Jun 2016
34 / 84
Jun 2016
Feb 2018
69Michi
Jun '16
JessJackdaw

Certainly agree with you on the whole false advertisement thing but it's why most artists often includes "depend on complexity". The prices in the template is not a fixed price but more or less a reference, a guide for people to have an idea of how much they are going to need to get a certain type of art from an artist. Sure price quotes is a way to go, but at the same time it can potentially create inconvenience for buyer like me. An example could be I wanted to commission this popular artist, they said send them note to ask, but because they are a busy individual they take approximately 3 or 4 days to reply back with the prices. In that 3-4 days I could have accidentally bought something and by the time I got the price quote, I no longer have enough budget to afford it frowning

On a side note, in my own opinion and experience, having price template is just another thing for people to stop sending note asking you "how much is ____ and ____" (and most of them won't even be commissioning you after you reply with a price quote) the amount of note you can get over these matter can get ridiculous to keep on having to reply to being a DA artists T v T

JessJackdaw
Jun '16

Ahh, I guess I'm a more brash buyer than I realize, because it doesn't bother me to just ask. If something happens like you described, for example I have to make a car repair payment I wasn't expecting and don't have a lot of spare cash, usually I just am honest with the artist and say, "Hey sorry. Had problems with my car, and I don't have enough spending money to afford your art right now. I'd still like to get a commission from you in the future though! Hope we can stay in touch!" That sort of thing. Artists are people, and usually they'll understand your situation.

I suppose it depends where you advertise too, but to maybe deal with spam, you could close commissions until you've finished the ones you've got. Of course, you can always keep having example prices, I'm not stopping you. smile Whatever works best for your commissions.

69Michi
Jun '16

Tbh I took that example straight from many people I know that exist on DA including my friends LMFAO They are some real impulsive buyer that can jump on stuff to buy without even thinking about how they should be using that money to pay for their commissioned artist. (and it's not even some important stuff like car or rent) Hence it could be hard to explain to an artist why they no longer have the money on hand.

I think I just find it's good to have price template because throughout the years, a lot of my customer wanted that from me. Also it's not so much of spamming, but borderlining more on the "question" T_T And they will do it whether your commission is open or close.

No worry no worry, it's good to hear other people's opinion about this matter too! smiley

Zpreader
Jun '16
Aspie_Gamer

I can't believe this! I knew I screenshot this for a reason! Thank you SO MUCH for giving me the opportunity to finally use it :smiley:

We used to have this conversation all the time on Inkblazers.

Never forget :cry:

69Michi
Jun '16

That is the best troll scenario I ever read, a delight to my tired from a whole day at work brain.
Thank you so much for sharing

Delphonse
Jun '16

I don't know if I will be attacked on this forum. O.o i feel this is has a tinge of writer hate here. But I understand the dislike for writers looking for free work and expecting great artists to do their stuff for free. That is something that always got under my skin. The current series I am working on is a join effort between House of Imagi a team that draws stuff for people and me a new writer trying hard to go professional. I pay my art team for every single piece of art they finish for me. We worked out an original contract in the begining but they were working too hard and not meeting deadlines. Instead of getting mad at them and telling them they need to work harder. I understood that art takes time and I.would rather have quality that quantity. I lowered the weekly page count but kept the weekly pay the same. We have worked out the contract multiple times and I always make sure it is in their favor since they draw so much. We have worked together for about 4 months now and no one has any complaints. I spend 90$ a week and they get done at this point in time 2-3 storyboards. I could not ask for a better team honestly.

But I do have to wonder sometimes when I go on forums and see these articles. Every time I see this I get a little sad. Writers who look for artists should pay the artist for their time. But what about artists looking for writers? Should the artist pay the writer to create content for him or should be demand the writer payment for his art? I feel it is one sided. While I agree art takes way longer than writing. I can usually pop out a roughdraft for a chapter in about 6 hours. I still wonder why the writer has to always spend all his money in hopes that something will come to fruition.

I will say it again though I do not condone the use of using writers/artists to further your own career. If you want to work something out with an artists both members need to understand that you both may act like a team but if its not paid for do not expect a lot from either side.

I pay my artist because I expect some level of commitment. I work with volunteers on the side for other projects and when I do I work on their schedule. I do not demand art from a volunteer

Sorry if this is long or taken the wrong way I just wanna know peoples opinions on the reverse side as well since all I ever see is writers being taken as either cheapskates or buttheads and more often than not writers are never taken serious T.T I love it when an artist complements my writing I always get nervous thinking that my writing is horrible and that no one will aprriciate it.

Zpreader
Jun '16

That's a fair point. Can't say I've considered this too much myself to be honest, but I definitely agree that some compensation should be in order depending on who initiates the contract be it writer or artist, and broadly writers certainly deserve more credit than a thread like this may suggest.

That being said, I could definitely see cost of entry being a reason for why this isn't considered too much. As a writer, its possible to make due with a decent computer and a basic word processor. Now don't get me wrong, that's not to say that you will do that. Better word processors (including some specifically made for story writing and outlining) and purchased research material can add quite a bit to the cost. But for an artist hoping to perform at a professional level, the starting prices can be pretty steep regardless of whether you work analog or digital. Tablets and software are a one time purchase (if you're lucky), but can be anywhere from a bit expensive to absolutely wallet slaying, and you have to have a processor that can handle the stress that they entail. And while most physical art tools are quite cheap (I'm looking at you, Copics), they don't last forever, and that price can build up rather quickly.

heterodont
Jun '16
Delphonse

You definitely have a point! While writers are required to give some sort of (monetary, usually) compensation to artists, you never really see an artist state anything like "willing to pay writer for a story"! Not to say it doesn't take any effort to write a story, because I can barely break 12 pages with just the script of my stories - I couldn't imagine writing a full length novel or anything - but I feel like it's not really that certain artists have a Story in mind but they don't have the writing chops to flesh it out? Many times people, no matter how strong or weak they are in writing, still manage to type something out that they can use as a vague script.

Often times the artists you see searching for collaborations on the forum are looking for people who already have a story written out - not that they're looking for a writer to say, write their dialogue or chapters out. They're looking for people who already have written what they want to happen out, people who already know where their story is going and how to write it. From the topics I've seen, no one is really looking for someone to proof-read their chapters or their dialogue to make sure everything makes sense and is clear. Most writers want artists for a service (which is, visual interpretation of their writing) but usually, artists want writers for their projects.

Delphonse
Jun '16
Zpreader

That is true and I by no means condone using artists or putting either down. In fact the more I think about it the more upset I get lol I really hate good artists putting themself down and thinking they arent worth it. I am spending 90$ minimum every week and I ak working so hard to improve my writing. I want to be able to complement my artists. Our main focus is to become professional I believe my storywriting is not the greatest but I do hold pride in my work and in the time I spent learning what I need to. Right now we are working hard to get noticed by webtoons. We have a long way but I know that once we do about 3/4ths of the monetary gain would go to my artists. So I can pay them what they are worth. Sorry I get ranty on this subject I want artists to get paid their fair share and I am willing to put risk in my project cause I believe it will succeed given time ^.^

Delphonse
Jun '16
heterodont

I do see that often artists looking for a writer who has most of their stuff finished. I have my series almost completely fleshed out and the first 29 chapters written and edited multiple times. That took me over a year and half with the assistance of friends. I have 3 other short series that I have just in the early stages of fleshing out. Hoping to make them only at most 20 chapters each. My main series is a long running one that will take a long time to finish. I should have done smaller ones to begin with but that is my bad. Learn from experiance. Right now I am testing out different genras to expand my skill. I have a romance slice of life a horror mystery and a shonen action series all in the process of being fleshed out. It takes a lot of time and effort to make each but the monetary cost to make these for me is litterally nothing. For an artist like my fiance its drawing books and art supplies on a monthly basis and just now a drawing tablet which we got a decent one not cyntaq but monoprice which we looked around for and had an art friend give us advice. That was 300$. Being an artist is expensive and if you are trying to go professional the cost only increases. The majority of writers who want their "Pasionate project" to succeed usually have no idea what they are doing and when I first started I was in their shoes until I realized the situation most artists are in. I quickly changed my plan of action and switched to paying for assistance. Sorry this is ranty and kind of off subject I think.

heterodont
Jun '16

Nah its fine! It's great that you're trying to develop your writing skills by trying out different genres - not to mention that you're cooperating with your artists to make sure you're not overworking them as well ^^! I'd say you're one of the few writers who acknowledge how much work goes into art, unlike the people who say their stories are going to explode overseas/online and that they'll provide compensation when that happens...

isaacfriedman
Jun '16
UzukiCheverie

This is only tangentially related, but is it reasonable to charge only $5 for a really small black and white drawing of one character with no background?

UzukiCheverie
Jun '16

It depends. If I did a full lineart fullbody of a character, no background, I'd definitely charge more than $5 (they're buying a custom piece of art, not a coffee and donut) but you'd have to specify what "really small" means. And even then, that's just me. Different artists are comfortable with different rates, especially depending on their delivery time/resources needed/etc.

Amymone
Jun '16

They're looking for people who already have written what they want to happen out, people who already know where their story is going and how to write it.

^^^ YEESSS THISSS RIGHT HERE!!!!!!! I can't even list the amount of "writers" who I've met, who have these great concepts for stories that appeared to be ready, until I asked them if the story is physically complete.

"No"

"Can you write the whole thing out in the next year?"

"No. It's impossible!"

And yet you're looking for an artist for this? Talk about putting the cart before the horse!

I can usually pop out a rough draft for a chapter in about 6 hours.

COME HERE AND LET ME HUG YOU!!!

nikacomics
Jun '16
Zpreader

"Every character has over 100 powerlevels" —anyone else reminded of Nigel's amp from "This is Spinal Tap"? LOL

Thanks @Zpreader for sharing this gem :'D

69Michi
Jun '16
Delphonse

Yes. There are writers out there who gets paid for their writing and it's usually a word count thing. I.e $1 every 25 words or something along that line. I used to be in a visual novel making community, so we have a three way collaboration going on among writer, artist and programmer. And in each and every field you need the time and effort to finish up the job so people get paid equally. Usually it is the person who came up with the story idea and needs help making it ended up having to pay for others to help them out, and this is fair. (Like an artist who has an idea for a story, but can't write for god's sake, so they hire a writer and they happily work together)


Well this depends on the quality of the art and how good the artist is. If you ask me for a small (???) black and white drawing of once character with no background, let's just say it's a fullbody, I will charge around $25-30, that is my normal range. I'm not sure what you mean by small here LMFAO I draw on a large canvas size so small or not doesn't matter, what matter is whether you want a bustup, halfbody, or fullbody from me.

isaacfriedman
Jun '16

I probably should've been a bit more specific. Small means a quarter of a piece of cardstock, and simple means just very basic lineart. If the design is particularly complex, I'd add a dollar or two, but the level of complexity of this sort of thing is about on this level:

Simple, sketchy, half-hour to an hour at most. Also, I'm only just getting started on commissions and have sold 1 such commission so far (and it's not one I'd be comfortable sharing so it might as well be zero in terms of publicity). I think that, on the off chance these become popular, I'd bump up the price a little to decrease demand so I can still create a supply while also having time to do my actual job and work on my comics.

keii4ii
Jun '16
Delphonse

It doesn't work that way -- not just because art takes longer, either! The way I see it, it's because if the writer is the one who completely came up with the story, then the project is essentially the writer's brainchild.

However, if a "I'm an artist with a story" type of a creator wants the service of an editor to help with THEIR own brainchild, then the editor (who is probably a writer) definitely is the one who should be paid.