“Clouds #12″ Gouache on paper, 24″ x 18″. Finally got around to scanning this in! Im learning that its easy to get carried away with too many details and colors when painting at this scale. I think for my next piece I will try to keep the palette simpler.
The amazing digital art of Aric Athesis
Tips to freelance illustrators to avoid being screwed over
Hello! I’m Gabrielle Ragusi. I’ve been a freelance illustrator for years now and, as many other freelancers, I had to deal with difficult situations in the past - recent past. These situations come with the job (for everyone), but they can be easily avoided… if only I had known this sooner!
This post doesn’t paint a pretty picture of the one client, but know that I refer to a very small percentage of people (the clients I work with are actually great).
Yet, the one client exists and these tips might help you face them.
- When The One Client tries to screw you over.
From time to time, clients will try to have their way with unforeseeable requests and demands at work started and, quite often, at work done.
Solution: State your terms.
Before starting a project, even a sketch, I strongly suggest sending a contract or a simple Terms of Agreement document in which you state everything: commission process, revisions, payment method, ownership… This way they won’t be able to make up some half-ass excuse for their demands.
Also, you don’t have to be overly generous. If the client asks for extra revisions, ask for extra payment. The extra money will cover the extra time you spent on the project, so don’t feel guilty about it.
- When The One Client sells bad ideas or asks for the wrong revisions.
Clients may know what they want, but they also might try to sell ideas that you know won’t work or ask for revisions that won’t make the project look any better. They won’t consciously bamboozle you, but the project has your name on it and judgement will come with the audience feedback.
Solution: You’re the artist in this project, so speak your mind. Giving your clients alternatives and your opinion helps the client know that you care about the project and that you know your stuff. You want the best for your client.
- When The One Client wants you to work on spec.
Solution: Don’t.
On-spec work is a bad idea. If clients contact me, I take for granted they’ve seen my portfolio and know what I do, but if you’re just starting as a professional, my suggestion is to ask for a minimum upfront payment.
- The power to say yes doesn’t always apply.
This isn’t about The One Client but about our own ‘Yes’, when inside we’re screaming ‘Hell no’, screwing us over.
Yes is not always good. When in doubt, think about your lack of time, disinterest in the project and all those things that lead to bad results!
If you don’t have time to work on a new commission, say no. If the project isn’t your cup of tea, say no.
Also, not all clients are jerks, so if you explain you don’t have time to work on another project right now but they like your portfolio, it’s possible that they will contact you again in the future or ask for your time schedule.
- (Don’t) Assume that clients know your art style.
This one is tricky and has a lot to do with the first stage of commissions and my personal experience. When clients contact me for the first time, most have seen my portfolio and know what I do. They contact me because of what I do and how I do it. When these clients say “I love your work”, I naturally assume they’ve seen my portfolio.
But when there are no signals that the person contacting me has seen my work, I can’t assume. This happened just a few weeks ago with a client who asked for my availability to illustrate a book after seeing an illustration of mine (the book was about faeries, my illustration had faeries). Problem is I assumed they knew my work, but they didn’t. What happened is that they asked me to work on spec, I said no and gave them a minimum quote for an initial sketch instead. Feedback received, I finally understood they hadn’t in fact seen my portfolio, although I’m not sure where they found my email address.
I don’t have a real solution to this kind of situation other than not assuming things. I guess it’s a matter of dealing with The One Client once again.
- Payment fees are covered by the client, always.
If you receive payments through PayPal and similar services, I’m sure you know about the fees.
Unfortunately, I found the solution to this only a couple of years ago - looking back at all the money PayPal took from me in fees, I want to cry (living in Europe and working with clients based anywhere in the world, these fees vary, from 2,9% to 4,5% + small transfer fees).
Now I send all invoices myself (I don’t let clients send money my way on their own) and I add a tax that covers PayPal or Stripe’s fees to the project’s quote: this is not money that ends up in my pocket, it’s money that PayPal takes, mind you.
- My final advice is: be professional.
The One Client will try your patience, but don’t lose your composure. Even in disagreement, be professional, offer your thoughts and compromise if necessary. If the project is successful, The One Client will be happy. You want your clients to be happy.
I hope you’ll find this post helpful!
Peace out,
Gabrielle
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FUCK THIS I SPERFECT, IT SHOWS THE ARM PRONATING AND ALL THE MUSCLES SHIFTING ALONG WITH THE WRIST
IT EVEN HIGHLIGHTS THE ULNA BONE
HEY THIS IS THE ULTIMATE ANATOMY REF, FUCK THOSE MISLEADING TERRIBLE FUCKING “ANATOMY” TUTORIALS THAT GOEAS AROUND TUMBLR, THIS IS ALL OYU NEED, LOOK AT THE LATISIMUS STRETCHING OVER THE SERRATUS, THE PECTORAL MUSCLE MOVESUPWARDS AND OVER THE BICEP AND EXTENDS ALONG WITH THE ARM THERES EVEN THE CORACOBRACHIALIS;. AAAA OMFG I’M SO HAPPYYYYYY
Admin Kin here: This is one of the most helpful references in our library, but I wondered if any of our followers might be able to help identify the color coded muscles? It would be great to be able to know what is what while practicing from these sheets!
Sure, @anatomicalart! The colors get reused between the arm/back angles so I’ll separate them.
Arm view: Red = Deltoids (all three heads are in one color) Blue = Latissimus Dorsi Green = Biceps Brachii Yellow = Triceps Brachii
Forearm: Red = One of the wrist flexors Blue = Brachioradialis
Back view, left side: Red = Deltoids (all three heads are in one color) Blue = Latissimus Dorsi Green = Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, Teres Major Yellow = Trapezius (all groups one color)
Back view, right side: Red = Supraspinatus Blue = Serratus Anterior Green = Rhomboids Yellow = Levator Scapulae
Not an artist, I just like cool stuff.
Please share for your fellow animators or aspiring ones!
For a little note on how to download it, got to the site, select the Fundementals Of Animation, and then Add to Cart, and order!
I really love your artstyle! Could I maybe get some tips on how to give variety to faces? My style has a little same face syndrome unfortunately.
personally i found that when i used to sameface its because i was afraid of making an ‘ugly’ face but!! imo an ugly but interesting face is more fun than a good-looking but boring face. go forth
If you want to use a non sketchy youtube downloading site I just spent some time making a really simple one here: https://y23.cmder.tech/
It lets you download the video or just the audio of a youtube video
Well since I’ve made this post I’ve added a few features:
Get whole playlists at once (or download all the audio from the playlist in a zip)
Convert audio to mp3/wav
Added the ability to cut up videos/make gifs
If you like the site and want more features why don’t you become a patreon and vote on new ones! https://www.patreon.com/ssn
I’m just going to keep updating this post from here, the URL is and has been https://y23.tech for a while so please use that URL. In addition, Youtube has been incredibly vigilant about Youtube downloading sites so I have to use a proxy and cycle it every couple of days, so if you have any problems downloading videos let me know, that’s probably what’s going on. Last! I can always use donations to continue running the server and especially now that I have to pay for proxies. There is a better way to handle it but that also costs money so we’re kind of stuck here for right now.
Valentina Remenar - http://valentinaremenar.com - https://www.linkedin.com/in/valentina-remenar-3643467a - https://www.behance.net/tincek-marincek - http://tincek-marincek.tumblr.com - https://valentina-remenar.deviantart.com - https://twitter.com/TincekMarincek - https://www.instagram.com/valentinaremenar - https://www.youtube.com/user/TincekMarincekART - https://plus.google.com/+ValentinaRemenar
Some layouts for the opening for “Auto Battle Chess”!
SAW SONIC……
Ahegao hoodie but it's all homestuck bluh reactions
This is the worst thing I've ever created