The Importance of Art Commissions

There is millions of artwork available on the internet; sadly there is a plethora of artwork that's been stolen or insufficient credit or permission has been used. Stolen fan work being sold at conventions is still something that I sadly see a lot of the time. There are lots of talented artists out there trying to make a living out of something they are passionate about, and they should be allowed to do that. Commissions are a big source of income for a lot of artists.

Many of you won't like it, but I feel that I should say it anyway. You shouldn't expect an artist to give you free work. Nothing frustrates and upsets an artist more than a commission that falls through because the person either doesn't pay or tries to scam artists to get free work out of them.

Whether the artist is doing it as a hobby or a fully fledged career, when that artist is accepting commissions, please, for the love of all things bright and beautiful please help them out. If you like an artist's work and you haven't got the money for a commission, you can always reblog their commission information or talk to the artist to set up a payment plan.

An artist is allowed to make work for free if they wish to do so, but they must not be made to feel guilty if they want to sell their work. They are not being greedy and they are not being selfish. They are simply trying to make a living.

Etsy was once one of my favourite places to shop because I loved seeing old stuff upcycled and people selling off their little creations. It's not easy to make a living as an artist, but we should admire those who try to do it. Sometimes things can get tough. A lot of my most cherished possessions were made with love by some of the artists on Etsy.

Artist blocks can happen just like the ever so famous writer's block. Sudden life emergencies, mother nature unleashing havoc, and sudden illness; all of this can take a toll on an artist's schedule. Some artists have no set wage packet. One week they can make thousands and the next, they'll only make a few pennies.

So when an artist is opening for commissions, they should be respected and admired. They are getting themselves out there in the cruel and competitive market. I think it's a shame that so many people expect artists to just churn out work for free especially when they put so much effort into their work.

A simple sketch may take a few minutes or maybe a couple of hours. A fully fledged drawing may take hours or days. And complex stuff like plushies and another sort of 3D work can take weeks or maybe even months to create. Some people have jobs and other commitments outside of this and for others, this is their only source of income.

The sad reality is that many artists around the world don't even make the basic minimum wage. They are underappreciated and underpaid. Some artists chose not to make money for their work, and that's fine though. The point that I want to get across is that artists who accept commissions need to have more respect. It saddens me to see so many artists get heartbroken because of poor experiences with commissions.

You should always pay your artist for a commission you request. And communicate! Feel free to give them a tip as well. Each piece of art that is commissioned is made with love and affection, birthed by the mind of the commissioner and made together by the artist's hands. Good commissions make both the artist and the buyer happy. Thus that is the importance of art commissions. The buyer has more for their collection and the artist has had some of their bills paid for.