full image - Repost: The Harsh Truth: You'll never 'Make it' Just doing commissions (from Reddit.com, The Harsh Truth: You'll never 'Make it' Just doing commissions)
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From people I know who've networked in the comic industry, here's what Comic Artists need to know:Commissions Build Skill, Not LegacyCommissions are just transactional, not transformational. You are being paid to create a vision that isn't your own. A logo, a portrait, fan art, etc. These will improve your technical skills, they will not give you a comfortable life. They will not build your voice or portfolio in the industry.When a publisher or audience discovers you: they don't care if you've drawn 200 commissions or not. What they care about is if you're capable of working in a team, hitting deadlines, and sustaining a visual identity that stands out. Skills that you do not learn just doing odd jobs and commissions. The problem is: You're not thinking big enough.Freelance work might keep you comfortable, but comfort will kill growth. Odd jobs give you the illusion of productivity because you are 'working as an artist' but in reality it's maintenance not growth.You rely on this as an income, trapping you in a cycle, instead of working on something that could earn you money in the future, without you lifting a finger. Freelancing is the only thing stopping you building long term value. In short: You trade short term income for long term opportunity.Spending hours on commissions is hours spent developing someone else's dream. Instead, you're not developing things with collaborators that could actually change your career, or give you one in the first place.No one will invest in you if you're someone they can replicate. They invest in people who are original. There are a million "Freelance" artists.Freelance never leads to breakthroughs. The most famous and successful artists did not get their breakthroughs doing commissions on reddit or Twitter, or odd jobs on Fiverr.They got their break through pitches, publishing deals, and joining new or ongoing series' as joint creators. Publishers want Visionaries, not labourers!When Image Comics, BOOM! and Dark Horse look at a submission, they aren't asking "Can this person draw well?"They are asking: "Does this artist or this writer, have a story, style or tone that is unique and self made."That's what they look for. That's the DNA of your craft. They don't want perfection, they want bold, imperfect styles, visions, artists: That can grow while at their companies. Taking that leap of faith, that risk - it creates stakes, and stakes create legacy. If you risk nothing, then you risk everything.This gives you opportunity. For rejection. Criticism. Growth. Identity.But most importantly: Success Doing commissions builds compliance. Creative leaps build courage and completion, even if there isn't a paycheck at the end of it.If you look at the careers of the most successful comic book artists and writers: None of them got anywhere taking random jobs or paid gigs. They developed an idea, collaborated on a dream, built a world. And the world responded. Once you have one small success, you open the for many more successes.And opportunities start chasing YOU.Stop being a worker, start being a creator!If you work for someone, you're replaceable.If you work with someone, you're capable. A single, imperfect heartfelt comic pitch will open more doors for you as an Artist or writer, than a thousand perfect commissions. Because the best aren't at the top because they executed someone else's vision. They're at the top because they created their own.I hope this advice reaches everyone who needs it! And inspires artists and writers alike to take that jump! And not get stuck in commission purgatory.Good luck! Take the leap!
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