The Misunderstood Art Business - (a rant)

[KirbyDogs]

I wanted to speak my mind on this subject. If you have any thoughts of your own on the subject I would like to hear them.

I don't think people REALLY understand the art/graphic design business. I bet, at least on this site, that the only ones who do are the artists themselves. Now I'm only 16 and don't need to pay bills and rent, but people who are freelance artists/graphic designers for a living are just like anyone else in this world who has a job.

I'm tired of getting these cheap offers or worthless trades for artwork. If you are working on a website or app or Minecraft server, I don't want your PvP kits, sites, or exposure in return. Maybe its worth it to you but not at all to me. I work for money just like anyone else.

I DON'T think my art is better than anyone else's. There is always room for improvement. There are artists I found on this website that I look up to and who's art I admire. And since I have been doing art commissions for only several months now, I try not to charge that much since I'm newer to the business.

Sometimes when someone comes to me wanting art, I'll ask a price and then never hear back. I know it's because they think I'm being ridiculous.

You want to know how much logos cost for really big companies? Here's an article: https://stocklogos.com/topic/famous-logo-designs-and-how-much-did-they-cost

Art can't be mass manufactured. It is someone's own personal creative work. There is much trial and error, and many hours of it. If you think quality art is worth $5 just don't come back to me begging because your 5-dollar artwork is crap.

Here is a great comic that sums it all up:

kendallhaleart.tumblr.com/post/143817546754/im-tired-of-getting-these-stupid-offers-to-work

 

[Ivain]

I'm gonna just say this, and you can like it or not.
Whenever you're in the freelance business for anything art-related, you WILL get pelted with lowballers. I've talked to people on twitter that are official pros, who can charge thousands for a single piece of work. Yet they still get people that are expecting ridiculous things.

Such as someone trying to order 11 fully illustrated maps of countries (you know those maps you looked at as a kid, with all the drawings over the geological part?), with a short deadline and low budget. Those things take a month apiece if you work quickly.

The problem is best illustrated with an example.

People often get pissy about artists asking $50 for something that might take them 10 mins. They forget that it took the artist 10 years of dedicated practice to be able to do said thing in 10 mins.

My point here is that this will ALWAYS happen. no matter what type of art you offer, as long as you're a freelancer people think they can get free or cheap stuff, or get you to work for 'exposure'.

 

[KirbyDogs]

People often get pissy about artists asking $50 for something that might take them 10 mins. They forget that it took the artist 10 years of dedicated practice to be able to do said thing in 10 mins.

I appreciate your post and I know its true. I especially liked the part I quoted.
I know its inevitable, but I felt like posting my rant to at least let people know what the artist's point of view is like.

Another thing to mention is if I ask for a price like $50, the buyer will be like "$50??1?". And then they'll message me back later saying "Got it for $10." Like cool, yeah, okay. If a great quality artist can charge $10 for art, then that's amazing for them and they will get business. But instead of thinking my prices are too high, people should realize that other's prices can be too low.

Some guy wanted an app logo from me and I said I'll charge $15-20. Then they complained about it because they had "already spent $1000 on programs to get the quality high." (actual quote.) The deal was off, then he came back later saying he "got it for $5". Cool. Sure, budget $1000 for the programs but $5 for the app logo, that's great.

 

[LuisaDraws]

Some guy wanted an app logo from me and I said I'll charge $15-20. Then they complained about it because they had "already spent $1000 on programs to get the quality high." (actual quote.) The deal was off, then he came back later saying he "got it for $5". Cool. Sure, budget $1000 for the programs but $5 for the app logo, that's great.

This is actually something I don't understand. Why is developing is seen as more valuable and art is seen as some crap "easy" work, when both are equally hard and made with trial and error and all of that stuff.
I agree with everything that has been said here, sadly most people in this forum, who doesn't pay bills, doesn't know the hard work that art is, like any other job.

 

[Mint]

It's really sad when those kind of clients get to the artist.. I see way too many people charging way too little for their artwork and there's so little respect for it. I personally have no idea what to charge for my artwork so I have an experienced friend help me out with them.

A lot of people that aren't artists just assume that some things are easy, which they aren't and base prices on that. I don't know what started this but as Luisa said, the example with coding and drawing is the same. Both need knowledge, skill and the right tools to be able to do something..

I'm honestly considering that people should maybe raise their prices or write a note that deals below this and that won't be accepted so only serious clients contact you.
Maybe examples of like 'this cost 120 usd' 'this cost 80' so they'lll stop :/

I wish I could make up some really good text or something but frankly it's super late and I'm too tired.