Different Art Markets and What to Expect

[ocelotish]

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.

Comments

[hellebore.livejournal.com]

Interesting, when you say markets, are you talking about doing work for individuals (like is generally seen here in this community) or established companies? There's a lot to this, far more than what you've listed.

As for myself, I'm in both the 'furry' world taking commissions, and I've done work in the distant past for a few companies, and I'm now moving into the weird world of music/album design/concepts for merch. And each time I think I've got something figured out, I learn something new.

There is a LOT to list, to school you with regarding all of this.

Backgrounds? People like my background work, I get people who specifically come to me FOR it. Do not discredit the power of making an environment for the characters - it can add a lot of $$ to your prices as well, which is a benefit.

As for rights, customers often assume a lot of things, so it is up to YOU to recognize what is legal, and explain it to them. Granted, most companies know the legal work for hiring artists, but many 'general' commissioners don't.

And my own personal tip that a lot of people tend to forget: learn to network. Yes, it can be aggravating because sometimes a person is a jerk, but they can present you with great opportunities for your advancement. And you'll not want to be nice to them, but ya gotta do what you gotta do. Get your name out there, do cons, heck, even start drawing gift art for people. It frustrates me to see people crying that they don't have any commissions coming in or anyone interested in their work. Well, get out there and make a name for yourself, don't sit there waiting for people to find you.

[ocelotish]

I edited it to reflect that this is mainly for personal commissions, but I am quite interested in corporate commissions too. It's just such a different beast! I certainly appreciate you raising the issue and that's definitely something that seems like it might warrant its own discussion later.

I know that my questions were really just the beginning, they were more examples rather than anything, I know there's a lot to learn, but a basic breakdown goes a long way!

Thank you for your response!