Get Started Selling Your First Art Commissions!

I'm sharing LOTS of tips in this video about how to start selling your first art commissions which is how a lot of artists begin turning their art into a business or side income, plus they're really lovely to do!

Thanks so much to Skillshare for sponsoring this video!

🎨 ETSY

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🥰 PATREON
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♥︎

WHAT I'M USING FOR ART:
Laptop: Microsoft Surfacebook 3
Software: Adobe Photoshop

FOR FILMING:

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*Some of the links provided in this description are affiliate links*

A big thank you to my partner for filming and editing this video!

[SiraGem]

I've been thinking about opening commissions for a while now, a couple days ago I finally did and posted it everywhere possible but I was always so scared that no one would ask me one and that I would be disappointed, but I just got a message for my first commission and I'm screaaaamingggg hahaha I'm so happy but nervous as to what to say so I found help in this video!!

[SIRKISSHY]

i've sold numerous art commissions before but i'm still watching this because your content is such a breeze to enjoy 😁💕💞

[drei]

i think i’ll be going over this video a lot in the future so here are timestamps that might help everyone else!

00:00 - intro
01:30 - developing your skills
02:14 - building an audience & showing off your work
03:35 - skillshare sponsorship
04:48 - pricing your work
07:41 - receiving money
09:10 - spreading the word about your commissions
10:20 - completing an order

[Vanessa-iicc]

I've been doing commissions for a few years now, but I still watch videos like this because it's still hard. Like I said, I've been at this for a while. Four years to be exact (not a primary source of income at all). My style is semi realistic (more realistic than semi), highly rendered and often fantasy painting. A single digital portrait can take me between 8-10 hours (maybe a little more if it has a lot of details), but I still can't charge more than 35 euros. I've seen people charge over 200 for the same thing and it kills me not knowing what makes them able to sell at those prices, filling their lists every month, while I can't.

I think your way of calculating prices is very accurate and everyone should take that into account. In practice, unfortunately, it is not so simple. Not in this world that believes that drawings are made by a computer.

[amandaray_art]

Thanks for the information! I’ve always been too scared to open commissions haha. But I definitely feel more comfortable in my style so I might give it a go later this year. Do you ever get requests that are not inline with your style or comfort zone? If so, how do you handle that?

[naturejelisabeth]

Just re-watched this video after getting my first commission request from a stranger in my IG inbox today!!! 😍✨I immediately remembered this video from you and wanted to jump back and taking notes & plan how I could proceed now😊🌞Thanks so much for your tipps and valuable sharings Mimi!!!💜🌸

[whatdoyaink]

This was actually really helpful, just got a big time commission and was uncertain how to proceed in some areas. I usually do payments in halves though. Half of the payment upfront, which is then led by me giving them mock ups of what they want (this to to give both the client and you a sense of security, that they will be getting their service from you, and for you that you will be getting paid). The second half is to release the finalized image. I know a lot of people are sometimes skeptical about paying artists before they get the art because they could "take the money and run".

[journalsai]

Think you so much Mimi for this informative and more understandable for all illustrator like me, who would like to start a journey like this. 😌✨💖

[pink_dxvilproductions]

Tik Tok doesn’t work much people don’t appreciate art 😟

[iri]

I doodle for fun and recently got an offer for one of my drawings to be use as commercial use. Im so confused if i need a sellers permit or something like that😭 im from NJ

[jenna_n_goodwell_art]

I've been offering commissions forever, but as soon as the price comes up, people vanish 😅

[CiarraStebbins]

Haha this was very synchronistic, because I just launched my first commission listing via ko-fi! 😆 Thank you for another wonderful video! 👍🏻💖✨

[Renurfa_Artnimation]

I've only started commissions a few months and still haven't got any customers. I've been trying to improve my skills and upload them to my social media. I've even given a cheap discount price, but still no one has bought it. yeah now I'm confused about what to do next😮‍💨

[Brownie]

So to start a commission all i need is PayPal to get paid right? And I'm all set? Or do i need more things to get started? Pls help 😭

[frothylattestudio]

I am curious about watermarking and clients reselling the issue of the artwork. How do you actually deal with this?

[maccheesecheese]

I just made my first art commission timelaps! 😊

[jessalygonzalez]

I’ve gotten asked about 5 times if I did commissions but at the time, I was REALLY nervous to take any. SO! Since I’m FINALLY an “adult” I’ll be able to have MY OWN bank account so now I think I’m ready. It’s the whole “how to send the actual art” part that I’m confused.
I do traditional art, so I’m confused if I have to send the client a photo of the commission or if I have to send it to them physically. I’m lost at this point ._.

[heatherartsy]

Idk if I’ll do commissions but I do want to do digital prints and colouring pages so I still think this video is helpful!!

[Hunden_]

Someone asked me if i did commissions and I got so happy lol I said yes and rn were figuring out what the price should be and what I should draw! Yay :DDD

[coldnight]

How can I open online shop and how can I get the money AND how can I use PayPal?