a long comment! If anyone actually read all this, i hope it was somewhat helpful at last! lol ♡
I read the last paragraph and it seems helpful.
I really relate with the whole price thing. When I was learning my trade when I was 16, I was approached by a neighbor to do some repairs on his building. I quoted him fifty pounds, as I didn't want to rip him off. The job then took me 8 hours 😐
Today, I would quote one hundred pounds, as that is my worth. People who argue with your prices need to know that they aren't only paying for your time, but all of the years you yourself have put into learning your craft.
Great video btw 👏
YES SO MUCH YES
An old college classmate of mine commissioned me to draw two separate drawings of young Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston for his husband. I gladly accepted since I love both of those singers. When I was finished, I charged him the lowest I could go for his budget: $80 (never do this fellow artists). And you know what, he never paid me! I messaged him many times asking him when he was going to pay me and he still hasn’t responded. This was two years ago!
I was angry because I spent so much of my time and energy working on two pieces of art that I could’ve charged so much more for and I felt completely used.
Nowadays, I make it very clear with my customers that they have to pay me, no matter what and if they can’t then no commission. Plain and simple. I even give them an option where they pay me half before I start and pay me the rest when it is finished.
I try to be reasonable with any paying customer because I know that money is tight for everyone, but I still expect a full price in the end.
I personally still like doing commissions because it gives me a challenge to do something out of my comfort zone, but I can understand why you no longer do commissions and that is okay.
I have been asked to do commisions, to sell my stuff etc. I just have a hard time with equating my work into monetary terms. Artwork takes hours and hours...do we charge by the hour? That would make them very expensive. I also don't think I want to open my self up to such a critical eye. 'Just a drawing??' Its hard work! Im still very dubious about the whole thing.
I quit my "regular" job to pursue my art full time as a career. Charging for it also doesn't sit well with me, but it's all I can do to put myself in a better situation. If I charged per hour, my prices would be triple what I actually sell them for and that just proves that capitalism is problematic and needs to go by the way side. I'm only selling my art until I can afford a piece of land and live on as little money as possible and I'll only give my art away from that point on. Art is a priceless experience for the artist, not something to devalue by attaching a false, monetary concept of value. For now, I charge at least several times the materials and compare the average rates of similar pieces. I try to walk away with no less than what I made in a week at a retail job per piece even if takes more than a week to complete. I'm a super sensitive soul and accepting criticism isn't my strong point, but there is far less criticism toward pre-made pieces than custom ones. Typically the haters stay silent and the lovers speak up and make it easy to find your audience. I'm hoping for a better future where people can enjoy art without worry since that worry strictly stems from life being monetized
Beautiful lady! It was a pleasure to listen to you and it's such a relatable video! The best part is, this applies to almost every creative profession. I'm a jewellery maker and I swear, every single one of your reasons is literally my own! I stopped doing comission, because it was too draining, depressing and exhausting. You're working so much more, for much less and often you're forced to justify the price of your work. I felt completely empty and wasn't able to creat art. Now I work only on my own designs and I'm much happier :)
Feel you, dumb me was doing free portrays of my classmates in highschool for FREE, because I didn't know my art could actually cost money, and some of them were the most ANNOYING ever, a guy wouldn't stop moving around and complain that I was too slow 🤦🏻♀️ that was the last live portrait I drew, from then on I just started drawing celebrities and stuff like that in my room where no one bothered me
I'm really picky about who I take commissions from. I've had hellish experiences where they really didn't know what my strengths were (Suddenly I need to be an underpaid graphic designer, character designer, colorist, hyperrealist, biologist etc.) and really beautiful, horizon-expanding ones where I'm collaborating with a friend who appreciates what I do. But I've never been able to crank things out on command, I really admire artists who can do that.
Of course, the cheaper the commissioner is, the worse the experience. They'll have you crawling over broken glass for a few pennies. At that point the hell you've made for yourself is doing extra work for money that isn't worth your time. Conversely, the well-paying ones are heavenly.
As far as painting/drawing from references, the ideal is to have multiple, crystal-clear shots with a good light source and a few variations for you to pick from.
That one dislike is from the client who gave her a blurry picture 😂😂
I actually just discovered you on Twitter and as someone who recently decided to reduce my amount of commissions to prioritize my personal time and make sure the pay was worth my work(to a degree) I truly appreciate your video!
YES!!! I can totally relate to everything you have said here! One of the worst things about commissions is not only the quality of the photo given but how distant the person/persons or animals can look on it.
If it was a celebrity HD photo...I'd draw it!!
I totally concur with your experiences and thank you.
This reminds me exactly of 2 situations i had in high school.
1- The first one, my father ask of me if I could paint a poster for a friend of his for a cabin. I told my father that I would do it for an amount of money that his friend will pay, nor cheaper or expensive. He was shocked that I told him the amount that he will pay, telling me it was to much for me to ask for that money, when it should be fair for the amount of time and work that needed. I ended up not doing it, because it feels like they pay you less only for your age and for being "the son of..." and it only feels like slave work. It sucked that it was asked and told by your own blood.
2- The second one, was in high school. I went to a painting club, and we had an exhibition. In there we put all the pictures we made whether be on oils, acrylic or pencils. A history profesor of mine asked for how much for a picture I made. Previously I talked to my painting teacher for how much would be fair to charge. And he advised me well. I told the amount to my history professor and he moked me arguing that it was far to expensive (I think he thought that I wouldn't know the fair price for it so he could "steal me money"). I didn't change my mind for the money, not for ambition, but because I hate people wanting to get advantage of others only for their positions, age, etc.
Seriously, thank you for posting this, because it reminded me of my worth, not matter in what I'll give my services for.
P.S. Sorry if my speaking it's not very fluent. It's been a while since I've talked english. Greetings from the other side. :)
I hear you! Same with me. Doing commissions nearly destroyed my love for painting. I just do not work well under pressure. Blessings!
Yes please do a video on how to make money as an artist! I’m struggling-
Hi Melon! Love your videos💕💕
This video showed up RIGHT ON TIME for me! just started taking commissions for custom furniture and I have been struggling! This was so so helpful!
It's so interesting that Temi has aphantasia, I actually have the opposite which is hyperphantasia, people always just think I have a photographic memory though because of my autism. Also, I can really relate to the undervaluing yourself thing, I just look at my art and think it's bad, even if people say it's brilliant I'm like 'meh, could be better'. I do the same with my music, but I don't judge anyone else that harshly, just myself
I’m so sorry you went through all that with you sister friend
This video made me realize that I'm NOT the only artist that has felt with these issues!
You know what ...all ur videos have some reason cause of which I love them all....u r amazing!!❤️❤️
oh i’d love to see a video on how you make money as an artist :))
This is so eye-opening. I'd love to see a video on how you make money passively. Thanks for posting this!
I feel you on this topic, I am a graphic designer and can relate, great video! :)
I never liked doing commissions because the customers were never happy or satisfied with my work
Plus my ex friend suggested I do that I just don't like it anymore
I R-E-A-L-L-Y need to let commissions go F-O-R-E-V-E-R. Kindly make a video on how you earn money as an artist without ever taking commissions.
I don't wanna do commissions anymore either, it stresses me out so much.
Also id love to see the videos u mentioned that u cud do
Loveyouuuuu♥︎
I've been looking for others who have stopped doing commissions and it's a relief to see these videos! I've been talking with family and friends for months about wanting to stop commissions and they can't understand it and think I'm being fussy or ungrateful for not taking on work. Going to start saying no from now on
That picture in the background.... The expression in the face; You managed to capture it perfectly. I have seen that exact facial expression before -- not like it, but that exact one. Wow! Awesome art!
Loveeeee this video.
Can't lie ... I love watching your bullet journal and art videos and pretending like maybe one day I might be any good at art. But this is a very relatable video and also transferrable in my opinion. We all need to value our time appropriately... we shouldn't undersell ourselves and we also should trick ourselves in the 'self employed world' that we are earning a lot when what we really need to do is add up the hours and understand how much time we are putting into our work.
Its so easy for people to see one part of us and value it the way they think but we alone know how much time it has taken and its a hard lesson but we need to turn that customer away if they are unwilling to spend the money that is justified.
I’ve just stumbled on this video and that made me think about doing commissions with my art. I have been in the art game (mostly school) for years and I’ve never done commissions, so I’ve kept on doing my fundamentals to improve in my own craft. Hearing “commissions horror stories” like this just makes me get put off cos people can undervalue you as an artist and that can drain you mentally. So what I’d rather do is make and sell a bunch of stickers, prints and so on to make money while I sleep, as you say that is always an better alternative than doing commissions.
Keep it up and stay well
Love this video!! I've always done free commissions because I thought I wasn't skilled enough to be paid... even then it would be too much to handle because people want it in their own vision! I usually turn people down now, and I'm glad other people feel the same way!
I'm in 3D art now and am exploring and experimenting with finding my own animation style
Blurry photos - that's what I also deal with it a lot. I'm not able to just imagine details that are not visible in a photo either. I can only draw exactly what I see in a photo, so blurry photo = blurry drawing. I also get asked a lot to leave certain objects, that are in the photo, out of the drawing which are covering the subject, and then people expect me to imagine what's behind those objects, and just draw something else there. Very frustrating. And indeed the time it takes for the communication, the emails back and forth, people often just don't realize that.
I’m with you on this one. I’ve done commissions for people and it was okay but the pay never seems to cover the time spent on everything as a whole as you said. I’ve done a commission before for someone and they didn’t like it when it was finished so they didn’t take it😂 I also had a bad experience with prints(not selling online but in person) where I haven’t gotten paid still for 3 prints and it’s been 5 months, guess I was ripped off. I should’ve taken a deposit!
My thing was commissions is, it seems that society really pressures that to be the one big way to make money being an artist, but it's not everyone's way. I know for me, commissions was never really my thing, and I very rarely take commissions. The thing is, I like to draw from deep within my heart and soul, not trying to interpret for someone else. I like to express myself through my art, not be paid directly for that picture. I don't like the pressure, I wanted to be a free thing to do. This is why I aspire to be a mangaka, a Manga comic writer. It depends how lenient that person is. For example if they want an emotion expressed, and they don't want anything in particular, they just want to get a certain emotion from it, I could deal with that a little better, but I still prefer no commissions. For all you young artists out there, if you feel like you pour your heart out when you do art, and you feel pressured to do something that's outside of you when you do commission, then don't do commissions. There's other options out there, you could sell your art, become a youtuber, whatever. There's so many more options than being a commissioner
Originally, I never ever wanted to really do commission work. I ended up giving in and trying because of my friend group being all 'I would love a commission from you, your work is amazing' all that positive and hyped up BS and started sharing my work more, even asking people to also share my work... ya know, usual stuff for the audience gain. No one ever did share my work to help me reach out more, there's only so much you can do with sharing by yourself. I only ever got 1 friend commissioning me in the end. It was a waste of time trying to set a lot of things up.
I got disheartened and felt like nothing I produced was actually worth it and now I barely draw. I'm trying to get that want to draw more again and this time I'm not touching commissions.
Oh my God, I just started doing commissions recently, very cheaply since I'm new to this, and 'I could as well go to warehouse for that wage, and at least I wouldn't tire my eyes' is something that crosses my mind pretty often XD
80euros 2 hour work is the minimum imo anything else a minimum wage job woukd be better
To me it'd be wonderful, 80 euros in my country is two days of some minimum wage job ;_;
@@annawodek2540 Your countries currency should have nothing to do with your prices. Or else everyone would commission indians or somethibg. Also youre driving the price for us all around the world down that have higher living standards. If youre confident then charge what you should recieve
@@幽霊船-o4h I know that. My skills just aren't on the level to charge highly or get many commissions, so it's not like I'm dumping prices for professionals. When I draw like one, I'll charge like one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@annawodek2540 If you’re working hard, you charge that hard. Price of material, effort, and the look.
I'm sorry that you went through all of that, i'm an artist too and i don't do requests because they can be overwhelming and stressful that could waste your free time. This is why i'll never do art requests for anyone
I specifically searched for this video because I’m soooooo frustrated right now! This was just so accurate.
These are the reasons why I'm glad I never agree to do commissions. I even asked my friend who draws why she didn't do commissions back when we were in school and now I see why.
I enjoy art on my own terms and time. It helps me to relax and I have more creative freedom to do what I want. I also never want to hate my God given talent - that is something I fear.
Been there.
Been under appreciated with my work by a couple of relatives. At frist, I have tried my best, but they would just tell me to "just trace it" like, what? The worst was when I've spent hours on a 24x32 canvas and my sister just could not make up her mind on what she wanted. I yelled at her that she was wasting my time and my materials that I paid out of my own pocket! She never bothered or asked me ever again after that. To conclude, commission business is not for me.
Watching the video I winced a few times when I realised how often I'd encountered the same situations. I've got a well paid job as a designer yet as an artist I would take commissions that paid terribly small amounts. I think another important thing with commissions is learning to say 'no' and to not feel bad about it. That remains a struggle for me even though I'm more established as an artist.
I love the Temi's Tirade series so much!! Tooo jokes 🤣 🤣 Deffo would love a video on the horror stories and how you make money with your Art!! xx
Wow seeing my art on your RUclips how awesome!! Thanks
50 Pounds=almost, ALMOST 70 dollars USD Gurl. no. If someone doesn't even accept THAT, move on. so glad you eventually realized your value! Your talent is so valuable and beautiful. So glad im subscribed!
I’d love some advice on commissions, I do pet portraits and I really need help on how to captions things when I post to insta and price advice 😭😂
I’m doing pet portrait commissions and I feel all of these to the core. I still feel like I undervalue my work and dealing with bad reference pictures (but pets have passed away) is sometimes so tiring. I cannt just make something up 😂 I don’t have too many negative reactions but some people never send a message when they have received a portrait and that makes me insecure sometimes.
Omg i was thinking about giving up commissions I've been feeling the same underappreciated and undervalued now I'm 100% sure about my decision
I've never been one for coloured pencils but seeing your work makes me want to try it!
You're a lady, an engineer, and an artist! Same hi!! I don't think I've ever met/seen someone who's all three as well. I don't even know why I clicked on the video as I'm not interested in doing commissions but I'm glad I'm here!
I used to do mermaid costumes. I still make them, just only for me. I really sucked all of the life out of me. So pleased to find this video :)
2:14 to making customer happily (hopefully) - that is super correct phrase for interpretation of commissions
Oh. My. Gosh!! You’re soooo right. Commissions can be a right turn off! I recently had a customer who wanted a drawing of her friends baby 8x10 for 60. After I had finished drawing her baby (mind you I had to reschedule my work hours for this commission) she didn’t like it and she wanted a frame for free.
This is why I’m very selective with how I do commissions for. I very much prefer to teach children and adults how to draw. It’s so much easier
YESSSS YOUR TUTORIALS ARE SO HELPFUL
Agreed
7:17 I would have tore up the artwork in front of her and given her money back and said the go ask someone else😂
That's hilarious. A friend of mine made a really nice cake for someone. When client came to pick it up she tried to cut the price by $10! My friend said no. Client walked away (trying to call bluff?) so my friend posted it on Instagram for anyone local to come pick up for FREE!
@@goilo888 I live for that type of pettiness
Now, this is a great video, but can we just wait a sec to talk about how GORGEOUS she is?
I relate to this so hard lol. I’m a professional tattoo artist and I can’t tell you how many times someone says I want a portrait of my grandmother’ okay let’s see your reference photo. And it’s a blurry photo probably taken on a calculator of your family member standing at least 25 feet away from the camera with a glare in the lens, eyes not even visible and their dog running in a blur in front of them. Then you tell them you cant do that and they get pisssssed lol
IT IS SO SAD THAT THOSE UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE CAUSED YOU NOT TO WANT TO DO COMMISSIONS. THERE ARE THOSE OF US WHO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE AND WOULD LOVE YOUR WORK. IT WOULD BE TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE ONE OF YOUR PIECES ON MY WALL.
The algorithm blesses me today, fun video and you're absolutely right! Looking back as a graphic designer I regret the amount of work I did underpaid or just gave away
i really wanna see a video explaining how to price artworks! I'm still in school and draw digitally so the cost of materials wouldn't be as considerable as drawing with graphite and etc. Thank you for this video! I learned a lot.
This had me rolling! 🤣😭 No she didnt try to belittle you like that!! Wow, people are something else 😑 I did 1 commission and the person never fully paid and that was the last one I decided to do. Five years, I only paint what I want 🙌🏾 So glad I found your channel, you got the vibes over here 💕 YAAAASSS and beautiful work 🥰
These mess ups need to be talked about because it happens. Not only as a warning, but also for people like me who did freelance and we regret how we approached it.
Commission work is like any commercial art job - it requires the artist to please the customer. That is the big problem with it. Since most customers have no clue about what they want and if they do, their vision and the artist's are generally not the same. Good commercial artists are probably good at sales too. They are able to "sell" their ideas enough so that the compromises they need to make do not result in a very ugly or unprofessional product which would embarrass the artist and, eventually, the customer. I was a commercial artist for a long time. I understand why you don't want to do commission work anymore. While it can be rewarding, it often results to an unsatisfying experience. For many artists, however, those times when they work with a customer who not only knows what they want but has good taste and a solid understanding of the business can be very rewarding on all levels. Hang in there! Things will improve. One day, you may find that most customers will be very reluctant to tell you, an extremely successful artist, how to do their job. It just takes a little time.
I drew a portrait of someone for 23 hours.
They paid me 10 fucking dollars. 😭😭😭
LOOOOL STOP.
Bro how. How did you let that happen
I feel very similar to you about doing features as a rapper. I used to do EVERY FEATURE I was asked to do and severely under value myself, knowing some complete wasteman charge £2k for 8 bars and they're not even good but I always put in maximum effort, brand new exclusive verses, sent back mixed in like a week. And they caused me SO MUCH STRESS like any problem that could happen did happen at one point or another and it really sucked energy, inspiration and TIME from my OWN projects -_-
I also have to acknowledge that im a different type of artist from you so some different rules do apply and there's totolly nothing wrong with making money outside of commissions. I think that thats kind of the dream for a lot of us so keep doing what you're doing.
Yes, please also make a video on income sources.
@7:00 🤣🤣🤣 she trieeeedddd it!!! Amazing video. Personality on point ❤️
I feel this so hard. I hope my art someday gets good enough or a good enough following that I can just sell prints, write comics, etc. I only am open for commissions because I need the funds.
But if I'm ever financially stable I'm never doing another commission.
The story about the blurry photo rang to me. Lol I had a commission where I was given a tiny photo (pretty much thumbnail size) that was so pixelated. I drew the person to the best of my ability, and the response was "It looks nothing like him." Nothing like who??? I got pixels, ok???
Also I've undercharged for my art for yeeeears. Also practically under minimum wage.
Yeah, commissions are kind of a nightmare!
Yes we wanna see all the videos Temi! Thanks for sharing, much love❣
My commission horror story is up: ruclips.net/video/Ff8Weu4wC8g/видео.html
im here for the art, but your eyes are so pretty??
If I drew like you I'd be taxin' hard. You're really good.
This video just came up as suggested for me and I've found you and I am going to go and watch a bunch of your videos! New subscriber from Australia! Loved hearing your chat!
On Friday I made the decision to stop doing commissions because clients have really ruined my interest in art, I agree 100% with all the points you’ve made. I’m closing out all the commissions I’m working on now and NEVER doing them again !
SAME omg. I've always hated doing commissions with a passion for all of these reasons. Definitely going to go the rought of making printable art
I love this series! So informative while also listening to your beautiful voice ❤️
Soo happy I found this channel. Another black artist!!! Yayyy ♥️♥️💙💙💙💙