MaTSUNjun

Odd question, do you need a sellers permit to sell online?

Kiriska: There is no specific “selling online” permit, but at the very least, you should be collecting and remitting sales tax for your state of residence, and thus should be licensed to collect sales tax in that state.

I cannot give you legal advice, but I highly recommend looking up what laws are in place in your state regarding online collection of sales tax. There’s been a lot of kerfuffle about online retailers not collecting appropriate sales tax, so it’s good to keep abreast of local and state laws regarding such.

Further reading: #sales tax, #permits and licenses, #selling online.

Dear Art Director, I've recently noticed more AD's asking for artists of a specific heritage or background. I think this is great! I imagine there are projects or subjects that are more appropriate for artists of certain backgrounds. With that in mind, would you say that it would be helpful for artists to be more open about their personal backgrounds, orientations, etc. on their sites? I think the fear of discrimination is still an unfortunate but valid reality for many artists.

YES! As an AD I really wish it was easier to tell from people’s websites what heritage/gender/etc they are. I always feel like a creepster when trying to figure it out from social media. That said, I know there’s a fear of being pigeonholed into doing only commissions that deal with a certain group if you are a member of that group—more so if that group has been marginalized and discriminated against. No one should feel forced to reveal more about themselves than they are comfortable doing just to get a gig.

I think this is the best advice in general: If you have any special knowledge or experience from your heritage, location, hobbies, interests, gender, sexual orientation, or from having a differently-abled body then please do mention it in your “about” page IF you are interested in getting work in that area. Not just the big controversial issues but also: are you obsessed with succulents? Are you vegan? Are you a rabid tennis fan? It’s not JUST about race, it’s about ADs being able to give projects to people who have specialized knowledge in the areas in which they’re going to be making work. And there are more and more jobs where it’s very important to make sure the piece is being done by a person who identifies within a certain group, and I think that as representation becomes more important in media, the opportunities will outweigh the risks where being transparent about your identity/experiences lie.

And just to especially note — that doesn’t mean good work can only come from people who have the “right” identification — Donato, Greg Ruth, Tommy Arnold, and Dave Palumbo have all been doing amazing covers with POC characters for Tor Books recently, and they are not POC. The point of having greater diversity in media is not to say that certain people can’t do certain jobs — it’s about making sure more artists have the opportunity to do them. Diversity among pro artists is a much bigger issue than we can discuss here — it goes deep into the availability of art education and socioeconomic backgrounds and deep societal issues. This is a tricky conversation sometimes, just like the conversation around cultural appropriation, but I think the growing visibility of diversity in artists can only be a good thing.

—Agent KillFee

Guys, when painting digital illustrations for print, say book covers and cards should we use CMYK or RGB?

Always use RGB. It looks better on screens, where most of everything is sold, promoted, and shared. Once it’s approved, switch it to CMYK just as part of your print production.

—Agent KillFee

DAD, I’ve been making illustrations for years and years (I graduated as an illust major in 2013) and I feel like I haven’t improved at all. Maybe I’ve even gone backwards. The best (most well-liked) work I’ve ever made was my sophomore year of college. How do I buck up and push through to the other side of this feeling? Or is there a point where I should just give up?

Well, since this is anonymous and I can’t see your work, I don’t know if you ACTUALLY aren’t any better than you were 7-8 years ago or if you just FEEL like you aren’t any better. So I’ll answer both:

1) You feel like you’re not any better than you were 7-8 years ago (but it’s not true):

This is taste gap, my friend. Here’s a great video about it. Keep pushing through. Cut yourself some slack. We are always going to see the worst in our own work. It doesn’t mean everyone else agrees. Taste gap is not only for beginners, it actually comes back every time you’re about to level up. Your eyes can see before your hands can do.

2) You are actually not any better than you were 7-8 years ago:

Sometimes we have flashes of genius. Do you know why that piece was so successful? I suspect you don’t, because if you did you’d be able to replicate it. If you can’t figure it out, put it in an email and send it to 10 art friends/peers. Ask them what they like about the piece. Is it the colors? composition? tone? subject matter? Start trying to replicate it consciously in future pieces.

3) You don’t know if you’re #1 or #2:

Put that piece and 4 others in an email and send it to 10 art friends/peers. Ask them which piece they like best. If they all say that old piece, then proceed to #2.

—Agent Killfee

malvoi

STUDIO GHIBLI colour palette + 1988 - 2013

#art idols

Any advice for networking with other artists?

Nattosoup: YES. LOTS. But take it with a grain of salt, it’s very YMMV.

CONVENTION SPECIFIC:

Check out who’s tabling at your upcoming shows, check out their social media profiles, and engage with their work in an organic, honest way. Once you’ve done a bit of that, you can introduce yourself and mention that you’ll be at the con as well, and would love to meet in person.

Introduce yourself to your table neighbors at con.

Organize convention dinners- this can be really laid back and simple, like ‘a bunch of us were going to eat at the hotel restaurant at 7 and chat, would you like to join us?’ to something organized ahead of time, with a room reserved.

If you’re staying at the hotel, organize room parties (this is great for events like SPX, which are comic specific)

AANI has opportunities for room sharing and organizing events, so if you aren’t a member, consider joining.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter has been my main avenue for meeting and networkign with other artists. Participating in organized hashtag events such as #KidlitArt or #WebcomicChat, and engaging other artists on their responses in addition to sharing your own is a great way to start befriending other artists. You can check out the Ink Drop Cafe calendar of events if you’re looking for ideas.

But on any social media service, this will work most of the time:

Talk to artists who’s work you admire, as well as artist’s who’s drive or work ethic you admire. Don’t just talk to the popular super artists, talk to everyone. Be friendly, engaging, and open, and lavish on the honest compliments. This is a fantastic way to break the ice, and to get other artists to check out your work and engage you in return.

IF YOU HAVE A WEBCOMIC

Join a collective or form your own with friends/peers. Boost each other’s work.

Join a webcomic focused Discord channel, like Ink Drop Cafe to talk shop.

In the end, it’s really about having conversations with others, not just plugging your own work all the time. Show genuine interest in the work of others, and show excitement for what you’re working on. Think of networking as making friends, and don’t limit yourself to people who create the same sort of work you do. Some of my best friends/contacts are 3D artists and jewelry makers- they have a lot of great insight!

OTHER RESOURCES:

Social Media for Webcomics: Introduction

Social Media for Webcomics: Twitter

Social Media for Webcomics: Instagram

Social Media for Webcomics: Youtube

Networking

On that note! I’m looking for other convention artists to follow on instagram! So please, either DM me or reply with your Instagram handle, and I’ll be happy to follow anyone who participates. If you’re interested in networking with me, I’m @Nattosoup on every social service.

Any advice for networking with other artists?

Nattosoup: YES. LOTS. But take it with a grain of salt, it’s very YMMV.

CONVENTION SPECIFIC:

Check out who’s tabling at your upcoming shows, check out their social media profiles, and engage with their work in an organic, honest way. Once you’ve done a bit of that, you can introduce yourself and mention that you’ll be at the con as well, and would love to meet in person.

Introduce yourself to your table neighbors at con.

Organize convention dinners- this can be really laid back and simple, like ‘a bunch of us were going to eat at the hotel restaurant at 7 and chat, would you like to join us?’ to something organized ahead of time, with a room reserved.

If you’re staying at the hotel, organize room parties (this is great for events like SPX, which are comic specific)

AANI has opportunities for room sharing and organizing events, so if you aren’t a member, consider joining.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Twitter has been my main avenue for meeting and networkign with other artists. Participating in organized hashtag events such as #KidlitArt or #WebcomicChat, and engaging other artists on their responses in addition to sharing your own is a great way to start befriending other artists. You can check out the Ink Drop Cafe calendar of events if you’re looking for ideas.

But on any social media service, this will work most of the time:

Talk to artists who’s work you admire, as well as artist’s who’s drive or work ethic you admire. Don’t just talk to the popular super artists, talk to everyone. Be friendly, engaging, and open, and lavish on the honest compliments. This is a fantastic way to break the ice, and to get other artists to check out your work and engage you in return.

IF YOU HAVE A WEBCOMIC

Join a collective or form your own with friends/peers. Boost each other’s work.

Join a webcomic focused Discord channel, like Ink Drop Cafe to talk shop.

In the end, it’s really about having conversations with others, not just plugging your own work all the time. Show genuine interest in the work of others, and show excitement for what you’re working on. Think of networking as making friends, and don’t limit yourself to people who create the same sort of work you do. Some of my best friends/contacts are 3D artists and jewelry makers- they have a lot of great insight!

OTHER RESOURCES:

Social Media for Webcomics: Introduction

Social Media for Webcomics: Twitter

Social Media for Webcomics: Instagram

Social Media for Webcomics: Youtube

Networking

On that note! I’m looking for other convention artists to follow on instagram! So please, either DM me or reply with your Instagram handle, and I’ll be happy to follow anyone who participates. If you’re interested in networking with me, I’m @Nattosoup on every social service.

Is there anything good to be said about being mediocre? My art is not really bad, but it doesn't really stand out either. Attempts to change it have pretty much left me in the same place with the same art. I realize that having average work might not make you a sought after creator, but there does seem to be an audience for it (trashy romance novels, bad tv shows), so there would at least be money. Do you think being mediocre is something you could learn to be okay?

Mediocre is a stop on a journey, not a final destination. Are you saying you can only ever be mediocre? Then you’ve already given up. Every career path in every industry is a ladder. Low-paying jobs that can except low skill at the bottom. Medium-paying jobs for medium skill in the middle. Great jobs for great skill at the top. Find the jobs that match your skill level right now…but don’t stop trying to improve. Don’t stop climbing!

—Agent Negative Space

To calculate the sales tax that is included in a company's receipts from items subject to sales tax, divide the receipts by 1 + the sales tax rate. For example, if the sales tax rate is 6%, divide the total amount of receipts by 1.06. If the sales tax rate is 7.25%, divide the total receipts by...

Kiriska: A lot of artists choose to include sales tax in the price of items when handling cash transactions to avoid dealing with change. Here’s a good explanation of how to calculate sales tax on those transactions which include sales tax in the price.

tl;dr, your formula is:

Cash Collected / (1 + Tax Rate) = Take-home Amount

So for example, if you collected $1000 in cash sales and your crazy high Seattle sales tax is 10.1%:

$1000 / (1 + 0.101) = Take-home Amount

$1000 / 1.101 = Take-home Amount

$908.27 = Take-home Amount

Which means $1000 - $908.27 = Taxes Owed = $91.73

#art advice #sales tax