Should I do commissions or not?

AeroPegasus
Artist -
Not a Llama - Happy April Fools Day!

So I was planning to start taking drawing commissions so that I can buy some more drawing supplies and make a small profit as a side gig, but now I’m not sure if it’s a good idea. My first my issue was that I didn’t think my drawings weren’t good enough for commissions but now I’m worried that there won’t be enough people wanting pony stuff since the show is ending on October.
 
This may be me overreacting to the whole “the end is neigh” mentally but actually looking at it, it did make me a little worried that there won’t be anyone wanting pony stuff once the show ends. So that’s really my question, is it worth it to start putting up commission sheets and take commissions or should I just take requests to expand my really small audience?
Joey
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What’s the harm in trying?
 
I don’t think interest is gonna die off anytime soon. It’s not like everyone’s gonna forget ponies the day after the last episode airs. If anything, the fandom is gonna become more dependent on fan created content.
Clear Vision
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Petrolhead Artist
This may be me overreacting to the whole “the end is neigh” mentally but actually looking at it, it did make me a little worried that there won’t be anyone wanting pony stuff once the show ends.
 
There’s still people out there who will want their OCs drawn or their favourite characters drawn. It’s just that I predict things might get a bit more competitive because there no doubt will be some people who will check out once the show is done, but nothing major really.
 
So I was planning to start taking drawing commissions so that I can buy some more drawing supplies and make a small profit as a side gig, but now I’m not sure if it’s a good idea. My first my issue was that I didn’t think my drawings weren’t good enough for commissions but now I’m worried that there won’t be enough people wanting pony stuff since the show is ending on October.
 
If you’re able to produce more stuff like >>2112421 and maybe not make the legs so thin, I think your art quality is above the threshold of commissions being a sensible idea. You don’t need to be the best artist around, you just need to be good enough to deliver commissions that are worth your asking price.
 
My advice with commissions would be to take the time to design a good price sheet for yourself and focus in on the niche you’d want to fill. Readability and clarity is the #1 thing you should focus on, but don’t be afraid to experiment with some visual designs to make it more eye-catching. And as for niches, if you’re able to make good quality art for things that don’t receive much art that you’re interested in, I think you’ll find more success because there will be something that will set you apart from other artists, and your genuine interest for what you draw will show through small details that you put in.
AeroPegasus
Artist -
Not a Llama - Happy April Fools Day!

@ClearVision  
Oh wow, this reply sure was really helpful.
 
Only think I more or less didn’t catch was the whole “nich” thing. So is that like my little obsession with pony robots and androids or am I going way off with what you’re trying to say?
 
Also the whole clarify thing, do you mean like setting boundaries on what I will and won’t draw, prices and expected deadlines? I was thinking of doing the whole typical  
Head sketch $3  
Body sketch $5  
Head line art $6  
Body line art $8  
Colored head $10  
Colored body $15  
Cell shaded body $20  
(Add-on)  
background +$5  
Extra characters +$10 per  
Complex structure, objects or vehicles +$5-30 depending on complexity
 
And then have some time slots for the deadlines, like if I get two commissions I’ll just que them, one gets them on the 15th and the other gets them on the 17th (since work takes up a good chunk of my time)
 
Is that what ya mean for clarifying?
Clear Vision
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The Power of Love - Given to a publicly verified artist with an image under their artist’s tag that has reached 1000 upvotes
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Artist -

Petrolhead Artist
Only think I more or less didn’t catch was the whole “nich” thing. So is that like my little obsession with pony robots and androids or am I going way off with what you’re trying to say?
 
Yes, that would count as a niche, especially when there’s only ~2500 robot pony images on the site currently. However, to explain this further, a niche area of art is artwork that would only fully appeal to a small but specialised group of people, and typically there’s also a small amount of artists that can produce it. I don’t know how seriously you’re taking your artwork, but if you want to start growing a fanbase around your art, you are much more likely to do it if you make your art have specific themes and niches that you like, that also don’t receive much art to begin with. Or in other words, if someone thinks of their your name, you are more likely to be remembered if there’s something associated with you:
 
Oh, I know of AeroPegasus! They usually draw ……… and ………
 
There’s a few popular artists that I know of off the top of my head, but for the ones that I don’t follow closely, I have no idea what they usually do because they typically… just make stuff I find pretty generic even though the art quality is good.
 
To use your example of robot ponies, if in the future you’re able to produce really high quality images involving them, you’ll attract the attention of people who like what you draw because there would be less competition, and where there’s less competition, people who are looking for said art are more likely to hold onto you and follow your art because their options are limited.
 
Also the whole clarify thing, do you mean like setting boundaries on what I will and won’t draw, prices and expected deadlines?
 
Yes. I think a commission sheet should have the following:  
  • Base prices  
  • Picture examples  
  • Add-on prices (backgrounds, extra characters etc.)  
  • Your contact details  
  • Things that you are not willing to draw
     
    And all of these things should be presented in a way that is easy to read and easy to understand. That means don’t use poor colour schemes that makes the text hard to read, or a confusing layout. Remember that people read from top to bottom, and from left to right, so put the information that you want people to see first towards the top, and towards the left side if you’re going for an asymmetrical design. Here’s my newest sheet that I’m designing that’s more or less done minus picture examples.
     
    full
     
    For expected deadlines, I feel like that should go on a Terms of Service document instead.
     
Head sketch $3
Body sketch $5
Head line art $6
Body line art $8
Colored head $10
Colored body $15
Cell shaded body $20
(Add-on)
background +$5
Extra characters +$10 per
Complex structure, objects or vehicles +$5-30 depending on complexity
 
These prices seem reasonable, but I think you’ve got too many categories as a personal nitpick.
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