Ok so this might be a weird ask you don't have to answer but idk who else to ask. When an artist does a commission for another person, how does it work? Do you post it? Do you message it or email it to them? You don't have to send a physical item to them do you?? I've been wanting to do commissions but I'm terrified of doing it "wrong" and seeming like a scam so you'll be my hero if you explain. Also, ily, your art is super beautiful.
that’s a really good question, actually! It’s hard to know how to get started with this stuff, and a lot of artists don’t talk about the ins and outs of commissions. The way I like to do it is to upload the final art to Google Drive, then email or message the commissioner the link where they can view and download it. I like that method because 1) I can keep the commission private if the commissioner doesn’t want it posted publicly, and 2) Google Drive can host large files, and sometimes image files are too big to be sent via email or uploaded to social media. To avoid using up all of your free storage space on Google Drive, you can let the commissioner know that you will be deleting the file within 30 days, so they should make sure to download it before then. If Google Drive isn’t an option, any site that allows you to host large images would work just as well.
I also like to let the commissioner know up front that I will be proving a digital file, not a physical copy of the art. It is important to be clear on that point, not only so the commissioner understands what they’re getting, but also to protect yourself financially. I can’t find the source right now, so take this with a grain of salt, but a few years back I believe there were several instances of artists having to refund commissions paid for through PayPal when the commissioner complained to PayPal that they hadn’t received a physical good. PayPal has made changes since then that make that situation less likely, but it’s still a good precaution to take.
I also use a really simple contract for commissions to clarify everything up front. This helps the commissioner understand what they can and can’t do with the art, and gives you a little bit of protection. I like to let commissioners review the contract before they agree to the commission so that I can address any concerns, and then I attach the contract to a PayPal invoice when payment is due. I’ll include my contract here as an example. Feel free to modify it for your own use if you like.
Basic Contract:
The Work = the finished digital art created for the Client
The Client = the person who commissioned the art
The Artist = the person who created the commissioned art
The Client has the right to:
Display the Work anywhere in any format, with or without credit to the Artist
Crop, resize, and add text to the Work
Use the Work for promotional purposes
The Client does not have the right to:
Sell the Work
The Artist has the right to:
Display the Work anywhere in any format
Use the Work for promotional purposes
The Artist does not have the right to:
Sell the Work to anyone other than the Client
Any rights not covered in this contract remain with the Artist
1. The Work will be delivered to the Client electronically as a digital PNG file
2. If the Artist does not provide the Client with a digital file of the Work within 30 days of this invoice being paid, the Client is entitled to a refund for the full amount of this invoice, and the order will be cancelled (unless the Artist and Client agree to extend the due date)
3. If the Client chooses to cancel the order after this invoice has been paid, they are entitled to a refund of 50% of the invoice total within 30 days of the cancellation.
4. If the order for the Work is cancelled at any stage for any reason, the Client will not receive the Work, and will have no rights to the Work. The Artist will retain all rights to the Work if cancelled, and all sketches and other preliminary materials created for the Work. This does not extend to characters depicted in the Work, or other material that the Client holds the rights to. This is only in reference to the specific digital images the Client commissioned from the Artist.
5. By paying this invoice, the Client is agreeing to this contract. If this invoice is not paid within 30 days of being issued, the order for the Work will be cancelled (unless the Artist and Client agree to extend the due date)
