Well I’ll just tell you then!
and then explain/give some tips for artists and clients…
My standing commercial rate starts at $500 an hour.
That’s not unusual. If you hire me as a commercial client, you’re buying the right to resell. So if a piece takes me 20 hours, that’s $10,000 for me, but limitless potential profit for you.
That rate varies if your profit potential varies. If a company hires me to illustrate a promotional poster, I lower my rate because a promotional poster isn’t earning profit directly. But if you want to sell my art on a poster, then my rate will go up—because you could potentially make millions selling that poster.
How did I figure that rate out? 1) My experience (25+ years) and portfolio (amazing), 2) my uniqueness and style, 3) my time, 4) my cost, 5) industry demands/what other art related professionals earn, 6) my clients (big!).
This is not a salary rate btw. This is a commission rate.
The difference? Let’s say I do five commissions a year (we dreamin but ok!). Let’s say that’s $70,000. Once you knock off taxes, it’s more like $50,000. That’s pretty middle of the road for earning in the US.
I don’t price private commissions by hourly rate. Instead, I price them flat. It’s less intimidating to folks and simpler for me.
A drawing from me comparable to what you see here starts at $1200.
That price might vary if you want something complicated, but I do a very specific kind of art, and you know what to expect. Other artists (for example an artist who develops a concept rather than paints a portrait) have more complicated pricing because they do more complicated, varied stuff.
Now, let’s say I do two of those a month. It works out to just under $30,000 a year. So it’s not much! And if I want to be a full time freelance artist, I have to work hard. Commercial is sweeter, but private is easier.
HOW TO PRICE YOUR OWN SELF AS AN ARTIST
1. Start with minimum wage. Do not charge less than this for absolutely anything. (Likewise, if you hire an artist who charges less than this, and you don’t tip them the difference, I’ll know, and I’ll crawl out from under your pillow at night and yell at you in your own room.)
2. Add your experience, schooling, and portfolio. How long have you been doing this and what have you made to show for it?
3. Add your clients. If Frito-Lay or Google or Beyoncé wanted to work with you, it means your work is as valuable as those clients.
4. Add yourself. Can anyone else do what you do? Does anyone else’s art look like yours? Can anyone else tell your story as a (queer woman, indigenous man, disabled trans person, older black mom from Michigan)?
TIPS FOR INQUIRING ABOUT WORK/PRICES
1. Look for inquiry instructions. This is important because many artists can’t check every platform all the time. They may only accept texts or filter everything through an agent. If they tell you to send an email, they may never check DMs.
2. Be polite and brief: Say who you are, ask if the artist is available to work, ask what their rates are. If they have a price sheet, look for instructions on how to contact them/check for availability.
3. It’s not necessary to fully describe your idea at first, but definitely say the idea! “A portrait of my cat, a portrait of Kristen Bell, a cover for my novel.”
4. Ask if they accept Paypal. Ask if they accept installments. Ask if they require a downpayment. Ask if they do trades. Ask if they can do anything for $X that you can afford. Hint: Most artists want to work. We’re good at finding ways to work with people who want to support us.
5. If a price is too high, simply say it’s not what you can pay right now, thank them, and move on. If you tell an artist they’re overpriced, I will eat your ears off your fat head don’t think I won’t.
6. A good professional artist will NEVER expect you to hire them after you’ve inquired about pricing. We are delighted to earn your interest! Don’t work with any artist who gets upset or gives you a guilt trip if you don’t follow through.
7. Expect to pay for art. I report your “exposure” emails as spam fyi.
If you can’t afford an artist but still want to support them, ask if they have a ko-fi or a website you can share. Client-directed feedback is also great. For example, telling a comic company how much you liked a particular artist’s cover.
