Aaaahhh! Help! Comission!???!!?

[MiniGoth]

Somebody just asked me a price on comissions of paintings based on my sketches! (While I should be thrilled, I'm absolutely confused and terrified.)

I sent back some questions about size and backing stuff(paper or artist board type stuff) partly to stall.

From what she wants, each painting would take me about a week - but I don't think I'm that good...I don't want to under sell myself, but I don't wanna scare her away either...

I was thinking a ballpark of $400 bucks each traditional, putting my best effort in and taking a decent amount of time to get them as great as I can, while not starving in the effort.

Thoughts?

You can answer here or PM me - I really don't have much info at the moment, I just know I'm going to have to buy some materials that need to be included in the cost.

[Flake]

From what she wants, each painting would take me about a week

So what is a weeks solid effort of your life worth?

[aesir]

how many hours total work do you think it would take. Give yourself an hourly wage. Make price.

Most freelancers work at anything from 20-over a hundred an hour. although 20 is pretty damn low.

[Elwell]

Is this an illustration commission (selling reproduction rights but not the original) or a fine art commission (selling the original, but not reproduction rights)?

[feifeicreate]

A couple of years back, I got a fine art commission, it's a 24" x 36" Oil on canvas piece. The guy has a lot of requirement. It is a fantasy piece, but he want to put portraits of himself and his friends in it. I asked my professor, he said charge $40 - $50 per hour, plus the material. The guy took the original, and that painting got me roughly a grand. Hope this helps.

[Blue]

Is this an illustration commission (selling reproduction rights but not the original) or a fine art commission (selling the original, but not reproduction rights)?

To expand on Elwell's question, a Illustration commission goes for much less, as you retain the original art and the rights while a fine art's commission sells for drastically more because you are selling an original (and unless I'm mistaken) the rights to that piece as well.

If each painting will take you a week, ask yourself exactly how many hours you need to put in, then just put in an hourly fee you are comfortable with. Whatever you do, don't charge less then you would be paid at some fast food joint. If it takes you 40 hours to do 1 painting and you are comfortable selling your time for 10 dollars an hour, then yes 400 is fine (that's minimum wage in washington state btw).


If you want to figure it all out... http://freelanceswitch.com/rates/ this helps.

[Elwell]

To expand on Elwell's question, a Illustration commission goes for much less, as you retain the original art and the rights while a fine art's commission sells for drastically more because you are selling an original (and unless I'm mistaken) the rights to that piece as well.

Sale of an original work of art does not automatically mean sale of reproduction rights as well, they are two totally separate issues (most art buyers are unaware of this, BTW). As for which would be more, that totally depends. There are a huge number of variables, and different criteria are involved when pricing originals vs. rights. Also, remember that reproduction rights aren't an all-or-nothing proposition, the transfer can be very limited and specific.

[Stoat]

That's interesting. I thought the sale of fine art automatically included all reproduction rights, too (unless publication preceded sale, such as publishing a picture book and subsequently selling the paintings).

Oof. I've got a very steep learning curve ahead of me.

[Blue]

Sale of an original work of art does not automatically mean sale of reproduction rights as well, they are two totally separate issues (most art buyers are unaware of this, BTW). As for which would be more, that totally depends. There are a huge number of variables, and different criteria are involved when pricing originals vs. rights. Also, remember that reproduction rights aren't an all-or-nothing proposition, the transfer can be very limited and specific.

Ohh, very good to know. So even if you sell an original, you can still retain rights to how that painting is used? I suppose even with the sale of original art, a contract still needs to be written?

I'm not going to lie, with every one thing I learn, i need to learn 2 more. Thanks for the clarification. :mod:

[Elwell]

Every working artist should have Business and Legal Forms for Illustrators by Tad Crawford (http://www.allworth.com/Business_and_Legal_Forms_for_Illustrators_p/1-58115-364-3.htm), or his equivalent book for designers, fine artists, photographers, etc.

[DavePalumbo]

I suppose even with the sale of original art, a contract still needs to be written?

Actually, I believe a contract is only needed if you want to transfer rights. It's not legally assumed that rights transfer, it's assumed that they don't unless otherwise stated. You own the rights until you give them up and without any documentation on this, the buyer wouldn't have any legal claim.

Or such is my understanding of the law :shrug:

[waranghira]

Every working artist should have Business and Legal Forms for Illustrators by Tad Crawford (http://www.allworth.com/Business_and_Legal_Forms_for_Illustrators_p/1-58115-364-3.htm), or his equivalent book for designers, fine artists, photographers, etc.

wow, how much handbooks do you have?

[MiniGoth]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

I will get more information from this person. She's willing to look at digital work (didn't realize that people did it that way) - which would require a bit less from me in terms of materials and shipping, which is good.

I'll find out about the rest. If I could offer prints of the work, that would make me feel better. She just said 'I don't have much money' - which for me is a red flag, just because it screams 'I don't think art is worth much money' instead of 'I actually am strapped for cash'.

Either way, I'll let everyone know how this progresses, so hopefully others can learn from the mistakes I'll surely make along the way.

[MiniGoth]

Is this one odd?

I told her I had some other obligations the next two weeks, and would send of a low res thumbnail of the first piece to see if she likes it(one too small to do anything with).

Her response was that she was going to be away for the same amount of time, so not to bother contacting her before I got back, anyway.

The parrot bit just seems a touch odd.