Commission & marketing Guide

The Kinds of Content That You Can Post

First, let’s define what sort of content we can create on social media platforms.
From speedpaints, slideshows, animations, animatics, tutorials, etc. we’ll share the definitions and the pros and cons of each.
Note: Some content may perform better on different platforms than others. What performs better on what platform will be shown at the end.Speedpaints:
A single session of a visual art program, usually sped up and set to music, showing an artwork quickly made within a software such as Procreate, Ibis Paint or Clip Studio Paint.¹
PROS:
· Allows people to see your art process
· Can be extra content to share after finishing a piece
· Great for voiceovers
· Can be fast content to post, ideally 18-30 seconds
CONS:
· The longer a speedpaint lasts, the less likely people will finish watching the speedpaint all the way
· Must have something to grab the viewer’s attention within 2-3 seconds
· Does not provide any good ways to engage in meaningful conversations/interactions with the viewers

Slideshows:
A presentation of photographic slides projected on a surface or displayed on a screen one after another.²
PROS:
· Allows different kinds of ways to share your art. IE: Sketch vs Final, Old vs New, Cropped to Full version, sharing WIPs, etc
· Has the ability to grab the viewers attention within 3-4 seconds
· Does not require the viewer to stay for a full long period of time to view the art
· Provide several ways to engage in meaningful conversations/interactions with the viewers. IE: asking people to share their art/wips/improvements/opinions in the comments
CONS:
· Do not do as well as animations or story-driven pieces of work
· Viewers view a maximum of only 2-3 slides, posting several images may not do well.

Animatics:
A preliminary sequence of shots, images, or sketches (as for a movie or an animated television program) that is filmed or arranged usually with a sound track and viewed to determine its effectiveness before being finalized.³
PROS:
· Can fit in with trending audios
· Can share OC Lore in an eye-catching way
· Can grab the viewers attention within 2-3 seconds
CONS:
· Typically longer audios which would require the viewer to stay longer
· May take weeks - months to make one and the trend could be over by then
· Fandom works tend to work better than Original Works

Animations:
A movie, scene, or sequence that simulates movement from a series of still frames (such as drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects moved incrementally).⁴
PROS:
· Grabs the viewers within 2-3 seconds
· Can keep the viewers staying longer
· Original works do almost as well as Fanworks
CONS:
· May take weeks - months to make one
· More complex animations may require more than one person to work on it

Tutorials:
A demonstration of a process, using examples to show how a workflow or process is completed; often broken up into discrete modules or sections.⁵
PROS:
· Answers any questions your followers may have about what programs/brushes/pencils/tools you use
· Shows your process and allows the audience to get to know you
· Can grab the viewers attention within 2-3 seconds “Here’s how I render [blank]” “This is how I draw [blank]”
CONS:
· Can take up time in between drawing the image
· Some people may argue that there is no “right” way to draw something
· Using a voice is required: you have to choose between an ai generated voice or your own (which can be a tough choice for some individuals)

Sketchbook Tours:
A curated walkthrough (usually a video or blog post) where an artist shares the contents of a completed or in-progress sketchbook.⁶
PROS:
· Shows your drawing process in various stages
· People tend to enjoy: progress over time, flip-throughs, “messy vs finished” content and artistic evolution
· Show a record of improvement
· Low-pressure content, don’t have to fully finish a sketchbook or fully color anything
· Best if you want to show your growth, and encourage yourself to have a voiceover to keep the audience interested longer.
CONS:
· Takes longer to go through and set up
· Limited to people who like to draw traditionally (digital sketchbooks exist but not often)
· Experimentation is often visible in sketchbooks

¹ Definition from The Artisan Dictionary
² Definition from Merriam-Webster
³ Definition from Merriam Webster
⁴ Definition from Merriam Webster
⁵ Definition from Collins Dictionary
⁶ Definition from Myself

Social media & Their Pros/Cons

Before we begin:

I will inform readers that everyone has a different starting place when it comes to posting content on social media. Remember, this is an art community, it is not about who is best. It is about finding who YOU are and what YOU can contribute to the art world.My best recommendation is to not start commissions right away after making a brand new social media account for your brand. This can come off as money-hungry and you have little-to-no examples on your page. I advise you to wait until you build a loyal following (roughly 400 followers by the least and around 150 likes per post).
Not sure where to start then? Join art contests! Another great way to build a following is drawing fanart, even if you are part of multiple fandoms. My best recommendation would be to put “multi-fandom” in your bio or somewhere followers can know that you are in more than one fandom and will draw others as well.After reaching your goal of a certain amount of followers/average likes: Open Those Comms!!Consistency is important: To maintain a constant following, my best advice is to post one piece of content every 2-3 days. Have a set schedule and post during peak times. Consistency is favored by the algorithm.Focus on posting your own art and commenting on art-related content so the algorithm recognizes your account as an art page and doesn’t reduce your reach due to lower engagement on non-art posts.BRANDING: Have a persona, animal, or something with a face to resemble you and your brand. As well as a small color palette. This gives the audience a picture of what your brand means and is recognizable. Having a face can have viewers see you as a person rather than a voice/text on screen.Make sure your spelling and grammar is correct, minimize typing in caps (the algorithm suppresses ‘yelling’) as much as you can.Captions are important: Use shorter captions (but don’t use one word captions) Highlight/mention something appealing from your art. You want to make the viewer focus on the ‘selling point’ of the artwork. Bait people into responding to a question in your caption. Encourage comments and respond quickly, especially within the first hour, since early engagement signals to the algorithm that your post is active and boosts reach.Keep 2-3 relevant hashtags. Also, it's best to narrow down social media tags to the subject of the drawing than something like "art" "artdrawing" etc. Avoid using tags that have over 1 million posts and are bound to get lost. Instead aim for tags that have roughly 50k-500k posts.DO NOT post links in the main post, reply to the main post with the link
No more than 5 hashtags
DO NOT @ at multiple people (even in replies)
DO NOT add personal stuff/negative opinions on subjects. This can drive away potential clients. This is a professional account, put opinions on your personal accounts. Always remain neutral towards any drama or do not reply at all.Lastly, let’s talk about Trend vs Relevance:
Trends: are short-term bursts of popularity/hype driven by social or cultural shifts and are useful in connecting with the audience in the moment. It may not always be easy to hop on trends, but it can be rewarding in the end.
IE: the “forget your face” trend, Animation Trends, etc
Dies down after 2-3 weeks.
Relevance: is a long-term meaning/value driven by understanding
With staying relevant, we can reap the rewards without worrying about fast deadlines.
IE: posting fanart of a certain show/movie that has recently been released.
Dies down after 2-3 months.Now that we know those differences, let’s look at the different kinds of social media and how their algorithms work.

• TikTok
• Bluesky
• Instagram
• Discord
• YouTube
• X

TikTok
TikTok, the place where you have 3-4 seconds to grab the attention of the viewer.PROS:
· You can share your posts with your mutuals and your posts eventually end up on your mutuals timelines as well.
· A great place to find other art mutuals and make connections: Their friends see your art and your friends see their art, the cycle continues.
· Engaging in others’ posts and commenting shows that you are active and not a bot
Posting on your story can be beneficial (sharing WIPS, announcing a new post, announcing when you are going live, etc)
· Comments can be monitored and blocking any negative users who leave comments, deletes the comment as well.
CONS:
· Tiktok is more optimized for iOS devices, so you’ll end up posting better quality videos and images through an iOS device compared to an Android or other devices.
· Most of the time artists are in the “300 View Hole” where their videos cannot make it past 300 views. When you post a video TikTok sends it to 300 random people, if the post gets enough engagement then the post will end up on more people’s For You Pages, if not then it will be stuck at the “300 View Hole”.
· You have to wait until 1,000 followers to go live and place a working link in your bio
Video editing and pacing matter heavily; slower videos often underperform
· The algorithm can feel inconsistent and unpredictable even for successful creators
What kind of content works best:
Speedpaints, Slideshows, Animatics, Animations, Tutorials, Shortform Videos (15-30 Seconds)

Bluesky
The “Alternative” to X, where the algorithm is community-driven and you can see your friends’ posts.PROS:
· You can share your posts with your mutuals and your posts eventually end up on your mutuals timelines as well.
· A great place to find other art mutuals and make connections: Their friends see your art and your friends see their art, the cycle continues.
· Blocking or muting users is beneficial to your preferences.
· Ad-Free; as of right now
· Smaller platform means it’s easier to stand out and become recognizable in a niche
CONS:
· It's a ghost town. Unless X shuts down for good, do not expect any constant large engagement.
· Limited on what you can post. Only Verified email accounts can upload 25 videos (or 10 GB) of video(s) per day at a maximum of 3 minutes in duration.
· It is difficult to find specific people/content due to limited search functionalities.
· Cannot live-stream
· Many users are still migrating from other platforms, so audiences can fluctuate often
What kind of content works best:
Slideshows, Single Image, Shortform Videos (60 Seconds), GIFs

Instagram
The place where visuals, consistency, and community-building matter just as much as trends.PROS:
· Going live does not require a follower minimum
· Reels can push your content to non-followers, especially if you use trending audio and strong hooks in the first few seconds
· Collaboration posts allow two accounts to share the same post, exposing your art to another creator’s audience
· Carousels (slideshows) perform well for artists because users spend more time swiping through process shots, closeups, or tutorials
· Posting on your story can be beneficial (sharing WIPS, announcing a new post, announcing when you are going live, etc)
CONS:
· The algorithm heavily favors Reels over static image posts
Art theft and reposting without credit still happens (Alongside the use of generative AI)
· Instagram is highly saturated; many artists struggle with low reach despite having quality work
· The algorithm heavily favors Reels over static image posts
· Compresses image quality, especially for highly detailed artwork
· New accounts do not get as much reach as older accounts. The older an account the more Instagram "trusts" the account
What kind of content works best:
Single Image, Slideshows, Shortform Videos (15-30 Seconds)
Regarding AI: Instagram farms all art posted for its AI

Discord
(Specifically Art Servers) where artists build smaller communities, share feedback, and make long-term mutuals through direct interaction.PROS:
· One of the best places to make close art mutuals and long-term friends because conversations are more personal and active.
· Many servers have dedicated channels for commissions, self-promotion, tutorials, resources, and collaborations.
· Participating in chats regularly helps people remember you and engage with your posts more often
· Art ideas like DTIYS challenges, freebies, contests, and art trades help artists stay motivated
· Sharing WIPs frequently is more accepted and encouraged compared to public social media platforms
CONS:
· Growth is slower because Discord is more community-based than algorithm-based
· Self-promotion channels are often oversaturated, causing many posts to get ignored
· Drama and interpersonal conflicts can spread quickly in tightly connected communities (Alongside inconsistent moderation or inactive staff to monitor said conflicts)
· Engagement heavily depends on how active you are socially, not just how good your art is
· Shorts can sometimes overshadow long-form content, making audience retention inconsistent
What kind of content works best:
Single Image, Animatics, Animations, GIFs, Speedpaints, Shortform Videos (15-30 Seconds), Tutorials

Youtube
The place where long-form content, personality, and consistency can build one of the strongest and most loyal art audiences over time.PROS:
· Great platform for building a loyal audience because viewers spend more time with your content
· Tutorials, process videos, and educational art content perform especially well and are highly searchable
· Community posts, livestreams, Shorts, and long-form videos allow multiple ways to interact with your audience
· Longer videos allow artists to show more personality, storytelling, and detailed creative processes
· Monetization options are stronger than most social platforms (ads, memberships, sponsorships, affiliate links, etc)
CONS:
· Most time-consuming platform because recording, editing, thumbnails, and scripting take significant effort
· Growth is usually much slower at the beginning compared to other social medias.
· Copyright claims can happen when using music, clips, or certain assets
· Shorts can sometimes overshadow long-form content
· The algorithm favors high watch time and retention, making pacing extremely important
What kind of content works best:
Animatics, Animations, Sketchbook Tours, Shortform Videos (15-30 Seconds), Speedpaints, Tutorials

Twitter
The place where artists, fandoms, and online communities spread artwork rapidly through reposts, trends, and real-time interaction.PROS:
· Artwork can spread very quickly through reposts and quote reposts, especially within fandom spaces
· Fanart and trending-topic art perform especially well because of real-time conversations
· Sharing WIPs frequently is more accepted and encouraged compared to public social media platforms
· Retweets from bigger accounts can cause major spikes in visibility and followers.
· Good platform for sharing thoughts, jokes, WIPs/sketches, and personality alongside artwork
CONS:
· Negative interactions and harassment are more common compared to smaller art communities
· Art theft and reposting without credit still happens (Alongside the use of generative AI)
· Many users interact passively through likes without actually following creators long-term
· Algorithm changes frequently affect visibility and reach unpredictably.
· The platform can be highly stressful due to drama, discourse, and constant trending arguments
What kind of content works best:
Speedpaints, Slideshows, Single Image, Animatics, Animations, Shortform Videos (15-30 Seconds), Tutorials, GIFs
Regarding AI: Twitter farms all art posted for its AI. Also people can “re-mix” your art using its AI tools.

commission sheets, pricing, & tips

So What is a commission sheet?

A Commission Sheet is either 1-3 images that contain: Prices, Examples, TOS, Dos & Don’ts
This is to help you promote your art in a simple yet effective form. You can add said images to social media and comments.
However, after extensive research I have found some information that may help you on your commission sheet journey:
Brand: Make sure you have your brand clear as day; whether it's a sona, color palette, animal, or theme included; Your commission sheet should scream “Yeah that’s [Insert Artist's Work]” Having that branding can make your commission sheet stand out from others.
Pricing/Examples: When you have your commissions open make sure you have clear pricing and examples. If the font is illegible, small, or blends in with the background; your clients will not take the time to read it.
Simplicity: Clients do not want to “DM for prices” or “Click the link in my bio for prices” when you comment on buyers’ posts. You are adding unnecessary extra steps for the client to take. Instead have a single image Commission Sheet set aside with simple design, clear prices, and few examples so you are ready to comment on a client’s post.
Terms of Service: Having a thorough Terms of Service (TOS) prepared for them to read before commissioning can help protect you and your art from scams/bad clients. You can copy/modify MY TOS

How do i price my art?

One of the most difficult hurdles an artist has to jump through is pricing their art. And I will be honest, most of this part is up to YOU. I am no professional when it comes to pricing art, but I will say my best recommendation would be to reach out to your trusted art peers and ask for their advice.
DO NOT listen to what strangers will say about your pricing, especially on social media. These people are not paying you, do not pay them any mind.

"My art is not good enough for commissions"

Is what some of you might be thinking. My best advice is to learn the basic fundamentals of art. Once you are confident in the work you produce, then open those commissions!
Clients will monitor your confidence in yourself and your art. If you lack confidence/are publicly hard on yourself, then you will drive away clients. Nobody wants art from someone who publicly states that they dislike it. Be proud of what you can make. Do not compare yourself to others. In the end it matters that you are doing your best!

miscellaneous tips

· Have a place to display Client Reviews: Having a public page dedicated to your reviews can make the difference in someone choosing to commission you.· Limit yourself to only having 3-4 commission services (ie: Full Render Half-Body, Full Render Full Body Chibi, Portrait Sketches, etc) when starting commissions. This prevents you from overwhelming you and your clients.· Do Giveaways for New Services: When you have a new service you want to start. Host a giveaway! The prize becomes an example for your portfolio, a great interest check for yourself and clients, and can reach other artists and potential clients.· Slowly Increase Prices: Ideally increase your prices by a little after every 5-7 commissions.
Offer Cheaper Alternatives to Offer: Your Character Here, Icons, Chibis; Anything that takes less time but is also affordable.· Have Commissions Open for only a few days each month/have limited slots for services. This keeps people interested but also does not overwhelm you.· DO NOT lower your prices, instead offer discounts. Lowering your prices shows that you may be desperate for commissions or that you are undervaluing your artwork. Offering discounts (seasonal, holiday, birthday etc) can let your clients know that you are offering low prices for certain dates and keep them interested.· DO NOT Ask for tips. You set your price for a reason, tipping is optional on the client’s part.· DO NOT charge to keep the commission private: Instead ask the client if they want to be tagged in a post or remain anonymous· COMMUNICATE with your clients. Make sure you understand basic communication etiquette with your clients. Be clear and honest if there will be any delays. This is a business transaction.· Offer a “Loyalty Card” for regulars. After a certain amount of commissions, they get a special discount. This can bring back regulars.· TAKE BREAKS!! It is okay to take breaks (especially on the weekends) Give extra days for yourself when working on commissions or know you will be busy.

Methods of payment
WIP

Marketplaces
(WIP)

Here is a list of the different kinds of commission market places:
Their requirements
If they have verification
and important notes

• VGen
• Ko-Fi
• Kirke
• Discord
• Reddit
• Fiverr
• Artistree
• ArtDen
• Toyhouse
• ych.commishes
• cara.app

Note: Some sites may have little to no research depending on accessibility.

vgen

REQUIREMENTS:
Anyone can create a standard account on VGen to commission art. However, to become an artist and unlock your creator dashboard, you need an Artist Invite Code or acceptance through an official application.
· You can obtain codes 6 ways:
Ask a Verified friend: Each Verified Artist has two (2) single-use invite codes to share with trusted artists.
Join VGen events: Join our monthly #VGenChallenge to earn badges and invites.
Ask the community: Tweet #VGenCode with your art+ to see if someone would vouch for you.
Apply via weekly Tweet application: Open every Mon for 24h. Comment your art+ to apply. 1 code unlocked for every 5 likes on post.
Apply via weekly IG Post application: Open every Mon for 24h. Comment your VGen link to apply. 1 code unlocked for every 2 story shares.
Submit #VGenCode Engagement Post: Let your community vouch for you through 🔁 / 💬 + ❤️ on any social platform! All details + submission formTo Get Verified: For more services and front page viewership.
Reach 10 Followers
Have 3+ 4.5 or above star reviews from clients
Make $100 within 30 Days.IMPORTANT NOTES:
· You MUST have a PayPal account linked in order to receive payments from clients who use PayPal.
· Any funds not given to you outside of PayPal will be in your VGen Wallet: in order to withdraw those funds, you must have a bank account and have $50 minimum in your VGen Wallet.
· Percentages taken from you:
VGen takes a 5% service fee on all transactions (on top of Paypal’s 2.99%). In addition to this, artists are also responsible for the standard Stripe payment processing fee of 2.9% + ($0.30). For non-US artists, Stripe may also apply an additional international payout or conversion fee ranging from 1.5% to 2.5%.
· If you give a code to a stranger and they get suspended, your account will be suspended as well
· Tips (Called “Boosts”) allows your Verified Portfolio Showcase to get visually boosted, this means your showcase will be extra eye-catching with an animated Verified badge and a special Boost frame, chosen by your client. Also VGen will take around 9.2% from your tips.

Physical merchandising
WIP

Sponsorships and collabs
WIP

Useful websites for artists

Carrd - A simple website builder focused on clean one-page sites. Great place to post your portfolio, commission info, and links to your socials. Free templates can be found on the internet.
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Strawpage - A digital sketchbook / scrapbook social profile. Great for "About Me" Pages, OC profiles, Fandom-centric pages, and DNIs. The site provides templates to use.
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Inkarnate - An online fantasy map-making tool used for creating world maps, city maps, battlemaps, and RPG environments for games, novels, and worldbuilding projects.
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LoreForge - A writing and worldbuilding app focused on organizing lore, characters, locations, factions, and story details in one place.
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CharacterHub - A social platform for sharing and organizing original characters (OCs). Users can create character profiles, upload art, write lore, and interact with other creators in the OC community.
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refsheet - A character reference and profile hosting site mainly used by artists, roleplayers, and furry communities to store character sheets, references, and artwork.
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unvale - A social platform for OCs, stories, and worldbuilding.
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Tally - A no-code form builder similar to Google Forms or Typeform. It lets users quickly create commission forms if they do not want to use Google Forms or Typeform.
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Photopea - A free browser-based image editor that works similarly to Photoshop. It supports PSD files, layers, and advanced editing tools. A great tool for graphic design and digital art without needing installed software.
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DelphiTools - A collection of small, low stakes and low effort tools. No logins, no registration, no data collection. Tools range from a color palette generator to image converter to social media cropper.
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Mimitips - A resource page containing art, character design, art tips, and online community advice, especially useful for OC creators and digital artists.
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Tweening Tutorials - A simple Tweening tutorial for smoother motion By la5y_p1nkie49
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SketchFab - A platform for uploading, viewing, and sharing interactive 3D models. Great for references.
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Trello - A free* to use platform where you can track your commissions. Note: it is a Premium Feature to send a non-editable link to your clients if they want to check their progress.
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20000-Names - A cite containing thousands of names from around the world sorted and categorized by country, language and meaning. Many of the names include detailed etymology. Perfect for finding OC Names.
Note: More websites may be added in the future.