Open Thread 12/16/11: I am reconsidering commissions
on December 16, 2011 at 12:02 pmDo you remember how I disabled comments ages ago? Probably not, because I removed comments long before this comic had any kind of a readership. But now I want to try a thing; and that thing? Is comments.
Rather than have comments on individual comics, though, I am going to steal a page from some of the blogs I read and have an Open Thread party, wherein we can all talk about whatever, whether it’s the comic, or what your holiday plans are, or anything else.
I’ll tell you what I want to talk about, though, is commissions: I had a very interesting conversation with the Blotch duo the other day wherein they told me that if I wanted to make any kind of a decent living on my artwork, I need to stop taking them. And it makes sense: I spend so much time trying to get commissions done in order to make ends meet that I have no time at all to work on the comic, which is what is largely responsible for most of the interest in my work these days. So that’s something for me to think about.
I don’t think I’m ready to stop doing them completely, and certainly I am going to complete my existing queue, but I think that going forward, any commissioned work I take will have to be done with the understanding that I intend to sell prints of that work, and will be selected according to its viability for print sales. (And on the subject of print sales, it certainly wouldn’t hurt if I spent a bit more time preparing the ridiculous backlog of work I’ve completed over the last few months for printing so that I can make them available.)
I do have a bunch of ideas (like, a whole bunch) for themed collections and illustrated stories, and single pieces I’ve been wanting to do, which I just couldn’t budget the time for. The idea of stopping work on something that’s paid for up front to focus on stuff that might sell in the future is kind of scary to me, and honestly I expect I’m going to have to find a nine-to-five again until I figure out exactly how this is all going to work, but it’s been my experience that when I work from my own imagination and draw to my own tastes, that’s the stuff that always winds up resonating with other people. And for that reason, I am optimistic!
Anyway. That’s what’s going on with me. What’s going on with you? Do you guys want some possible worldbuildy spoilers about what’s going on with this boat? Because I am prepared to dish. Comments are open until Sunday night; I’ll try to be as active with the responses as possible!
That is a fascinating point about commissions and one I had not thought of before. I don’t get many commissions because I price them high; I am lucky to be in a place where I can place value of my time as more important than volume of orders. I’m also lucky that I get to spend so much time drawing my comic.
I don’t know that I’ll change my commission process, but I do know I will be thinking strongly about that every time I get one now. :|a
A rule of thumb I’d heard from other illustrators is that if you want to make a living, you draw something once and sell it three times: the original, prints, and I think licensing the image might have been the third option. Or it could have been merch. Who knows!
What I do know is if I draw a personal piece of commissioned artwork for someone, I’m only being paid for that piece. Usually the subject matter is so specific in nature that I can’t sell it as a print, which means once the image is done, the only money I’ll see for it is from the original client.
Whereas if I were drawing my own ideas, I could concentrate on stuff that is both interesting to me and has universal appeal, and have an original to sell, and not worry about alienating a client because I wanted to sell prints of a character they’d invented.
It seems most of the top-tier artists in the furry world don’t offer commissions because the return on the amount of time invested in them is so small. The popular theory seems to be that comics, portfolios, prints, and paysites are the way to go.
YES. I love worldbuildy spoilers.
What is Allsaints? What’s their air traffic control situation like? What’s in that barrrel?
Allsaints is a major port city built on a floating island. (Actually, all of the landmasses in this world are floating islands). Air traffic control isn’t a huge huge concern considering all traffic is air traffic, though I imagine there’s some people whose job it is to flag airships in the right direction as they come in to dock.
No idea what’s in the barrel, though! I.. just needed for there to be a barrel there.
…and now for the mandatory totally unrelated post:
Welcome back!!
It’s sooo good to finally see comics from you again! I would’ve posted this earlier, but you know, disabled comments and all. First thing I did when my RSS finally had another entry from you was to reread all of your comics, and damn did I miss you.
So, good thing you’re awake again, and on to many more lovely comic strips! (And of course all the best with making money from your art!)
Aw gosh, thanks!
I didn’t mean to let the comic lie idle for nearly as long as I did, but every week that went by made it that much easier to let another week slide. And then another month slide. And then it felt like if I was going to start posting again, I had better come back with something amazing, or just not bother coming back at all. So it turned into this huge scary guilt-inducing thing, with all these expectations I had of myself that I felt like I was going to let everyone down if I didn’t meet them. (When, really, not posting anything is way worse than posting something that isn’t great.)
First of all, are you feeling all right? Opening up comments is almost like letting all heck break loose! You get all sorts of readers that pop up. Anyways, as far as commissions, I don’t think I’m qualified to talk about them, as seing, I haven’t done any. But for me, I’d rather come up on your store and see an e-book collection of stuff you’ve done so I can say, hey, look at this cool thing Root did! Anyways, nice to have you back doing comics root. Came for the firefox, stayed for the rest. And I’ll probably enjoy this one too. I mean, come on, airships.