Am I Ready to Take Commissions?

Let’s get one thing straight: this is your choice. Nobody but you can decide whether you’re ready to start taking commissions. What I can do is offer guidance, advice, and things to consider before you dive in.

I’m not here to gatekeep. If you read through this and still feel ready, you have my blessing. If you realize you need more time, that’s okay too!

So, let’s go through some key questions you should ask yourself before starting commissions.

1️⃣ Why Do I Want to Do Commissions?

Your motivation matters more than you might think. Are you doing commissions because:

• It feels like a trend?

• People expect it from you?

• You want to buy from other artists?

• You love making art and want others to experience it?

If your goal is purely financial, be aware that commissions aren’t a fast way to make money. There are far easier ways to pay your bills than selling art. But if you genuinely enjoy creating and sharing your work, commissions can be rewarding.

💡 Best Motivation: “I want to sell my art because I love making it and want others to experience it.”

2️⃣ Is Art an ‘Easy’ Job That Lets Me Avoid a ‘Real Job’?

Short answer: No. If you think commissions are an easy way to avoid a "real job," you're in for a surprise.

📌 Art as a hobby feels easy—draw when you want, at your own pace.📌 Art as a profession is different—deadlines, client expectations, pricing struggles, and burnout are real.

The transition from hobbyist to professional is like hitting a sheer cliff—suddenly, you have to learn marketing, pricing, and communication, all while producing art on demand. If that excites you, great! If it sounds exhausting, you might need to rethink your approach.

3️⃣ Do I Have the Skill to Sell at Fair Pricing?

Being an artist isn’t about raw talent—it’s about skill and efficiency.

🎨 Before selling commissions, ask yourself: ✅ Can I consistently create work that matches my examples? ✅ Can I meet reasonable deadlines? ✅ Am I prepared for revision requests? ✅ If I get a request outside my comfort zone, can I handle it or say no?

📌 Tip: If you struggle with drawing anything beyond one specific pose, consider offering YCH (Your Character Here) commissions first before taking full custom orders.

💡 Just like you wouldn’t call yourself a mechanic because you changed a tire, don’t sell commissions if you can only draw one thing!

4️⃣ Am I Capable of Being Professional?

Professionalism isn’t about being formal or using big words. It’s about:

✅ Communicating clearly with clients (even under stress) ✅ Setting rules and sticking to them ✅ Writing and enforcing a Terms of Service (ToS) ✅ Handling delays, revisions, and refunds responsibly

Your ToS should include things like: 📌 Do you provide Work-in-Progress (WIPs)? 📌 How long do commissions take? 📌 What happens if you need to cancel?

If you set rules, follow them. A good artist-client relationship is built on trust and clarity.

5️⃣ Do Commissions Make Me Too Stressed to Enjoy Art?

Taking commissions means turning art into work. Deadlines, customer expectations, and financial pressure can change your relationship with art.

📌 Some artists thrive on the structure and enjoy working for others. 📌 Others burn out and start resenting drawing entirely.

💡 If commissions make you dread drawing, step back. Your passion should not feel like a cage.

📝 The “Am I Ready?” Checklist

Before launching commissions, ask yourself:

✔ I have enough examples to show what I offer ✔ I have a Terms of Service (ToS) to protect myself and buyers ✔ I have a clear pricing structure ✔ I have a commission sheet or journal post ready ✔ I have a way to accept payments (PayPal, Stripe, etc.) ✔ I am comfortable enforcing my own rules✔ I can say no to commissions I don’t want to take

If you can check off most of these, congratulations—you’re ready! 🎉 If not, work on these areas first before jumping into the commission world.

🤔 How to Deal with Self-Doubt

Even if you check all the boxes, self-doubt can still creep in. You might think:

🚫 “My art isn’t good enough.”✅ Someone out there loves your style. You don’t have to be a master—just offer what you’re confident in drawing.

🚫 “No one will pay for my work.”✅ People buy art at all skill levels. Set fair prices, and those who value your work will come.

🚫 “What if I mess up a commission?”✅ Mistakes happen! Communicate with clients, offer reasonable fixes, and learn from experience.

🚫 “I don’t have a big audience.”✅ Even a small, engaged following is enough. Word-of-mouth is powerful!

🚫 “People will judge me for charging money.”✅ Your time and skills deserve compensation. Anyone who disagrees is not your client.

💡 Tips to Overcome Self-Doubt

📌 Keep an Art Growth Log – Compare old and new work to track improvement. 📌 Join Art Challenges – Push your skills in fun, low-pressure ways. 📌 Surround Yourself with Supportive Artists – Join Discord servers or art communities. 📌 Remember: Every Artist Has Bad Days – A bad drawing doesn’t erase your skill.

🌟 Final Thoughts: You’re More Ready Than You Think!

At some point, you just have to start. Commissions won’t be perfect at first—but neither was your art when you began drawing!

The key is to: ✔ Offer a service people want ✔ Set clear rules and pricing ✔ Keep learning and improving

There will always be self-doubt, but the best way to beat it is to take the leap. 🚀

💬 What do YOU think?

💡 Would you like more resources on:

• Writing a strong Terms of Service?

• Handling client disputes & refunds?

• Balancing commissions with personal projects?

Let me know in the comments! 🎨✨

This structure keeps your original personality and message while improving flow, readability, and engagement.

Would you like me to add a recommended reading/resources section with links to useful commission guides, or keep it as is? 🚀

💬 Got Any Favorite Resources?

If you have any go-to articles, tutorials, or commission tips, drop them in the comments! Let’s build a knowledge hub for aspiring commission artists! 🚀

This adds practical resources without being overwhelming and gives readers ways to dive deeper into the topics. Let me know if you want to tweak anything! 🎨✨