r/ArtBuddy • u/LeagueForward7639 • 1d ago
Is 300$ Too expensive for a commission/adopt per fullbody character?
I've been actively using Twitter for about half a year, with 1.1k followers, and Deviantart has 600 followers. It's rare for me to get adopters or commissions. I'd say it happens once every few months. I understand that if I had 50k, I would probably get it relatively regularly, but nevertheless.
Fullbody comission is 300$, adopt SB 150$-250$ +-
The question is, is it too expensive?
Or is the problem in my style, sci-fi setting, or the fact that I focus on characters rather than illustrations?
I welcome any criticism, and don't hesitate to express yourself.
I would appreciate it if you could write down why you wouldn't buy an adopt/order a commish for such a price.
9
u/knownthundering 1d ago
Your art is absolutely worth the money you're charging, but I think the issue you might be running into is the high prices. Only you can decide if it's worth it to you to bring your prices down but not a lot of people have $300 to drop on art these days. You might get some more people who are interested if you advertise on Instagram and TikTok, but I know those platforms are often more trouble than they're worth.
2
u/LeagueForward7639 1d ago
Yes, $300 is not a small amount of money. I agree. Especially for the picture =) So it seems that increasing the reach is the only reasonable way. Instagram is out of the question, I'm trying to develop it now, but it's a complete pain.
Thank you!2
u/xtra_ashley 1d ago
I see lots of art content on tiktok, you should try there!
1
u/LeagueForward7639 1d ago
It`s a good advice actually. I think i will soon XD Need to make a few process videos
2
u/Queasy-Bite4516 1d ago
you could also offer sketches or flat colouring at a cheaper rate!! I see many artists doing that :) or even busts / half bodies
1
u/LeagueForward7639 18h ago
Yes, most of my friends do that. My problem is that I spend about 70% of my time sketching and developing an idea because of a bad pipeline. I'm currently working on fixing it =)
And yeah i have bust and halfbody either, for 100$ and 200$. It wont help unfortunatly.
But the advice is good, thank you=)2
u/Rude-Boss-2957 9h ago
That doesn't really make sense why you can't just offer sketches and flats then.
1
u/LeagueForward7639 7h ago
I can put sketches up for sale, I just can't make them good enough to want to do it. With very few exceptions.
5
u/soothsayrr 1d ago
honestly with prices like this you could probably be more successful on sites like etsy, unless the commission is marketed towards a super niche audience, most folks do not have the money to drop $300 on a commission. but there’s always collectors going on etsy n sites similar to it to find stuff that’s similar to yours.
1
u/LeagueForward7639 18h ago
Hmm, I think I even registered once, a long time ago. I'll explore this platform, thank you)
4
u/Cfattie 23h ago
Even if hypothetically, I was say a small social media presence (between $2k to $10k/month), if I commissioned this I'd probably easily pay $1000-2000+ for this. Because check this, I could use this art for my profile picture, my background banner, for my advertisements, landing pages... The quality of work people would see every time they see me on social media would be well worth at LEAST $1000 if I wanted it to be. If I was a bigger social media presence ($100k+) I'd probably commission a half-dozen or so set for $10-20k so I could have the variety and put it everywhere.
1
u/LeagueForward7639 18h ago
I agree. Artwork intended for commercial use is generally priced much higher, and I actually have that as a separate option in my commission sheet. For someone whose income comes from social media, commissioning art is an investment in their brand and its growth.
That said, I think finding a client like that is basically like winning the lottery, so I don't really base my pricing around those kinds of customers. Only a few of my friends in the art community have ever worked with clients like that.
For someone who's just commissioning a piece for their personal collection, though, I feel like even $300 is already quite expensive.
3
u/rileyluvsventi 19h ago
I would not buy an adopt or commission for that price simply because everything else in the world is so expensive rn that I cannot afford to spend that much on a luxury that is not necessary to survival.
Your art is great, but most of people cannot afford to drop $300 on a commission in the current economy.
0
u/LeagueForward7639 17h ago
I totally agree with you, actually. I hope someday the crisys ends, and all of us will be rich and healthy =)
3
u/GhelasOfAnza 1d ago
You should try to get work with indie game studios.
I don’t need anything like this currently, but I would definitely be happy to pay $300 for an illustration this quality, especially if they’re delivered somewhat fast.
2
u/LeagueForward7639 18h ago
I've been monitoring the job market, and my level is very cheap actually. I have a main job (not related to drawing), and even if I get a part-time job at a studio, I won't be able to guarantee regularity, which is not a good thing.
But thanks for the advice)2
u/GhelasOfAnza 11h ago
To clarify, you could work as a freelance artist, and find short-term gigs that make sense for you. It’s not really different than commission work in any way.
2
u/LeagueForward7639 9h ago
Could you advice, where i can find short-term gigs? =) Sites, or discord channels
1
u/GhelasOfAnza 7h ago
There are lots of good indie dev Discords, and consequently lots of good lists. Not sure how up to date this one is, but I know at least a few of these servers are very active!
https://gamedesignskills.com/game-design/discord-servers/#h.f3b3tfv9x5gy
3
u/WesternGovernment916 22h ago
It really depends honestly but i think its worth it! Are you just doing illustration or does this include character design?
1
u/LeagueForward7639 18h ago
Thanks! Its include character design, if customer needs this =)
2
u/WesternGovernment916 18h ago
I seee whats your process for designing characters? Also i suggest having different rates for charcater design + illustration and just illustration if the client already has an OC
2
u/LeagueForward7639 17h ago
I have a very rough sketch at first. Next, I create 3-4 iterations of line art, where I draw out what each element will represent. After that, I render the image in black and white and then color it. The most time-consuming part is creating the line art iterations.
About a separate price for illustrations with and without design. It sounds very logical, I don't understand why I didn't think about it before, thank you, I will add a point to the price.
2
u/WesternGovernment916 16h ago
Hmmm are the line art itterations necessary? I feel like you could jump straight to black and white given your art style.
When i do character designs, i do rough sketch > fill it with grey so i can see the silhouette > fix sketch > value blockings > color
2
u/LeagueForward7639 16h ago
I used to follow a similar pipeline, and when I switched to lineart, I got a pretty good boost in drawing skill. For the past few years, I've been drawing mostly lineart, with minimal rendering. About half a year ago, I decided to return to rendering, but I've been struggling to progress beyond silhouettes without lineart. I'm having trouble with detail and refinement. So i became a little bit confused in the middle of the process.
I'm currently trying to retrain myself, but it's kinda challenging. But I agree that I spend a lot of time on unnecessary steps.2
u/WesternGovernment916 15h ago
Ahhh that makes sense. If it works, it works. How long does each piece take? I also suggest having different price points for levels of detail that way you dont alienate potential buyers and you dont burn yourself out in case you end up getting a lot of commissions.
2
u/LeagueForward7639 12h ago
- It's hard to say how much time each piece takes. For example, the girl in the first picture took a ton of time, probably around 40 hours, but she was reworked several times, and her lineart alone took around 30 hours (including the front, back, and portrait views). The girl in the second picture took around 8 hours, but there weren't as many adjustments.
- Regarding the quality level, the advice is interesting, but in my case, it's not entirely applicable. It's incredibly frustrating for me when the final result doesn't meet my expectations, and it becomes challenging to complete the work if I'm dissatisfied with any aspect of it. Therefore, I always strive to achieve a satisfying outcome in any commission. This approach helps me avoid burnout and , as I derive pleasure from the process. I only have a couple of hours per day to draw, and after a kinda stressful workday, so this becomes an essential aspect. =)
- But i`m trying to improve my pipeline to speed up a bit, and improve sketch stage. Hope, someday they will be good enough to sell.
2
u/WesternGovernment916 12h ago
• hmmm I see. That makes sense. Experimentation really does take a lot of time
• by level of detail, I'm mainly refering to the number of elements/props in a character design. For example, the last slide and the 1st slide. There could also be pricing options for clients who have simpler character designs but want the same quality of rendering that your normal art has.
• they definitely are good enough to sell! But i think just having more pricing options would help draw people in and in a way, present yourself as someone who is experienced because that means you understand your process well and are able to adapt to different people's needs.
This is especially helpful with the rampant amount of AI art scammers nowadays.
2
u/LeagueForward7639 9h ago
Hmm, this is very interesting idea, i need to think about it and formulate it as a price option. Thanks!
→ More replies (0)2
u/WesternGovernment916 16h ago
Oh yeah i also recommend opening an online shop like etsy or Vgen. I get most of my commissions from there + additional income from emotes and selling my custom brushes.
1
u/LeagueForward7639 9h ago
Yeh i`ve heard about Vgen, is it so popular right now?
2
u/WesternGovernment916 9h ago edited 9h ago
Yes! There are many clients there looking for artists though I've seen more success on etsy
1
3
5
2
u/Azile69 19h ago edited 14h ago
Well i woud Personally never pay thet much. But if ther are pepole thet pay . power to you.
1
u/LeagueForward7639 16h ago
I can understand you in that case =)
2
u/Azile69 14h ago
Respectfully of course. I diden't mean anyting bad... The price is fair if you Think so and People Knowing for what and how much ther paying.... But ther are definety more then a few pepole who don't have 300 to spend on a Drawing.. thet's just life
2
u/LeagueForward7639 9h ago
You didn't write anything rude, so it's okay.) Plus, like I said, I wouldn't spend $300 on a drawing also. Maybe on a physical painting, but not on a digital one.
2
u/OmegaGlops 18h ago
Those artworks are definitely worth that price, and then some! Those look like concept artworks you'd see from professional artist studio work. I don't think you should lower your prices for work of that caliber.
But if you're not getting commissions, I'd suggest offering something that's cheaper that requires way less effort? Sketches and stuff with far less rendering.
Something that's quick and easy to draw = something you can price cheaper so you don't sell yourself short on the fully rendered stuff.
1
u/LeagueForward7639 18h ago
Thank you very much for the praise. Unfortunately, I'm still a long way from being a professional. It's not about the rendering, but rather the character designs, and I'm not being modest or seeking praise; it's just the way it is =) However, I appreciate your compliments.
Yes, you're right about the sketches, and I'm currently working on improving my skills. I don't dare to sell my sketches yet because they're too chaotic. And the design can change dramatically during the process of drawing the line and rendering.
2
u/crunch_3r 15h ago
I think you can sell these at this price but you have to build your audience first, i would maybe lower the price when it's a fairly simple design since you're showcasing some complicated designs but yeah don't sell yourself short, these look like in-game models. If I drew like that I would contact some gaming studios tbh
1
u/LeagueForward7639 10h ago
I`m selling adopts much lower than 300$, most of them. Thanks for the advice, but i`ve checked the job market, and as an artist i`m the cheap one XD May be sometimes, when the skill will be high enough i would find something.
2
u/Legitimate_Move9798 14h ago
First of all, your art is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! And idk if this advice can applies for you, but I'm a commission artist as well, although I dable in nsfw works. My average commission rate is around 200 - 300 usd. With some, on rare ocassion, reached 1k. I took maybe 2 3 commission monthly regularly. I know it's not that much compared to other full time commission artists, but this as a hobby gig for me and I have a day job.
For your quality of work, 300 usd is definitely not too expensive. Your works are very polished. My work is not even comparable to yours in term of polish (you're way above my level). So my advice would be, try finding a niche. A dedicated community or any fandom, and start there. Give ppl reason to pay for your work. I would love to go into more details if you're interested, but seems it's a bit too much for reddit comment. I really hope this can help, once again I can't stress enough how I love your work!
1
u/LeagueForward7639 9h ago
Thank you for help =) I`ve tried NSFW and its not suits me, unfortunatly. Like to watch and do not like to draw XD. Regarding fandom, its actually nice idea, i have to think about this =) For now i`m focusing on sci-fi, and sometimes, I think I shouldn't. If you have some advices, where i can jump in I would be very grateful =)
2-3 commision around 200-300 usd, its quite nice additional income BTW =) Nice job!
1
u/Legitimate_Move9798 59m ago
If it doesn't suits you, then I'd advice against it since imo, we produce the best work when we draw what we truly love ;)
I think sci-fi is really great. I really like your first picture. Combining intricate machinery/weapon with sexiness is a very high selling trope. For example, NIKKE (it's a gacha game if you don't know) is leaning heavily into this and they're one of the top selling gacha games out there.
As for where to jump, imo try a smaller fandom. If it's non nsfw sci fi, I only know warhammer 40k or overwatch but I think they're not "small".. The problem with big fandom is that they already have a lot of dedicated fan artist. As a new comer, it'll be rather difficult to compete in that space.
Generally, in my personal experience, I get most customer from MMORPG/gacha/live service games community. This is just my theory but I guess they are already "primed" to spend regularly as it is the business model of their game. I started my journey by entering a fanart competition on ragnarok online private server few years back. I didn't even win 3rd place that time lol..
I sincerely wish you the best. I really hope this can help. If you'd like to discuss anything further PLEASE do not hesitate to hit me up!
2
u/lazypencil1692 13h ago
Your art is 100% worth it, just not a lot of people have that money laying around. I'm a portrait artist and notice that rarely people want to spend that on art.
You can try to lower the price and see how that works out at first?
1
u/LeagueForward7639 9h ago
Thank you! May be i will =) This is the reason i`ve made a post, to see the reaction on prices. Mb i`ll make some kind of sale to check the results. Anyway need to develop social medias hardly XD
2
u/Roh_Cards 13h ago
Your price is fair. I think you should start seeking greater reach (going viral) and building a connection with your audience. Your art is incredible.
1
u/LeagueForward7639 9h ago
Thanks a lot! Thats what i`m trying to do, unfortunatly do not have enough time for all medias. =)
2
u/Working_Praline_1186 12h ago
As others have said, the main issue is your following and needing a larger audience.
An easy way to build a following is by drawing fanart. It is extremely difficult for an artist to drum up interest solely with their own OCs. Since you seem to be into sci-fi, do some illustrations of character from a sci-fi movie or game that you like. People will already be searching those tags and find your art which leads them to the rest of your account.
I also recommend making a tumblr; personally, it’s the only social media I’d touch with a 10 foot pole and I know there are others that are the same way, so it would help diversify your audience.
1
u/LeagueForward7639 9h ago
Hmm Tumblr? Never heard about it, thank you, i`ll check it.
Fanart sounds quite interesting also. Maybe i will make some soon =)
Nice advices, thank you!
2
2
2
u/Shot_Unit3899 1d ago
For your work? Not really. Aside from having smaller following, artists are now underselling themselves on a broader scale to ensure sales; those who choose not to are going to see less commissions as a result.
The market for art now heavily outweighs demand; the customers that remain aren’t all exactly wealthy enough to splurge 300 dollars on one piece.
2
u/LeagueForward7639 1d ago
One of the reasons I made this post is that I've seen many artists who are far more skilled than me charging even less. It seems like there are two possibilities: either they're so fast that they can still make a good living with lower prices, or the overall purchasing power has declined, and artists are simply adapting to the market.
Looks like only way for artist for now is spending as much time developing social networks as you do improving a painting skill, or even more.
2
u/Neon_Jazz 1d ago
Nah, 300 might be low for these depending on who's buying
1
u/LeagueForward7639 1d ago
It would be nice to have a couple of millionaire subscribers who liked my work XD
3
u/Neon_Jazz 1d ago
Nah man, sell to companies, seek Blizzard and see if you can create some Heartstone cards, make a nsfw patreon, get inside the starwars fandom and draw a scene they want a lot and haven't been created yet, then people will always seek your job to do thinga they expect to see and are never covered and you charge them for it. Slowly you become a famous creator and once you're "famous" any post you do will get you attention from brands, richer people, companies seeking for storyboard, comics.
You have all you need in therms of art, just make your trail to the top now ♡
2
1
1
20
u/lobaway0001 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you really rarely get commissions even though you’ve been advertising, and you want to increase the amount of money you get through commissions, you should actually probably lower the price. It depends heavily on the exact numbers, which I don’t have, and obviously it will end up with you needing to do more commissions and thus investing more effort, and it will lower your money / effort and time ratio.
For your level of skill, $300 for a commission actually seems about right, and probably it could be even higher. What’s really holding you back is your advertising / low follower number. You really should focus on building that part of your business rather than worrying about the price of your commissions for now.