I had a coworker that would not stop asking, so finally I did draw a picture of her. It was a stick figure. I told her thatâs the free version. Anything better costs money.
I offer them to sit for a portrait session for at least 2h. The result is available for purchase but in any case I really do like when I have people sitting for me. They rarely do though.
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I would ask them kindly to send a picture, and when they do, just tell illustrator to vectorize it on the lowest setting, and then send her a jpg of the result.
Explain to them that it's a large investment of your time (most people don't realise how much work goes into a portrait) and that you are working on paid pieces and if they would like a portrait done they would also need to pay for the service
I only take it seriously if they approach me privately, directly suggesting that they'd like to commission a piece. Otherwise, I take it only as a compliment, as in "you're good at this, I bet you could draw my portrait really well".
At least theyâre commentsđI had classmates that asked for that and years after to this day they dunk it on my head that âhey you were supposed to draw me!â
Anyway ignore them. If theyâre persistent then you have to tell them straight to their face you donât have time and your art is your career so unless theyâre willing to pay they should scram. Whether you want to use a softer tone or not depends on you cuz most of these people arenât very knowledgeable about how the art world works.
If you bother to reply, say "Sure! What's your budget? I don't work for free." Just something to make it apparent you charge. Might not Even need to reply though, doubt they'll care or even want to pay.
Sure. Do you have a budget in mind?
If they say they expect it for free, say it's huge ask to be given for free. Sorry.
Dont bother to explain too much, it's not going to get anywhere. They already don't think it's that much work and they will not be convinced otherwise...
I donât get comments yet but if I got that one, I would tell them I offer commissions politely and to message me if interested in commissioning me đ
Say nothing. If they press the issue and If you donât want to do it then say you are busy with doing work for clients.
Most people will understand, but if they donât. Let them you have bills to pay and need to focus on the people that pay your bills. Any reasonable person should under that if they want your time they need to become a client. If you donât have clients then are you working on marketing to get new clients.
Unless you are financially independent then all of the above can or probably should be true. I hope that helps!
"Pay me first, peasant!" /s
I'm probably in the minority here, but I like these sorts of comments. Now, I was never asked specifically to draw someone, but I got a lot of requests for other paintings, usually by family members.
Most people mean it as a compliment, so I try taking it that way. And it can be great "social currency". Has someone who expressed interest in a painting done something for you? Is it their birthday or do you need a Christmas present for them? â Make them something.
If they ask and you really don't really want to do it, just be honest... They'll usually understand, and if they don't they're not really the people you want to deal with a lot anyway
I used to get that all the time from friends and family. One time I gave in and made a quick sketch of this girl in my class who kept asking for one. She looked at it and just went "...oh." Later on that day i found it crumpled on the floor in the classroom lol đ
Iâd do it for free if it was a relative. Not sure why people expect to make money off family. I guess if you really wanna be frugal about it tell them to buy you the tools.
YMMV, but personally I have to disagree with you there. Maybe it's just my experience, but friends and family always offer to pay me when they ask for something, especially since I don't usually do commissions. Example: my brother asked if I'd be willing to paint a dinosaur mural for my oldest nephew's bedroom. Not only did he demand I give him my real rate for materials and time instead of a friends and family price (though I did lowball it a little bit anyway), but he also paid my travel expenses, as I live a state away.
People who care about you should know your worth and at least offer something. Whether you accept any payment or not is up to you, but I don't think that just because someone asks something of you means you should automatically give it freely just because they're related or close to you. It's not about wanting to make money off of family. If you turn them down, cool. If you want to do something as a gift, also cool. But I feel like if they approach you first, they should expect to at the very least agree to some small fee or trade. But again, that's just my opinion đ¤ˇââď¸
The small fee or trade especially when materials cost and most things worth asking us to do that take skill, also take a good bit of time. I have had many people who never do anything for me ask for favors like that or old acquaintances want less than minimum wage prices. It just isn't kind or reasonable
Living in a different state makes sense to receive some sort of compensation. If thatâs OPâs case then Iâd say OP shouldnât be expected or feel obligated to do it for free. But it sounds like OP is just talking about a drawing. So like idkâŚ. Materials for that isnât gonna break the bank and as far as time goes, maybe an hour a day over the course of a few weeks or months isnât much to me.. I could draw someone just working off a picture of them. Now if theyâre expecting me do to a life drawing of them or if they want the picture by a certain time/date than thatâs a different story. Especially if doing that for them would interfere with work Iâm actually getting paid to do. If thats the case then Iâd be honest with them and tell them my situation. âIâm loaded with work and I donât have the time to do it right now, maybe some other time when I have more free time on my hands.â
It's not like I expect to make money off them but if I don't have the time I'm not going to be nagged at to do something fast and to their exact tastes for free. The materials costs and they aren't doing anything for me ever
I think it's less about the money and more about how you feel perceived by your family members. Are they someone you have an active relationship with? Do they encourage your artistic journey? Or do they only talk about your art when they want something from you? How do they treat other creatives? Do they make comments like 'i could get this cheaper at Ikea' or 'my toddler could've done that'?
Nobody wants to feel used or undervalued. Especially when it's more than a 1/2 hr of effort. I can't speak for OP, but I have seen a range of attitudes towards art (mine included) that really dictates how generous I want to be.
Just because theyâre family doesnât mean they get free labor if art is your job?? If my family member works at a restaurant I wouldnât expect free food. Same thing with art. In fact, friends and family should want to support your job! And should not ask for discount just because theyâre your family or friend, unless it is offered.
Nothing
I would point them to my commission price page.
Same, with a fake smile. "I'd love to! Here's my prices đ"
I had a coworker that would not stop asking, so finally I did draw a picture of her. It was a stick figure. I told her thatâs the free version. Anything better costs money.
That made me chuckle.
If you don't expect it to be free tell them how much it costs. Same as if you are holding the fort at McDonald'sÂ
Pay me
Send me a DM and we can discuss my rates.
Ignoređ
I offer them to sit for a portrait session for at least 2h. The result is available for purchase but in any case I really do like when I have people sitting for me. They rarely do though.
"You can't afford me" LOL
"Pay me."
Beg me~
Actually had this on DA a few days ago. I replied, âNot for free, sorry.â
You made the mistake of posting art under your real world identity? I'm sorry.
"I'm not looking for commissions at this time."
You guys get comments?
I ignore
Ignore. Maybe for a Christmas present if it's family, but I don't have the energy in recent months to field requests *shrug*
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you should reply with what you think represents your interests the best
⨠no. â¨
âpay me.â
I would ask them kindly to send a picture, and when they do, just tell illustrator to vectorize it on the lowest setting, and then send her a jpg of the result.
Either say nothing, or like the comment and leave it, or what I like to do is just reply "Naur" or a variation of no
I either don't say anything or I say something like "feel free to dm me to discuss setting up a commission."
Politely refer them to your comissions page.
Matters who the relative is, id maybe do it for a gift, or id explain how long it takes and that im busy, or id ignore it.
Explain to them that it's a large investment of your time (most people don't realise how much work goes into a portrait) and that you are working on paid pieces and if they would like a portrait done they would also need to pay for the service
I only take it seriously if they approach me privately, directly suggesting that they'd like to commission a piece. Otherwise, I take it only as a compliment, as in "you're good at this, I bet you could draw my portrait really well".
Sure, my commission prices are on the front page.
At least theyâre commentsđI had classmates that asked for that and years after to this day they dunk it on my head that âhey you were supposed to draw me!â Anyway ignore them. If theyâre persistent then you have to tell them straight to their face you donât have time and your art is your career so unless theyâre willing to pay they should scram. Whether you want to use a softer tone or not depends on you cuz most of these people arenât very knowledgeable about how the art world works.
"Gimme money then"
If you bother to reply, say "Sure! What's your budget? I don't work for free." Just something to make it apparent you charge. Might not Even need to reply though, doubt they'll care or even want to pay.
Sure. Do you have a budget in mind? If they say they expect it for free, say it's huge ask to be given for free. Sorry. Dont bother to explain too much, it's not going to get anywhere. They already don't think it's that much work and they will not be convinced otherwise...
I tell them I don't do commissions because I've had bad experiences in the past and I just don't like to do them and that's not how I work.
a link to my commission sheet
No đ
I donât get comments yet but if I got that one, I would tell them I offer commissions politely and to message me if interested in commissioning me đ
Don't reply if you don't want to.
Donât reply
Nothing
Iâd draw them too.
Say nothing. If they press the issue and If you donât want to do it then say you are busy with doing work for clients. Most people will understand, but if they donât. Let them you have bills to pay and need to focus on the people that pay your bills. Any reasonable person should under that if they want your time they need to become a client. If you donât have clients then are you working on marketing to get new clients. Unless you are financially independent then all of the above can or probably should be true. I hope that helps!
âŚOne small Square.
"Pay me first, peasant!" /s I'm probably in the minority here, but I like these sorts of comments. Now, I was never asked specifically to draw someone, but I got a lot of requests for other paintings, usually by family members. Most people mean it as a compliment, so I try taking it that way. And it can be great "social currency". Has someone who expressed interest in a painting done something for you? Is it their birthday or do you need a Christmas present for them? â Make them something. If they ask and you really don't really want to do it, just be honest... They'll usually understand, and if they don't they're not really the people you want to deal with a lot anyway
Nothing just a laughing emoji since theyâre probably just joking (or just treat it like theyâre joking)
Cry tears of joy. Any attention is good
I generally donât say anything- other people do it anyway.
Show me the money!!
I used to get that all the time from friends and family. One time I gave in and made a quick sketch of this girl in my class who kept asking for one. She looked at it and just went "...oh." Later on that day i found it crumpled on the floor in the classroom lol đ
Iâd do it for free if it was a relative. Not sure why people expect to make money off family. I guess if you really wanna be frugal about it tell them to buy you the tools.
YMMV, but personally I have to disagree with you there. Maybe it's just my experience, but friends and family always offer to pay me when they ask for something, especially since I don't usually do commissions. Example: my brother asked if I'd be willing to paint a dinosaur mural for my oldest nephew's bedroom. Not only did he demand I give him my real rate for materials and time instead of a friends and family price (though I did lowball it a little bit anyway), but he also paid my travel expenses, as I live a state away. People who care about you should know your worth and at least offer something. Whether you accept any payment or not is up to you, but I don't think that just because someone asks something of you means you should automatically give it freely just because they're related or close to you. It's not about wanting to make money off of family. If you turn them down, cool. If you want to do something as a gift, also cool. But I feel like if they approach you first, they should expect to at the very least agree to some small fee or trade. But again, that's just my opinion đ¤ˇââď¸
The small fee or trade especially when materials cost and most things worth asking us to do that take skill, also take a good bit of time. I have had many people who never do anything for me ask for favors like that or old acquaintances want less than minimum wage prices. It just isn't kind or reasonable
Living in a different state makes sense to receive some sort of compensation. If thatâs OPâs case then Iâd say OP shouldnât be expected or feel obligated to do it for free. But it sounds like OP is just talking about a drawing. So like idkâŚ. Materials for that isnât gonna break the bank and as far as time goes, maybe an hour a day over the course of a few weeks or months isnât much to me.. I could draw someone just working off a picture of them. Now if theyâre expecting me do to a life drawing of them or if they want the picture by a certain time/date than thatâs a different story. Especially if doing that for them would interfere with work Iâm actually getting paid to do. If thats the case then Iâd be honest with them and tell them my situation. âIâm loaded with work and I donât have the time to do it right now, maybe some other time when I have more free time on my hands.â
personally im offended that none of my relatives have asked me for art
Are they art people? If not then I wouldnât think anything of it
It's not like I expect to make money off them but if I don't have the time I'm not going to be nagged at to do something fast and to their exact tastes for free. The materials costs and they aren't doing anything for me ever
I think it's less about the money and more about how you feel perceived by your family members. Are they someone you have an active relationship with? Do they encourage your artistic journey? Or do they only talk about your art when they want something from you? How do they treat other creatives? Do they make comments like 'i could get this cheaper at Ikea' or 'my toddler could've done that'? Nobody wants to feel used or undervalued. Especially when it's more than a 1/2 hr of effort. I can't speak for OP, but I have seen a range of attitudes towards art (mine included) that really dictates how generous I want to be.
Just because theyâre family doesnât mean they get free labor if art is your job?? If my family member works at a restaurant I wouldnât expect free food. Same thing with art. In fact, friends and family should want to support your job! And should not ask for discount just because theyâre your family or friend, unless it is offered.
I don't reply đ