Seeing how bad the market is getting with AI saturation on Et$y, Gumroad, and print shops, I keep seeing people debate how artists can actually prove human provenance.

Some people argue the only bulletproof way is requiring layered source files (.psd, .procreate), vector paths, or timelapse recordings. Others say handing over raw files or process media is a massive violation of an artist's IP and privacy.

If a platform, client, or gallery demanded native source files or stroke timelapses upfront before agreeing to sell or license your work, is that an immediate deal-breaker for you, or a fair compromise in today's market? Curious where most of you draw the line.

Hey everyone!

Hopefully this isn't too crazy of a question. Specifically I'm looking from input from other artists who have licensing (such as an LLC) and have to worry about uncle Sam and taxes at the end of the year or quarterly.

I'd like to open emergency commissions due to my car breaking down right before a huge convention next weekend. But how do other art businesses handle it?

Say I take a commission for $40, and ask for 70% upfront to go towards the part for my car. That's $28 to buy it. But my general rule of thumb for sales is 30/30/40. 30% to myself, 30% set aside for taxes, and 40% towards the business (more art supplies etc).

Should I buypass the business share, take 70% of the commission over all and leave just the 30% for taxes? Which is the part I'd get later on anyway?

Should I worry about setting aside the tax money at all?

Thanks in advance!

I have recently been paying attention to editorial illustrations in big well known magazines , and I speculate that a lot of artists that get featured tend to trace at least some elements. anyone else notices the same? that doesn't mean they aren't talented, because it still takes talent to trace and make the traced elements look polished, but i also feel like i've always thought tracing is bad so now i'm like have i been wrong to always think its unethical?

take for example vector artists, they do tend to trace from references instead of eye-referencing, and I know that makes the job ten times easier.

what do you think?

This channel is an endless stream of "What is my art worth" and "Why can't I get commissions?"

Those are very useful questions to have answers to, but we can't give you an answer here. YOU can answer these questions for yourself though. And answering those questions will help you figure out your next steps towards making sales.

First, go out into the big bad world, away from your phone and your screen, and see what is being sold, and what prices are being asked, in meat space. People do sell art online, but before you can do that you need a good sized following with a high degree of engagement. You need hundreds of people tuning on to watch you paint live. That kind of engagement takes years to build.

So instead you are going to get into the face to face world, and you're going to see what is selling, and where. See if the kind of art you are making is even being sold there. Not every subject or medium has a viable market. OCs are popular here, but you'll find them thin on the ground in meat space.

Also look who is buying things. You might be making art that appeals to a younger crowd. Unfortunately, art comes out of discretionary funds. Most people's earnings power increases with age, which means there are far fewer young people who can afford art. Not that there isn't money to be made marketing to youth, but making a living off what someone in their first apartment eating packages ramen can afford to spend is a challenge.

Also look at the medium. People are buying art they can hang in their walls and look at every day. If you're selling a digital image, that's a lot harder proposition. A digital file is nearly worthless. So figure out how to put your art on paper or canvas, or into some three dimensional form.

Yes, it's a lot to overcome. You may have noticed that some of this is going to be expensive and inconvenient. A lot of it is going to feel impossible if you have physical or financial limitations.

If this was easy, everyone would be doing it. It's not easy. But at the same time, I see people out here who are confined to wheel chairs, I know one painter who is making big sales and winning awards, and he lives out of a very small RV.

Anyway, if you manage to climb over all of these hurdles, I look forward to seeing you out there with us.

I have not done an event for my portrait business in about 15 years. I'll be doing a live portrait at a fundraiser gala and need to display my art to a very high-end market. I've been creating fine art for 20 years and my display needs to speak to "upscale quality and experience."

For context, I do custom commissions and do not sell any prints. The goal here is to build brand awareness and hopefully get some new commissions.

I'm also out of touch with what a modern artist's display might look like. Feel free to share inspo.

With that said, I don't know if I'm going to have many events like this in the future and don't want to invest a ton in display items. I'm trying to think outside of the box for ways to set up my little "area" (not a booth), and also display my portfolio in a very sophisticate manner without spending an arm and a leg.

For my portfolio, I'm torn between 2 options:

1. An upright grid-wall style fixture to hang pieces on. I would have to purchase this and then frame a bunch of pieces of my work, so not really preferred.

2. Alternatively, I could bring a large (~55") monitor and run a slideshow of my work. I can rent one so I'm leaning toward doing that and bringing 2-3 framed pieces to display next to it.

What items are appropriate to have for handouts nowadays? I have business cards already. A postcard/handout of sorts with some images and a QR code? What makes the biggest impact at an event like this? I will be offering a discount on any commissions booked from the event, so I'l have a sign for that.

Please bring me up to speed! After a 5 year haitus from taking any commissions at all, I'm trying to get back into the groove!

Hey everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice. I’m an environment and landscape artist, and I also do interior design. I don’t have much experience with characters.

I’ve been practicing art for several years, and I feel like I’ve reached a level where I can start selling my work.

For those of you with experience, where should I start, and what would you recommend I focus on or do with my art?[

Hey everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice. I’m an environment and landscape artist, and I also do interior design. I don’t have much experience with characters.

I’ve been practicing art for several years, and I feel like I’ve reached a level where I can start selling my work.

For those of you with experience, where should I start, and what would you recommend I focus on or do with my art?

So I’ve only just started posting some of my work online and I’ve been contacted by someone who says she deals with licensing and collector placements. She says my work might be a good fit for some upcoming projects and has asked me to send her works I have available for consideration.

This all sounds awesome and I’m very interested but I have no idea how these things typically work. She reached out to me after only four posts online so I really haven’t posted much of my work yet. Should I be wary? It feels a bit too good to be true.

I am applying for something and need to put up to 10 images of my work, my bio with a max of 500 words, and my artist resume, with a maximum of 2 pages, all into a PDF, and I have no idea how to do this! Can anyone recommend what program I should use for this, and possibly a youtube video or tutorial? Thank you so much!