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Lol. I think charging by the hour is too much effort for amatuers - I make my solid prices from what I know about how long it takes me to work. I mean, artists may be cheating commissioner and commissioner might not pay artist in the end if it's a "bill ya later" sitch. It's easier in industry say, when you work 9 to 5 each day, but when you're just spotty with time, it's different.

As for Steve... capitalizing? I dunno, I suppose it's part capitalizing, part memorializing.. however, a contest or giveaway would be much less taking-advantage-of-his -image. I'm not a Croc Hunter fan or anything. I always felt, though, that he'd be one of those things that was, like, always there.

Thank you for the input, cadets - I agree with what all of you have been saying.

Today I was going over a list of links I had compiled (of people whom I'd like to commission when my current list goes down a bit and is more manageable) and I came to one where the artist charged by the hour - fine, their reasons for doing so were in an attempt to be more professional, but at the same time they also didn't want to be rushed and stated that a piece could take anywhere from two a couple of weeks to a couple of months.

I don't know, I suppose it's things like that that don't make much sense to me. I've never rushed anyone to complete a commission before, but I think it just sounds a bit strange to want to be "professional" when deadlines aren't on the cards.


Now here's another question: does the personality of an artist you commission/want to commission make a difference to you? Today I read the non-dA journal of an artist and they seemed really obnoxious - previously I had thought they were pretty sensible (despite a few pointless rants in between).

Last year I commissioned an artist - whom I already knew was obnoxious by the fact they updated their journal every day and ranted at and threatened people who were apparently stealing from them (I don't know if anyone was - I never saw it, and obviously theft=dreadful beyond belief, but still, it was extreme and constant and it appeared to be directed at everyone all of the time not just actual thieves) - and I later stopped watching them because it started to become irritating.

Has that ever happened to anyone else?

For the first question, I pretty much agree with everyone else. I think it's nicer to be able to see general prices of an artist before you asking them about a question. I mean... art is time, time is money thing all applies... and it's how I judge some of my prices. I understand that it's hard to tell how long a certain peice might take to do... Even for me my time varies... I've just been trying to pay more attention and finding the average. Some art flies by without a hitch and others I have to work at more.

I think it'd be even more important for someone who charges for the hour to have a thorough grasp on how long it will take them to do. My commercial art teacher was an illustrator for many years, and it even applies to graphic design. If you tell him what the project is, he can tell you how many hours he could complete it in.

----For the second question, I haven't commissioned anyone RL-wise.... but I think it does make a difference. I think if I was dying for an artists work who I thought was also a really cool person, but then they suddenly came across as rude or uncaring... I'd probably lose some respect for them and not be so eager to have art by them even if it is amazing work. It's like you would get some kind of aftertaste from the commission. xp

Personality matters, moreso if they're not prompt. I view commissioning as a relationship between the commissioner and the artist, and both need to be able to communicate well and accept feedback. If someone's really stuck up or hard to work with, then that's frustrating, especially if they're not doing something as I'd like or if they are taking a really long time to do the commission and aren't tolerant of inquiries as to the time frame. If someone's a bit of a jerk but they're super good and prompt and still keep me updated, I'd overlook it though. XD

I hardly think 50 commissions is an insane requirement O.o; Out of curiousity, how many do you have?

Personality is really important. You really do catch more bees with honey than vinegar. I do not understand how people think they are impressing others by being nasty and stuff...

I am fairly nieve though, I didn't go to public highschool so my friend had to explain to me the other day how 'most girls are'. Like the backstabbery and things that go on... and even then it still goes over my head becuase I dont get why people can get like that... y,y

But anyway!

I have only had the good fortune to work with really nice people so far... Grimma is AWSOME... everywhere she goes. > heart _ heart <

teeheehee... *gigglesnort* she was my fiiirst... (RL commission) XD
and was very great to work with!

Also I have had a great experiance with Neolucky from DA.
She is fast as a whip, almost to the point of making your head spin. Once she sits down to work on it, boy does she crank it out. Awsome quality too. And she likes to work while your online and she can send you wips back and forth like shots, making changes as she needs too... gawd it was almost like really good... ice cream... yea that was tottally what i ment... <,<`

I'm just starting to work with dirtybrownpaper and minties but they seem very nice so far. =D

I dont think I could commission from someone who I was worried about them biting my head off or something... you know? >,<

Oh myy!!

But what if the Mr. Bee finds the Fly with his honey!

OMG that would get so uggly! rofl