Hi! I’m wanting to start doing commissions and being a commission artist but I’m not sure how to start. Im mostly asking for advice with the Do’s and Dont’s of commissioning and overall rules for a beginner.
Thank you so much! Your work is amazing, keep up the good work! 💙
I don’t have much experience either, but luckily I’ve had some good experiences. I think the first piece of advice is the most important:
1. Don’t do anything you don’t want to do:
I’ve met some very weird people online, and one thing that scares them off is people who have boundaries. So yeah, be clear about your limits.
If you’re still unsure about opening commissions, here are some tips:
2. Planning:
I didn’t check your profile, so this depends on your situation. Personally, I had this planned for a year; I told myself, “When I turn 18, I’ll open commissions.” So I spent all of 2025 building an audience and practicing daily.
If this isn’t urgent, your account is still small, or you’re underage, I’d recommend:
-Waiting until you’re 18 (you’ll avoid a lot of weird people).
-Growing your account (no one knew me before last year xd).
-Practicing seriously (you don’t need to be perfect at everything, but if you want to sell armor drawings, you need to know how to draw armor).
-Finding a niche: if you follow me, you probably like furry art. Focus on growing within a community you enjoy and see what people usually commission.
If you do want to start now, here are more specific tips:
3. Research payment methods:
I literally spent a month deciding between Payoneer and PayPal. Depending on your country, there may be restrictions, so keep that in mind. Reddit is actually very helpful for this.
Use a google doc or a site like Carrd (it’s the easiest). Be clear about everything. You can take inspiration from others (including mine), just don’t copy blindly, make sure it matches what you’re actually willing to do.
5. Make your commission sheet clear.
This makes pricing easier and you can include deals or discounts, they always attract attention. Try to keep it visually appealing and easy to read.
6. Don’t be too shy, it’s not that serious:
I hate talking online, and even though I’m not super shy, if you are, don’t let that stop you. Opening commissions is also about building professionalism. You’re not friends with your clients, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be kind; be polite and professional, it helps avoid weird parasocial situations.
7. Watch storytimes or practice conversations;
Try with friends or even an AI idk. There’s a TikTok by Liv (bumblebeest_) that helped me understand how to talk to clients.
8. Have a defined style:
If your style changes, you’ll need to update your commission sheet.
9. Stay organized:
If you take more than a week, say it upfront. Don’t overwork yourself. As long as you stay within your deadline, it’s fine. Personally, I think a one-month max is reasonable. You can use Trello to update clients.
10. Don’t be afraid to price your work properly:
Your skill level and following do affect pricing. Sadly, popularity matters, but don’t undersell yourself. You can look up a TikTok by Georgina Cahill about pricing your work.
11. Avoid commercial work for now:
If you’re just starting, stick to personal use!!!! it saves you from a lot of logistical and legal issues...
That’s all I can think of for now. Hope it helps! If you open commissions, I’ll gladly share it with my small community :D
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