Is it a good idea to draw free portraits for particular people... only their FIRST portrait, and from that drawing, let them decide if they want to purchase anything from me?
2007-11-06 10:30:35 · 4 answers · asked by Ryder 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Drawing & Illustration
I wouldn't do that for a potential paying client. It is never a good idea to do the work for a custome, only to HOPE he likes it. This is called working on spec, and it is a bad practice that leads freelancers to compete and "race to the bottom" as far as pricing and income.
A better plan would be for you to produce a few good, finished portraits of family and friends, to put into a portfolio and show THESE off to potential clients. If they like your work, then they can commision you to do the work. Draw up a work order, (contract) indicating how much the client agrees to pay and add an estimated completion date. Have the client sign it, then, make sure you both have a copy.
That way, when you finish the portrait, you have a legal document that proves he promised to pay you for your work.
All pros will do this, or something similar.
2007-11-07 07:40:54 · answer #1 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jeez. I'm going to start recommending that artists go to business school instead of art school. :D
Free drawings are never a good idea. No one will pay for a drink if you've already satisfied their thirst for free.
Customers will decide whether they want to pay for their portrait based on the quality of your work. So you must have plenty of excellent portraits to display. That will create a desire in the customer to have one of their own.
2007-11-07 08:51:29 · answer #2 · answered by helene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the person. Portraiture isn't exactly something that a person needs done frequently. If someone's considering giving a number of portraits as gifts you could offer to do one as a sample and let them to decide if they want to commission the rest but I can't really think of other good situations to do free art.
2007-11-06 23:12:29 · answer #3 · answered by Rhuby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A good thing to do is that for friends and people you know.
Namly people who will let you display these so others can see examples of your work.
A website, or account on art site (such as Deviantart.com) can allow you to take online commissions, (you don't pay through deviart)
Most of the time if someone can get something for free, they don't always purchase something afterwards.
2007-11-06 18:38:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋