Commissions can be daunting, especially if you haven’t refined your process yet. If you feel that’s stopping you from doing freelance illustration work, then read on and see how I handle things.

I built my process over seven years of freelancing, so don’t feel like you need to copy it step by step. You need to find what’s important to you, then incorporate that into your own process.

So, here’s my NSFW art commission process from start to finish.

Market and Generate Work

Regardless of what stage you are in your freelance journey, you need to let the world know you’re available for work.

You can do this by:

• Changing your display name and description to indicate your commissions are open
• Pinning a tweet or post showing your commission info
• Promoting your commission info and links whenever you post new work
• Holding raffles and doing requests so you can convert people interested into paying clients

In addition, think about how you can use your niche to generate more work. Who are the people you’re already close with, and how can your art benefit them?

Personally, as an OC artist, I talk to both clients and non-clients about their OC backstories. Having a unique personal brand differentiates me from other artists who only ask for minimal details and draw whatever looks cute.

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More is More
Much of the time it’s not that people don’t want to commission, but that they need a consistent and strong push. Think about all the things out of your control:

– Client might want to save up before commissioning you
– Client makes mental note to check out your info but forgets
– Client is shy to approach, unsure if you’ll draw their idea
– Client tries to look for your commission info but can’t find it
– Client sees your prices and gets cold feet (not that this is a reason to lower your prices!)

Newer artists make the mistake of posting their commissions then never mentioning it again. I certainly thought I had failed when no one approached me the first time.

But that’s not the case. Generating work is a continuous process, not a one-time thing. Experienced artists know this and promote their commission info and other platforms whenever they post.

Determine Compatibility

One thing I love about freelancing is getting to choose your clients. Not only is it good for your sanity, but it saves you time and money in the long run to say no to work you dislike.

If you need the money urgently, go for it. Otherwise, I say “thank you so much for the opportunity, but I don’t think my work process fits with what you want. I can recommend another artist to you, though!”

It's important to say no to work you dislike, because it saves you time and money in the long run. Click To Tweet

Doing freelance isn’t just about working and earning. It’s about being smart and knowing what energizes you, where your time will be most productive, and what the worth of your work is.

Fr example, what’s the opportunity cost when you do work for a client you dislike?

• You won’t feel motivated, pushing off the work and constantly feeling guilty
• You won’t do my best work, disappointing yourself and the client
• You’d waste time on a project you dislike, rather than marketing and finding work you do like

Why bother catering to clients that don’t even appreciate your work? Focus on taking care of the clients who respect and want to work with you

In my case, I determine compatibility by asking questions. If they barely converse, I know it’s not a relationship I want to nurture.

Get to Know Your Client’s Needs

Why do your clients commission you?

“Beats, for my art style. Why else?”

True, your art style is the most visible thing you offer. But does it solve the problem of your client? This ties back into your niche and why you were hired to begin with.

Content creators might need full-body character sheets. OC owners might want art that shows off their character’s backstories. Game designers will need CG art that matches a script. All of them need visual art, but their use case and goals are different.

Once you determine what your client needs, then you can upsell or downsell.

Upselling is inviting the client to purchase more expensive options. Downselling is the opposite, inviting them to take cheaper options.

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When I hear the client has an idea they want to show off to their friends or followers, I upsell and recommend they get a fully rendered illustration. It fits their needs.

If I find out they’re strapped on money, I recommend they get a lower tier, and upgrade it later on. It fits their needs.

Upselling and downselling shows the client that you’re listening. It’s not so much about the money as it is you solving their problems.

And trust me, clients will want to come back to someone who listens.

Invoice and Payment

Some artists only accept full payment upfront for safety, while others do 50% before starting and 50% before delivering the final illustration. I do both. Just choose what you’re comfortable with.

But what if the client asks for an exception? Maybe they’ll pay you half, but at a later date.

For me, it’s case to case. I might say yes if it’s a client I’ve worked with and trust. Otherwise, no.

You should be careful about who you change your process for. I know a few artists who’ve made finished works, only to have the client run off. If the client shows red flags like guilt-tripping you into lowering prices or saying they’ll pay everything later, then it might be better to let them go than risk getting scammed.

For taking payments, I use Zelle for US clients and PayPal invoices for international clients. Whichever you use, make sure you take note of the commission details without using NSFW keywords.

Recommended for you: PayPal for NSFW Artists, including do’s and don’ts

Sketch Ideas and Get Approval

After talking to the client and asking them for details about their OC backstory and what they want, I get to work figuring out how to communicate it.

I find drawing on paper most effective because I can’t zoom in and be picky with details. That allows me to stay loose and focus on the story and gesture.

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For example, the second set of sketches was for MidnightRyoko. They wanted their OC Ryoko at a nightbar, using her ‘assets’ to interrogate someone.

Ryoko liked the top right pose, but wanted it from the front. I usually only get asked to make small changes like facial expression or hand positions, but I had no problem making such a big chance because I could just sketch it out.

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Once the client is happy with my sketch, I ask for the second half of payment.

Lineart and Color Testing

I don’t allow revisions during the lineart stage, since the idea is solid, and the client knows what to expect from my sketch.

However, I do get client feedback for the colors. I start by verbalizing it, like “what about a yellow glow that feels sickly, to convey the corruption vibes?”. If the client agrees, then I do a quick color test on the sketch. This helps me figure out the values and color harmony in less than an hour.

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Again, the color test is messy and rough, but I do it to make sure the client isn’t taken by surprise. I’ve had times when I deliver a final artwork without showing WIPs, only for the client to say, “it’s good, but not what I had in mind”.

You might expect clients to come back when you go above and beyond their expectations. But it turns out consistency and reliability are much more important for building customer loyalty.

Render and Finalize

Now that the client knows what to expect, I’m free to go and make it happen.

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Despite all the planning, there’s a lot to improve and fix when it comes to the final piece. I usually focus on proportions and adding smaller details that show I’m paying attention to the story and to the OC’s design.

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Maintaining Client Relationships

Once I finish, I upload the files to Google Drive, and link the high-res files to the client. They’re free to share it however they want. I also send them the drawing timelapse, as an additional goodie.

Woo, we’ve done it! The project is done, but that doesn’t mean I drop the client.

From a business perspective, you save time and money by working with people you’ve already worked with before. Plus, they know what to expect, so you’re less likely to run into trouble.

That said, your art by itself might not be enough to keep clients coming back. It helps to find things that differentiate you from other artists. For example:

• How fast you deliver
• How you accommodate your clients
• How you listen and incorporate their ideas into the artwork
• How you offer your other skills to create something unique

For example, one of my clients said about my services, “You wanted to brainstorm ideas, talk lore, share in it, make head canons. Building rapport, I guess would be a way to put it. It’s a unique experience in the sea of transactions!”

Other than that, I try to maintain the relationship by sharing art that reminds me of someone’s Os, or occasionally messaging and asking if they’ve gotten any other art made. It might be somewhat time-consuming, but it’s also worth it, considering more than 80% of my work comes from repeat clients.

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Conclusion

And that’s my process from start to finish!

There’s a lot of knowledge packed in there from studying business and freelancing over the past 7 years. Don’t be discouraged if you run into troubles, it’s a part of the journey, as I share in my freelance mistakes article.

Let me know if you have any questions or want to share your freelance experience with other NSFW artists.

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Cheers! -Beats