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The Future of Commissions
2 years ago
So for a good while my relationship with commissions hasn't been a good one. Though not for the reason you might expect.
I receive far too many commissions than I can handle per opening, I spend every waking hour working on them and ignoring my usual work schedule to working every day, and still not making enough to pay rent or afford to eat some days. However this is entirely my fault, this is not the fault of the amazingly supportive commissioners that I have worked with in the past, I have simply allowed this to continue for far too long without making any changes to try and correct the problems that I am facing.
I had considered simply raising my prices, but the amount I would have to make per month would still be an impossible goal. I feel as though focusing on art is keeping me from pursuing a stable source of income, and so after I finish this current queue I will be closing commissions to the public. I might occasionally take a few commissions from friends, but it won't be many, probably only one commission a month. I desperately need to try and find something that works for me, I can't keep going days without eating just to save money.
I know as an artist it's really not a great choice to express displeasure in your choice of work, but at this point I've already made up my mind to give up and "retire" from art. I hope that my audience will understand and will still continue to enjoy the work I make in my free time. Who knows, if I find a stable income that works for me then I might open public commissions again, I still have cool ideas for things like making custom t-shirt designs that I could press into t-shirts myself and ship to commissioners with personalized notes attached. Y'know, something that I could spend time and pour love into. Something that wouldn't be a job but just as a way to give back to the small loving audience that I have built.
I guess only time will tell how things work out. Hope you all have a wonderful day and thank you so much for supporting my journey thus far, love you all more than I can express in words <3
I receive far too many commissions than I can handle per opening, I spend every waking hour working on them and ignoring my usual work schedule to working every day, and still not making enough to pay rent or afford to eat some days. However this is entirely my fault, this is not the fault of the amazingly supportive commissioners that I have worked with in the past, I have simply allowed this to continue for far too long without making any changes to try and correct the problems that I am facing.
I had considered simply raising my prices, but the amount I would have to make per month would still be an impossible goal. I feel as though focusing on art is keeping me from pursuing a stable source of income, and so after I finish this current queue I will be closing commissions to the public. I might occasionally take a few commissions from friends, but it won't be many, probably only one commission a month. I desperately need to try and find something that works for me, I can't keep going days without eating just to save money.
I know as an artist it's really not a great choice to express displeasure in your choice of work, but at this point I've already made up my mind to give up and "retire" from art. I hope that my audience will understand and will still continue to enjoy the work I make in my free time. Who knows, if I find a stable income that works for me then I might open public commissions again, I still have cool ideas for things like making custom t-shirt designs that I could press into t-shirts myself and ship to commissioners with personalized notes attached. Y'know, something that I could spend time and pour love into. Something that wouldn't be a job but just as a way to give back to the small loving audience that I have built.
I guess only time will tell how things work out. Hope you all have a wonderful day and thank you so much for supporting my journey thus far, love you all more than I can express in words <3
I'm hoping to get your ref finished by the end of the month. Hopefully
I'm still interested in doing an art trade with you sometime, so hopefully once I get done with my current queue I'll find the time to work on that!