A tool that I’ve found is really handy is a called the Cash Clock. It’s a simple program that measures both the time that you’re working on a piece as well as how much money you should be earning. You can adjust the hourly wage to whatever you feel is right. Simply start the clock whenever you begin working on a project right up until you’re finished. It can give you a clear indication of what you should charge for commissions.
No artist should make below minimum wage for their artwork.
The Cash Clock is found as a download here.
PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD USE THIS INSTEAD OF CHARGING PEANUTS FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL ARTWORK.
Please, please, please at least make sure you’re making minimum wage.
I am reblogging this because even if you don’t actually go download this thing (I personally just keep track of my own time.) – you SHOULD be aware of exactly how much time you are spending making a commission VS how much money you are making.
Please do not make like 2 dollars per hour. That not only hurts you, but it hurts the rest of the artist community because if enough of you work at 2 dollars per hour thinking “This is fine” – it means more and more people will start to expect artists to pump out amazing work at just 2 dollars per hour.
Usually when I talk about this, someone mentions how their art isn’t really good enough to make commissions at minimum wage. They might have even had someone tell them straight to their face “your artwork isn’t good enough to be this expensive.”
1) That person is a huge dick and can go eat their own ass. Even if it was true, that’s just a rude fuckin’ thing to say.
2) You’ll actually surprise yourself by how willing people are to pay an artist what they are worth. If they like your artwork, they will save up for a commission and buy it.
3) If you sincerely think it’s true, then that just means to work harder at your craft until it’s not true anymore. However, I CAN tell you that every time I make one of those blog posts, it’s because I saw some artist on tumblr charging WAY too low for art quality that deserves way more compensation than what they are charging.
