:/
SO I'm sure most of you have seen, or at least heard of it, but I will repost it anyway to help spread awareness.
Here is the link:
[link]I do not think that he is completely or overly wrong for what he says in this blog, I am more concerned in helping those who are just branching out into the freelance artist world. What this man says in his blog are things that many in the artist-hiring world do as well, and we as artists need to know their tricks and ways of doing things so that we may better protect ourselves from being scammed or tricked into doing artwork for much cheaper than we deserve.
My graphics art teacher flat out told us in class one day that the real art world is brutal, it is extremely competitive, and there are a lot of people needing to buy art who do not understand the true value of art. This is one of the main reasons you see a lot of "cheated" or "short-cutted" artwork (though in my opinion you cant cheat in art unless you outright steal anothers work, but that is a different journal). Artists that work for these big games and advertising companies and so on and so forth
need to find short cuts, because of the demanding due dates and the small (compared) paychecks they receive.
Anyway, what this guy is saying was not news to me. The art world is not glamorous or easy as many young artists imagine it to be. It is mean, and hard, and mostly unfair; there are too many people in the world who do not
understand how valuable artwork really is, they do not understand how many hours of blood sweat and pain is put into a piece of art. Too many people think that an artist can just spew paintings out like a factory machine. This is why art is so under-priced.
So, what can we, as artists, do about this?
Research, ASK QUESTIONS from your "employers", get as MUCH information as you can. Make sure you will be compensated if your work ends up doing well!! I would also say to make sure you are paid AT LEAST HALF up front, and the rest after the work is finished. And for goodness sake, get SIGNED CONTRACTS explaining what each party is agreeing to, how much the expected payment is, the name of all of the pieces of art that are being used, when the deadlines are, etc. Not only is this just common good business practice on your part and the part of your client, if you find that the developer later shirked you of well-earned money or compensation, then you have a one-way ticket to getting it back via suing them. Though the same goes for you, so keep yourself honest.
Please don't sell yourselves short, artists, you are worth so much more than you think. The world would be nothing without art.
`anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
Sta.sh
Fave this journal (it will be your number)
Watch me IF you like my art~ ;v;
.......... The design MUST HAVE ONLY 2 COLORS; BLACK AND WHITE
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Point is, we all need to get educated and be careful. We set the bar for ourselves.
Thanks for your comment :3
Really most of my life has been really healthy hobbies but nowadays it seems like stress=money and it really bothers me, when I see the comments and posts of artists talking about how much they struggle it bothers me. I go to cons and I see people with beautiful concept and gaming art but broken, worn down, faces.
What-to-do!! ;_;
I hope you can figure something out for yourself..but from what you've just said I don't think this degree is for you
Man Ive changed my major so many time I pretty much have to stick to this one, hopefully if I can start teaching some classes right out of college during my free time like my professor did until I get some job opportunities here and there that should keep my head over water.
You might also be able to open up a little shop and teach lessons to anyone who wants to come in for art lessons and pays for a series of them. One of my teachers at college does this at her art store.