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Question about commissioned artwork

TheWheelManTheWheelMan Posts: 1,014
edited December 1969 in The Commons

I know some people here do commissioned artwork. How does one get gigs like that?

Comments

  • GhengisFarbGhengisFarb Posts: 173
    edited November 2013

    TheWheelMan said:
    I know some people here do commissioned artwork. How does one get gigs like that?

    I can't necessarily speak about how those here who do commissioned artwork got started but in the interest of at least giving an answer I know that I and most of the artists/publishers I work with started by making art images and posting them online in a gallery. A lot of people do DeviantArt. My publisher friends will contact an artist that has a style they like and see if they want work.
    Post edited by GhengisFarb on
  • SickleYieldSickleYield Posts: 7,644
    edited December 1969

    Yep. Put up your very best renders on dA and in their descriptions and/or in your page description indicate that you take commissions. Have a firm idea ahead of time what you are willing to do or not do and be prepared to clearly and politely articulate that.

  • frank0314frank0314 Posts: 14,263
    edited December 1969

    TheWheelMan said:
    I know some people here do commissioned artwork. How does one get gigs like that?

    What kind of commissioned work? 2D or 3D

  • SickleYieldSickleYield Posts: 7,644
    edited November 2013

    Frank0314 said:
    TheWheelMan said:
    I know some people here do commissioned artwork. How does one get gigs like that?

    What kind of commissioned work? 2D or 3D

    Oh! Sorry, I was assuming he meant 2D. 3D commissions never repay the effort involved, or at least haven't for me - I've done them for some nice people, but while they were willing to let me resell once they had a copy, the things wanted were too niche to recoup the hours spent in sales dollars (and the investment people were able to make was miniscule compared to the hours as well). Now if I ever do a 3d commission it's basically just for fun.

    Post edited by SickleYield on
  • frank0314frank0314 Posts: 14,263
    edited December 1969

    The only commission work I've done is for DAZ. A couple times a year they will approach us to do something. They give the detail of what they want and you do it. You have to send it WIP pretty constant for approval. It has paid my time the ones I had.

  • SickleYieldSickleYield Posts: 7,644
    edited December 1969

    Frank0314 said:
    The only commission work I've done is for DAZ. A couple times a year they will approach us to do something. They give the detail of what they want and you do it. You have to send it WIP pretty constant for approval. It has paid my time the ones I had.

    See, I didn't even know they did that. :D But I believe it with DAZ. They know what's involved and what the going prices are, and I would expect them to communicate their wants clearly. That's not necessarily true for Joe Blow who wants a macrobreasted Angelina Jolie character with custom space armor.

  • MistaraMistara Posts: 38,675
    edited November 2013

    the tricky thing about commissioned artwork, it's all murky.

    They aren't buying rights to the character, unless it's one you made yourself.
    like, if you rendered monsters in the cupboard,
    they only buy right to the render, yes? they can't own the monster, or 'buy' the monster from you?

    so, if you sell movie rights to your graphic novel made with Daz characters, you can't sell the rights to the look of the character?
    unless they buy the character from Daz to use in their movie?
    what are the rules about selling 'the look' of the character?

    i've looked at some art books of Firefly series,
    the characters look like Mal and Inara, but different enough
    that you can't say the picture is Nathan Fillion or Morena Baccaran.

    Post edited by Mistara on
  • icprncssicprncss Posts: 3,694
    edited December 1969

    What type of work are you looking for?

    Do you have a resume and a portfolio to show potential clients?

    Have you done any pro bono work for a non-profit or some other organization that can give you a reference?

    What do you know about becoming self-employed within the state (if you are in the US) you reside?

    If do a project for a client, upon completion, who holds the copyright?

    If you need assets for a project, who pays for them?

    These are just a few of the questions you need to consider.

  • SylvanSylvan Posts: 2,718
    edited December 1969

    Ugh, I've had costumors in the past with commisions who bolted on me because they somehow thought it was too expensive...
    Drawing portraits of people and animals and designing birthcards used to be my main thing.
    Working on art is highly underrated or at least, most of the time.

    A website with a portofolio works great, but DA also works, perhaps even better because you don't have to draw crowds, they will find you.
    Mouth to mouth from people who had already something made by you, works great as well.
    Always have a businesscard in your wallet!
    Sometimes I reply to ads or people mail me.

  • TheWheelManTheWheelMan Posts: 1,014
    edited November 2013

    Sorry, I meant illustration using 3D software and Photoshop, commissioned work doing the kind of art we all do here.

    Post edited by TheWheelMan on
  • frank0314frank0314 Posts: 14,263
    edited December 1969

    If your really good at rendering then you can contact DAZ about being a Promo Artist

  • TheWheelManTheWheelMan Posts: 1,014
    edited December 1969

    Frank0314 said:
    If your really good at rendering then you can contact DAZ about being a Promo Artist

    Okay, I'll do that. All they can say is no.

    Thank you!

  • frank0314frank0314 Posts: 14,263
    edited December 1969

    TheWheelMan said:
    Frank0314 said:
    If your really good at rendering then you can contact DAZ about being a Promo Artist

    Okay, I'll do that. All they can say is no.

    Thank you!

    Yep. Don't hurt to ask

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