What's it worth?

My sister-in-law needs an artist. So one day whilst visiting her, she describes what she wants. A train. I'm sure that request sounded simple to her (and probably everyone else); A few wheels, a track, a round thingy in front and a smoke stack. Easy-peasy lemon-squeezy. Except that it isn't easy or peasy or even lemon-squeezy. It's all valves and piston push rods and railing and rivets and...ugh. Many do-dads to render. Many hours of work. Unfortunately, she imagined the cost would be a bit less than what I thought all that time was worth . So I struggled with doing a discount piece or simply telling her my price, knowing that it was higher than what she wanted to pay and leaving it at that. I was afraid she'd think I was ripping her off or something, so I went about demonstrating why the price was what I quoted it to be (I don't normally do this). I care about my sis and her opinion of me is important.

So I dig up some reference, do up a full pencil sketch. She heard my explanation about many hours worth of rendering for all the little details and proceeded to ask if I could delete the details. Some artists would agree to that and take the money. In my younger days I would have but I'm older now and I told her no. It was my name going on that piece of art and I don't skimp on quality. It's just not in anybody's best interest.

Money is spent and gone forever, but my art will remain. After I'm gone the artwork I do will still be around and I'll not have a shoddy piece representing me. As I said above, for most clients I simply state my price and let them decide, but I attempted to make my sister-in-law understand why I wouldn't produce a less-than-perfect picture. Since she's a teacher I put it to her this way, "What would you do if your principal asked you to grade only half the students' papers because grading all of them takes too long and the school didn't want to pay you for that?" She said that very same thing had actually happened and that some teachers did it and others, like her, refused (I applaud her for that!). I then pointed out that my art is like her job; some artists will skimp and some will not. I would not skimp just to save someone money. I think she took my point. Plus, to put a picture out there that's less than my standard of quality would decrease the worth of any other picture someone had bought from me.

So I may lose that job but it will be worth it. Anything a person does should be done to the highest quality possible and at the fairest price for that quality. It doesn't matter that there are artists better or worse than me out there and it doesn't matter what they charge. If a person wants your work, they deserve the best and sometimes the best isn't the cheapest.

Don't be afraid to lose money, be afraid to lose worth.

The importance of Blogs

For an artist, blogs are very important. As an illustrator you need one because art directors use them more and more these days to check the activity of their artists. If you're posting regularly, you're active and you're putting yourself out there and you generally look busy. Lets face it, after you get a job from an art director, you disappear for a few weeks while you work. A blog is a way to let the art director know you're still alive. These same reasons apply to fine artists as well. Gallery owners like to see what you're up to. It gives them a personal connection to you without all the bother of calling you daily or setting up lunches.

So how do you use a blog? Do you just ramble on about what your dog did today or how the kids are doing in math class? Do you wax political and philosophical? What work do you show here, if any?

First off, remember that a blog is an extension of your business. You're in the business to sell your art. You will not sell your art if you talk about politics. You will inevitably tick-off some art director or gallery buyer with your views.

Do talk a bit about your personal life but avoid negative comments. You want to keep it positive. It's OK to share your struggles with a model getting the right pose, but always put a positive spin on it. Superficial? Maybe, but our life is filled with turning negative into positive and your blog posts should be no different. Why depress when you could inspire?

I'm of the opinion that the perfect way for an artist to use a blog is to post personal art here. If you're allowed to by your client, you can even post process shots and works in progress pics here too. You should have a website for your portfolio and a blog for your personal artwork with a bit of personal posts to give it flavor.

So, as an artist just moving from private commissions to one working for clients, I'm following my own advice. This blog is now active and my portfolio is in progress. I'll share it all as I go.