It's been a busy year with many losses and unpredictable stress, but I pulled through and got as much work done as I could.
I'll be announcing some exciting shows I'm in next year as well as some more book releases for 2018 in the upcoming months. Thank you for all your continued support and kind words. Some of the best comments I've ever received have been here and I so appreciate all the encouragement over the years.

           My Society6 || Facebook || Instagram || Tumblr

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I've been meaning to make an advice Journal for awhile and I've been getting more and more questions about doing commissions so I wanted to explain my process for working with clients and how to be professional in all hired work (and not get screwed over )

• Firstly, don't undersell your work. I see a lot of artists reasoning that they don't think their art is worth a higher rate, but I would challenge them to instead think of the time they are spending on a commission rather than what the commissioner can afford. Let's say you decide $X is your minimum hourly rate. Next, do a piece and time yourself. If it takes you 3 hours, charge $X x 3 or more. For a more detailed piece, raise the $X price. Regardless of your skill, someone willing to hire you has to pay for your time. Value yourself first. Commissioners will respect you much more if you respect yourself.

• When someone contacts you for a commission, have prices ready to go right away for what they're looking for based on your art subjects, style, detail, and time estimates it takes you to complete a piece. Have all this info decided and written down before you accept any commissions.
  

• Make it clear in writing that the client will pay the full amount at the completion. In addition, lay out "edit" costs. Tell clients you will send them a sketch before you finalize anything. The first round of changes on that sketch costs nothing, but a full re-do sketch will be $X. Make the free changes and send the new version for them to see. Any further changes to the revised sketch or the final version will be $X. Each round of changes is charged.
  
  
• Lay out all the pricing right away in your first correspondence so the client knows and you have everything in writing documented somewhere. Each time they ask for a change, say exactly what they'll be charged for that edit in addition to the already-agreed commission price. Make sure they know any changes after that first round will not be free and people will get their act together and give you all the info you need at the beginning.
  
  
• If you get hired for an expensive commission, ask for at least a 25-50% deposit before you begin. Bigger projects take more time and personal/material costs. If your client is serious about the project, they will have no problem giving a down payment for your security in the event the project is cancelled or delayed. This is industry standard- do NOT feel bad about asking for upfront payments for time-consuming art. (What you determine as an expensive project is subjective, define what a "high-end" commission is for you).
  
  By agreeing to a down payment, clients are saying, "We trust you with the project and plan to see it through to the end". Clients will be less likely to back out of the project and both you and the client stay motivated.
  
  
• Make an invoice template for project completions. An invoice is a list of services and their cost. It is a bill you send at the end of a project for clients to see how everything adds up. It should have the total they owe with your payment info. Invoices don't have to be fancy or complicated. Here is a link to my SAMPLE INVOICE. Send it as a pdf or jpg so it can't be easily edited or altered.
  
  
• Know that it's ok to decline a project. If there are subjects or styles you are not willing to do, that's normal and don't feel ashamed about it. Decide beforehand what you are unwilling to create; whether is be moral reasons, stylistic choices, or skill level. For example, I have been approached a few times to do horror-themed art. One look through my gallery and you know it's not my forte and would require a lot of unwanted time and energy for me to figure out.
  
  Sometimes clients find artists to replicate a style or skill level of someone more expensive- and I have found it offensive when someone expects me to work outside of my style so they don't have to pay the (pricier) artist I'm supposed to be replicating. Sometimes it's just better to decline a project rather than subject yourself to very stressful work.
  

• Do NOT send a full-res file until you receive payment. Send a low-res with a large watermark over it until you receive your full payment. Never ship originals until you are fully compensated. 

• Optional: I created a google survey (it's free!) with questions that I usually had to ask through many emails to better understand what a client was looking for when starting a commission. By putting the questions in a survey, I can avoid many emails at the beginning of the process, hone in on exactly what the client is looking for, how involved they want to be in the design process, and general budget. This allows me to be able give an accurate price quote for commissions right away. You can view MY SURVEY HERE if you want an example.
  

I know these steps can sound intensive but this does a few things:

1. Puts everything in writing for any disagreements.
   
   
2. Makes it look like you get many commissions and you're professional. Look professional = higher level of initial respect.
   
   
3. Sets prices so they're non-negotiable at the end. There are some people I have worked for a long time and I'm not as rigid with them because I have developed a trust. But I do this will all new clients and it prevents many arguments.
   
   
4. Sometimes clients don't know exactly what they want and expect you to spend your time figuring it out. If they know making changes will cost money, they are much more likely to gather references for you, make accurate descriptions of what they want, and decide on details right away rather than waste your time telling you to change your art later.
   
   
5. If a clients gets nervous or angry when you lay out this process, chances are they're not going to be easy to work for anyway.

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The first chilren's book I ever worked on was published last year and I still have some copies left! They are jacket-wrapped, canvas hardcover at $23 each, shipping included (U.S). Please message me here or on my Website if you’re interested!





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The first two volumes of the book series I illustrate, Bubba Heard a... are now available on Amazon. These chapter books are great for dog lovers and children (especially if you like Frenchies )

Check them out on Amazon


More book releasing will be coming next year~ Stay tuned!

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Amazing works I have discovered, all with less than 200 favorites! Give them some much deserved love ~

                                           

After waiting years to announce this, I'm proud to say the first children’s book I ever worked on is finally published. I started The Boy Who Answered in 2011 when I was just a sophomore in college and even though I’ve grown a lot as an artist since this project was completed, I am still immensely proud of it. It’s a story of a young boy on a journey away from home who learns to push, give, and answer whenever it is asked of him. I can’t wait to share this beautiful, philosophical fable- written by the incredibly talented Hamilton Chu- with everyone who has been so supportive of my career thus far!

I have 100 first-edition copies available. They are jacket-wrapped, canvas hardcover at $23 each, shipping included (U.S). Please message me here or on my Website if you’re interested!





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In addition, the book that I worked on over this past summer, Bubba Heard A Mouse, is now out on Amazon and is on the top sellers list in dog books! Perfect for dog lovers and kids- a story about not giving up and helping those in need.



And my first children's book that I illustrated in 2014 is also available at Amazon or Barnes & Noble! Perfect for beginner readers!



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Amazing works I have discovered, all with less than 200 favorites! Give them some much deserved love ~

          
          

Mature Content

   
   
   

My Society6 || Facebook || Instagram

I'm so excited to announce my brand new Website launch! Please take a look so I feel like many hours spent nitpicking everything was worth it

And feedback is encouraged and much appreciated as always. Thank you to everyone on DA that I have met over the years and have continued to encourage me to be better.

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Amazing works I have discovered, most with less than 200 faves ~ Give them some much deserved love

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Special shoutout to Heidi for gifting me core membership! Just in time to announce my site and use this pretty journal again.

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My first children's book that I illustrated was published in December 2014 so please check it out if you're interested! I'm very excited and it's so rewarding to see a final product. If you're looking for any gifts for a child ages 2-7, look no further. Perfect for beginner readers!



You can buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

My Society6 || Facebook || Instagram


Taking after sarehptar again, I wanted to make another resolution list for 2016. I'd say I kept 40% of my resolutions from last year and that's better than nothing. Hopefully this year will be even more productive.

1. Clean out my closet. Now it's just getting horderish.

2. Use up the majority of the tea I already have. I have a feeling this will be a resolution for every year.

3. Stay in touch with my friend who is joining the Peace Corp for 2 years

4. Post 15 new pieces of art here on DA (I did so many last year and I'm proud of it!)

5. Get my taxes figured out

6. Start walking again in the spring....or whenever I won't freeze my ears off.

7. Send/say more compliments to people online and irl

8. Organize my pile of art stuff in the basement. It looks like a grenade was thrown in an art supply store.

9. Start using my gouache set and get better at it.

10. Do work for 2 more gallery showings.

11. I will wake. up. earlier! Very serious about this one.

12. Become a more confident/overall better driver. It's hard to imagine a time where I won't hate driving but it needs to happen.

13. Reach 700 likes on my illustration facebook page.

14. Sell more artwork.

15. Finish 2 book pages a month.

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Amazing works I have discovered ~ Give them some much deserved love

                   <da:thumb id="565924634"/>  

Mature Content

                   <da:thumb id="508142716"/>          <da:thumb id="390726993"/>      


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This may be my last pretty journal because of how much DA has raised the premium "core" price. It's a shame, but the cost is just too much.

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My first children's book that I illustrated was published in December 2014 so please check it out if you're interested! I'm very excited and it's so rewarding to see a final product. If you're looking for any gifts for a child ages 2-7, look no further. Perfect for beginner readers!



You can buy it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble