Why Pay For Art?

[SMaddieM 105]

It has come to my attention,

 

due to the insane amount of requests for free art, or in-game trades, IOU payments, etc, that I receive on a regular basis...

 

That many people have literally no concept of why an artist should be payed real money for their work.

 

 

To put is extremely simply for all of you who will not stick around for a long topic:

TIME = MONEY

TIME IS NON-REFUNDABLE

TIME IS NOT FREE

 

TIME SPENT MAKING ART NEEDS TO BE COMPENSATED APPROPRIATELY.

 

If an artist is making something for you, you are not getting just some colors and lines. You're getting hours of their life that they will never recover.

 

Those are hours NOT spent at some terrible part time job. Those are hours spent on YOU. YOUR desires for badass art and dreams visualized.

 

If the artist is not being paid, how do you expect them to eat food? Afford rent every month? Afford the programs or materials they need to make the artwork you want?

 

PAY YOUR ARTISTS REAL MONEY. PAYPAL IS AWESOME AND EASY TO USE. NO EXCUSES.

( If you are under 16 and your parents won't pay for art, don't beg for free art. Tough luck. I'm sorry. Enter some contests that have art for prizes. )

 

 

To give you a better idea of the costs artists need to cover, I'll share a few of my life-costs.

 

Adobe Creative Cloud : $30 /mo

Rent (including utilities such as water, heat, electric, internet) : $500+ /mo

Gas : $40+ /mo

Phone ( For business contact ) : $47/mo

Food: ? Anywhere between $30-$200 /mo

 

So about $800-1k Per Month.

 

 

If an artist is spending their time making art, they can't be simultaneously spending it on working at a job to make money to live. MAKING ART IS HOW ARTISTS LIVE. IT IS THEIR PROFESSION.

 

Minimum wage for ARTISTS should never be lower than $10-12/hr. I set my hourly wage to $15/hr.

 

Under no circumstances should you ever treat your artists like they are not valuable. Like their work isn't worth paying for.

 

You should pay your artists upfront, or at least a non-refundable down payment.

 

WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIKE THE FINISHED PRODUCT, THE HOURS THE ARTIST SPENT WORKING ON IT ARE LOST FOREVER. YOU ARE PAYING FOR THEIR TIME AS WELL AS THE ART.

 

RESPECT YOUR ARTIST.

 

If something is wrong, work with your artist, don't bash them or throw a fit. Also, don't be unreasonable in your changing ideas. If you requested a knight and the artist is halfway done, don't switch your idea to a dragon, then to a unicorn, then to a fox, etc..

 

There is a difference between tweaking an original request and changing your mind and wanting a totally different commission.

 

ON IN-GAME PAYMENTS:

 

Even if you payed real money for an in-game item, it does not count as real-payment for art unless the ARTIST wants that item specifically for some reason.

 

It no longer equals real money.

 

An artist cannot take minas to the store to get bread and milk. They cannot take any virtual items from minecraft anywhere. They can't EAT or PAY THEIR RENT with pixels.

 

In short: IN GAME ITEMS DO NOT COUNT AS REAL MONEY.

 

FOR FURTHER READING ON THIS SUBJECT:

 

http://www.artistdaily.com/blogs/theartistslife/archive/2009/12/18/a-simple-formula-for-pricing-artwork.aspx

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eva-claudia-schweitzer/ten-reasons-artists-and-a_b_4143370.html

 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-reasons-why-artists-deserve-katie-flowers

[DrakeHaze. 2524]

Welcome to Starbucks.

[Detective 101]

Well the thing is, most skin designers or artists here actually ask for minas and ingame Items, mainly because money and rare items are hard to come by. If they 'ask' for money that's a whole different matter; take Keeeem for example.

[Ford 1996]

welcome to mcdonalds, how may I take your order?

[GodEmperorFlam 3447]

Well said. Just be prepared for some trollish responses.

[SMaddieM 105]

Well the thing is, most skin designers or artists here actually ask for minas and ingame Items, mainly because money and rare items are hard to come by. If they 'ask' for money that's a whole different matter; take Keeeem for example.

 

ON IN-GAME PAYMENTS:

 

Even if you payed real money for an in-game item, it does not count as real-payment for art unless the ARTIST wants that item specifically for some reason.

 

It no longer equals real money.

 

An artist cannot take minas to the store to get bread and milk. They cannot take any virtual items from minecraft anywhere. They can't EAT or PAY THEIR RENT with pixels.

 

In short: IN GAME ITEMS DO NOT COUNT AS REAL MONEY.

[Samson Option 9652]

I've been a real-life money paying patron of Keeeeem when she was on the server in the past. I think I may have been the only one willing to pay real money [dollars]. People obviously do not understand John Locke's concept. Pay up or shut up.

[Kim 1328]

I've been a real-life money paying patron of Keeeeem when she was on the server in the past. I think I may have been the only one willing to pay real money [dollars]. People obviously do not understand John Locke's concept. Pay up or shut up.

my true number one fan

[meg 1994]

 

ON IN-GAME PAYMENTS:

 

Even if you payed real money for an in-game item, it does not count as real-payment for art unless the ARTIST wants that item specifically for some reason.

 

It no longer equals real money.

 

An artist cannot take minas to the store to get bread and milk. They cannot take any virtual items from minecraft anywhere. They can't EAT or PAY THEIR RENT with pixels.

 

In short: IN GAME ITEMS DO NOT COUNT AS REAL MONEY.

 

I know sometimes artists just want to practice, and items such as minas are fun compensation. I generally think that if the artists asks for money, only money should be offered. 

[monkeypoacher 8055]

Welcome to Starbucks.

 

Oof.

 

I agree though, pay people real shekel not imaginary pixel numbers

[Kim 1328]

i use art to buy them hot pixels :)

[meg 1994]

i use art to buy them hot pixels :)

muh-muh pixels

[Ford 1996]

I'm not paying those filthy art slaves a penny grr...

But seriously I will never understand some super amateur artists who charge their customers $200+ bucks absolutely ridic

[SMaddieM 105]

The most I've been paid for a single commission has been around $400.

 

It isn't ridiculous. It's a lot of time and energy and passion.

 

Though- I am not an amateur. I've got a degree and I'm working on a second. I've worked my bum off to get myself to where I am and I'm constantly striving for more improvement.

 

But I digress- It is not your job to decide what an artist charges or what they are worth. That's their job. If you don't like the price, don't shop with them. Simple as that.

[Guy d'Yood of Mann 39]

I'm not paying those filthy art slaves a penny grr...

But seriously I will never understand some super amateur artists who charge their customers $200+ bucks absolutely ridic

 

Nobody cares, Archie.

 

And aye, Raen. While I, as usual, don't really find rants explicitely useful, as I told you a few times over, as people that understand it don't need it, and people that don't, won't bother to. Middle ground is difficult in the situation everyone is compelled to don't gaf about the other person's P.O.V, alias, internet. BRs kinda prove that on a regular basis, but, shh.

 

Artists well deserve the money for their art - regardless of the art, and, sometimes, regardless of the cash. Long story short, protect dem Keeeemzies and Raenzies and keep 'em alive, for talented folks are harder to come by 'en ye Pugsies.