ocelotish (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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artistsbeware2_archive2012-06-11 01:29 pm
ocelotish) wrote in artistsbeware2_archive2012-06-11 01:29 pm
Entry tags:
Different Art Markets and What to Expect
Well, I'm finally planning on taking commissions now that I've done something I might be willing to pay for, but for me subject matter isn't really an issue. I really don't care what I draw as long I am paid to draw it, which puts me in kind of a unique situation.
Where do I market myself?
Because there isn't an obvious answer I thought I'd ask you guys about the different markets and compile an info post that way (which will hopefully be of use to others too). Where do you go to sell superheroes? What about Disney style? Do you need to have your own character and a huge portfolio? Do people care about backgrounds? Are cheesecake shots a vital part of your gallery? Is there a common scamming M.O.? Do customers assume they have rights to that sort of image? That's the sort of information I'm interested in.
Just to make it easy here's a form that might help you organize your thoughts/include questions you might not have considered, but feel free to comment however you like.
Type of work:
What sells:
Price ranges:
Sites to use/advertise on:
Need to know info:
What to watch out for:
How people view artists:
Any additional comments:
Edit: For clarification, I'm talking mainly about individual commissions. Corporate commissions are also interesting (just a different kettle of fish), but feel free to discuss that too.
Edit 2: There's some great advice in the replies, but just to steer things back on target, I'm also interested the more niche specific information. How is the anime market different than the furry market, different than the superhero market, etc. It's less "How do I do commission basics," more "Where is this market centered (in terms of websites), what do they look for, do they only like digital, etc." Very genre specific info.
Where do I market myself?
Because there isn't an obvious answer I thought I'd ask you guys about the different markets and compile an info post that way (which will hopefully be of use to others too). Where do you go to sell superheroes? What about Disney style? Do you need to have your own character and a huge portfolio? Do people care about backgrounds? Are cheesecake shots a vital part of your gallery? Is there a common scamming M.O.? Do customers assume they have rights to that sort of image? That's the sort of information I'm interested in.
Just to make it easy here's a form that might help you organize your thoughts/include questions you might not have considered, but feel free to comment however you like.
Type of work:
What sells:
Price ranges:
Sites to use/advertise on:
Need to know info:
What to watch out for:
How people view artists:
Any additional comments:
Edit: For clarification, I'm talking mainly about individual commissions. Corporate commissions are also interesting (just a different kettle of fish), but feel free to discuss that too.
Edit 2: There's some great advice in the replies, but just to steer things back on target, I'm also interested the more niche specific information. How is the anime market different than the furry market, different than the superhero market, etc. It's less "How do I do commission basics," more "Where is this market centered (in terms of websites), what do they look for, do they only like digital, etc." Very genre specific info.
no subject
By pin-ups you mean pin-up girls/sexy pin-ups as opposed to pin-up illustration meaning one page, full body, minimal background, not necessarily sexy, sometimes action, right?
Do you have any site/forum recommendations or just deviantart/tumblr?
no subject
The pinups are usually something like this: http://daggerpoint.deviantart.com/gallery/351640#/d47kcy3
Cheesecake like this:
http://daggerpoint.deviantart.com/gallery/351640?offset=48#/dwlqke
I don't know any forums or sites to recommend (the only reason I know CoH/CoV fandom exists at all is because a friend of mine gets a hefty chunk of his commissions from them!). Mostly, they seem to be on DA. I think the best way of appealing to that fandom is probably just to have some good superhero-female samples in your gallery, and perhaps to draw someone CoH character and submit it to the DA group: http://cityofheroes.deviantart.com/ The group has 744 watchers, so it's probably a good way to get seen.
Hope that's helpful, and good luck with your art :)
no subject