How to find the right artist for your art commission on Reddit
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Hey there, fellow art enthusiasts! It's Flygohr here, your trusted companion on the path of creativity.
Looking to bring your artistic visions to life? I've got your back. After a decade in the freelance art realm, I've cracked the code on uncovering genuine artists, especially in the realm of tabletops, indie games, fantasy, and roleplaying. The platform we're diving into today? Reddit, where the art community thrives.
The Reddit process
Ever wandered Reddit's art communities and felt lost amidst a sea of posts? Don't fret; the perfect artist is out there, waiting to be discovered.
Navigating the subreddits
Begin with art-related subreddits tailored to your interests (e.g., tabletopartists).
Follow subreddit rules closely for a smooth experience.
Crafting your request
Craft a compelling [Commission] or [Hiring] post, adhering to subreddit guidelines.
Clearly outline your project's concept, style, and requirements.
Engaging the community
Be prepared for artists to reply or PM you.
Check their portfolios and references to gauge compatibility.
Check [For Hire] posts
Explore [for hire] posts from artists themselves.
Review their portfolios and approach to see if they align with your vision.
Personalize your outreach
Send personalized messages to artists whose work resonates.
Inquire about their availability, pricing, and artistic process.
Conversation is key
Engage in meaningful conversations with potential artists.
Assess their responsiveness, communication skills, and enthusiasm.
Is this artist legit?
But guess what? There's a bunch of annoying spam and tricky bots in the way. They fill your messages and make you wonder who's real. Will the artist you pick really get what you want? It's tough worrying that you might get art that's not what you dreamed of.
Here’s a quick checklist you can use to narrow down your selection:
Review their links
Scrutinize the links they posted for consistent quality.
Examine their website and social media profiles. Legitimate artists often have an established and active online presence.
Look for examples related to your project's style and theme.
Check for references
Seek out client references or testimonials that vouch for their professionalism and reliability
Verify contact information
Ensure their contact details are valid and easily accessible.
Legitimate artists make it easy to reach them.
Research their background (optional)
Look into their art education, training, and any affiliations. Sometimes artists can be self taught or have another full time job, but that doesn’t make them less qualified.
Confirm communication skills
Engage in communication to assess their responsiveness and clarity. Don’t rely solely on your or their initial approach.
Legitimate artists often have an established and active online presence.
Bad grammar is often a red flag of unprofessionalism or poor commitment to their career. I’d personally avoid that.
Investigate payment process
Legitimate artists have transparent payment processes. Understand their preferred payment methods and terms, but usually PayPal (goods and services) is the way to go.
If something feels off, don’t be afraid to ask questions - without being rude - and legitimate artists will do their best to ease your worries.
What is NOT a red flag
It’s normal for a client or for someone that’s not in the art and craft business to not know how things work, and trust me, no legitimate artist is going to make it difficult for you. As an artist providing art commissions services, I noticed that sometimes clients complain about some of the following:
Missing price list
Unclear pricing or lack of it on the artists’ storefront doesn’t mean they are going to scam you. Pricing art is difficult. You might need something really simple, or something really complex that’s going to take lots of time to render. There’s no way for the artist to know until you explain your request to them. T
hey might have some ballpark ranges, but the best way to get the best possible pricing for you is to just talk. I know it can be annoying, and it can also be off putting when being met with quotes far off your initial budget. But if an artist charges a fixed rate for any illustration, they are either losing money on it if it’s too complex, or making a margin off you on a very simple prompt.
Copy-pasted messages
Posting the same comments or messages like if they were copy pasted doesn’t necessarily mean the artist haven’t read or understood your assignment, or that they are spamming every client. Sure, if you see them doing it dozens of times per day on too different kind of posts, that’s something to avoid. But time is money.
Artists really spend too much time already posting their art, marketing themselves, managing emails, comments, and DMs. They might not have the time to carefully reply to your request with perfect wording to match it, and they might have a pre-made, ready-to-be-pasted reply to grab your attention. Refer to the above checklist to make your judgement, but do not rely on the initial contact alone.
Green flags to look for
Even after discarding all the spam, bots, scams, and artists that do not fit your request, you might be left with still a few artists you need to choose from.
Unlimited revisions
It’s rare, but if done right, it’s a guarantee you’ll get what you want from this artist. It means the artist will check on you at every stage of the commission process, valuing your opinion and revising their work to your likings. Just keep in mind that this is often - and reasonably so - offered within the bounds of common sense. No artist should re-do the work for free, especially if you’ve been unclear or miscommunicated your needs.
Full or partial refunds
Some artists are so confident that they offer partial or complete refunds in case you are not satisfied with their art. As with the unlimited revisions thing, this too is offered consciously and shouldn’t be abused.
Post-commission treatment
Artists that reward returning clients with discounts or referrals are a treasure and will also spare you the hassle of finding another artist in the future - this is assuming everything went well with this one, of course. Additionally, some artists will offer you original files at the end of the job, allowing future edits - even if it’s not from them. Finally, a few professionals will often keep your work on file for years, so if you for whatever reason lose it, they’ll have a copy ready for you. Just don’t blame them ;)
Shameless plug
You know I check all the boxes here, right? If you are looking for fantasy, sci-fi, or dark / horror art, you are in the right place and won’t need to look no further than my portfolio website. Bookmark it, and send it to friends that might be looking for some art done, they won’t be disappointed :)
Fair warning
Good work needs good money. Don’t expect fast, good, and cheap work. You can usually pick just two of them ;)
Conclusion: Finding an artist on Reddit isn't about chance; it's about strategy. By immersing yourself in the right subreddits and engaging with potential artists, you're on a path to discovering your artistic match. Hopefully this was helpful for you!
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Stay tuned for more updates and insights from me. Until then, happy creating!
Cheers,
Flygohr