Do Non-artists Really Not Know How Long Art Takes?!?

[Callirai]

So this weekend I was talking to my sister. She is a couple years older than me and she is not very artistic. She is more of a books and baking kind of person. She was telling me that a friend of hers wanted to commission me for a piece. Now, a bit about my style first, I am working toward a semi realistic style, however I am still practicing and not quite where I want to be just yet. Her friend wanted a wolf next to an Indian with a headdress on. I let her know that maybe he should shop around for artists because not only do I have no experience with animals and I am not interested in drawing them, but I also wasn't confident in my style enough and didn't feel I could give him the realistic look he wanted.

She then asked how much it would cost and I told her some base prices for realistic work. She was stunned and asked why it was so expensive. I explained that most artists start their base pay with a minimum wage for their hours spent and then plus some for the product they are giving you. I explained that, especially realistic pieces, can take anywhere from 6-12 hours or more. She was so surprised and asked why it would take that long. She was nice the entire time, and once I explained it she understood.

This just really got me thinking about how non artists really have no idea how long it takes to make a piece or the process it takes to finish it either. We don't just slap the colors down and are done. It takes time and sometimes a lot of layering or trial and error that goes into the work.

Anyways, sorry for the ramble, just wanted to share this thought with others!

[Kelheor]

She was so surprised and asked why it would take that long.

Eh, computer is drawing everything for you
But yeah, people don't know. Just like they don't know how long it is to make a piece of jewelry, or a fancy cake, or repair a car

[DualDragons]

Guess not. My own brother, who watches me draw from scratch still expects me to pump out a page per day.

[Callirai]

Right?!? I did kind of show her the process and she got it after that. I guess it can be surprising as a non artists. But we just can't pump things out as fast as you think we can! Lol

[Callirai]

We aren't machines! Lol. Yea, I find it laughable when others expect it to be done so fast. I think we see that issue here on the forums sometimes too.

[MorganaMevil]

As a non-artist, I had no idea it took that long. But I think that’s because my only experience with big art projects is the things we had to do in art class in middle school and that was spread out over several 50-minute class periods (where you were usually talking to your friends while working) so I don’t have the best understanding of how long it takes. I would’ve guessed anywhere from 1-4 hours.

But that just goes for anything. If you don’t do it, you probably don’t know how long it takes to complete that task. If you’ve never sheared a sheep, you probably have no idea how long that takes. As someone who raised livestock, it takes f’ing forever because you have to first wash the sheep, then blow dry it, then shear. And wool coats aren’t exactly quick to dry.

[domisotto]

Oh, I totally know, and I empathize. Creative work is work. Once a person breaks out on the level when they can obtain payment, that payment gotta be worth the efforts.

[HGohwell]

I think this is a major reason I love time lapses on youtube. They help give non-art people more of an idea of how much is actually involved beyond the computer does it all. But I don't think that's really just an art thing. Lots of people assume they can do anything. After all, how many people just think they can sit down and write the next best selling novel? I used to have it all the time with horse riding too "it's not a real sport the horse does all the work" like "it's not real art the computer does it all". There's always the simple answer of "ok you do what I do then if it does it all for you".

[Callirai]

Yea. I understand why she didn't know the amount for time it takes. And I am happy that she was willing to learn about it to help her understand. I was just surprised by it. But you are right, there are things that we all don't know. Most of my surprise did come from the fact that I message her a lot throughout my process and show her the progress and it surprised me that the timing for it never clicked. But I get it! Just something to think about I guess!

[Callirai]

Very true. And I get why some people don't understand. I am just glad she is one of the people that listened and learned rather than continuing to say the cost was unfair.

[Callirai]

Exactlym it is just a matter of being misinformed. I am just glad she listened and learned from it! She even let me video chat and show her my process a bit!

[domisotto]

After all, how many people just think they can sit down and write the next best selling novel?

Even just a popular one, that gets lots of views. Oh, well.

[VibrantFox]

I think this is a major reason I love time lapses on youtube

Big this! Even for "simpler" art styles you can see how it takes time to know how to stylize things and whatnot and it still looks nice alongside all the other steps in drawing

It one of the reasons why I'm kind of glad that even though my family doesn't draw they're still understanding of the time and labor that goes into the work. Plus my dad was kind of a reference to that and he did traditional work, so whenever I look at his old pieces I can only imagine the amount of time it must've took to render everything.

[Jenny-Toons]

There's always the simple answer of "ok you do what I do then if it does it all for you".

That's generally how I respond to people who are smart-alecks about it. It's one thing to just not understand the effort. It's another to be a jerk about it and then try to convince me it's useless. I have no patience for people like that XD

[Callirai]

Time lapses are so great. And they are good for non artists and Artists alike! It can especially help us artist to learn process and technique when we are trying to emanate a certain style or just starting out in our art journey!

[Callirai]

Same here. It is fine to be confused or lack understanding, but at least be open to being educated about it and don't assume you know everything when it isn't something you specialize in or spend a lot of time doing.

[Jenny-Toons]

Kinda wish more people were open to learning cuz like...it's fun to learn?

It's why I love watching those "How They Do It" videos with manufacturing and artisans practices. There's so much attention to details, it's mesmerizing.

Mom's kinda the same way -- she's seen me work on my panels before and asks questions. And I end up telling her about modes for shading, layers for coloring, and shortcuts. She's not an artist, but she eats up learning about it.

Why don't more people wanna feel that?

[Callirai]

My mom does the same thing! She will listen to anything I have to say about art and the program I am using. She listens, she will watch me draw and watch speed paints or even look at other artists work and help me analyze it anytime I ask! I love that she is like that!

[Freemints30]

Eh, computer is drawing everything for you

Yes, just open clip paint or sai and tell it to draw a full 30 panel webtoon episode, leave it on and in 30 minutes its 100% complete and ready to upload

[snailienz]

High key I think thats exactly it. They either don’t realize how long art takes, or they think that because we do it for fun that being willing to do it for peanuts makes sense to them. They don’t get that it is like asking a professional landscaper who likes to garden in their time off to come over to their house and perform work for barely anything, they think it cant possibly be work!

One time I had a doctor ask me what animation was. After telling me I was going to be poor my whole life and should get used to bussing tables if I wanted to do art for a living.

Just because I’m an artist doesn’t mean I’m going to supplement my art paychecks with food service, lady...