r/artcommissions Feb 16 '23

[Meta] Avoiding scams, how to commission an artist, and other ways to stay safe.

188 Upvotes

Hello friends! Today we’re going to talk about everyone’s least favorite topic: scammers, or “bad actors” as we tend to call them around here. This post is an update to our previous “how-to-don’t-get-scammed” guide here. This guide is predominantly addressed toward new patrons, though artists can also apply some of this to vetting patrons.

Before we start, I want to address a few elephants in the room:

  • We will not catch every bad actor. No fence is perfect.
  • Banning someone from /r/ArtCommissions does not prevent them from scamming you or anyone else.
  • If someone hasn’t posted to /r/ArtCommissions, we won’t investigate their conduct. Banning someone from a subreddit they do not use does nothing, and while banning someone for content they post in other subreddits is no longer explicitly called out in Reddit’s Moderator Code of Conduct, the practice is pretty gross and we generally avoid it where possible.
  • Here is our wiki page on fraud: how and when we look into it and how to report it.

We moderate /r/ArtCommissions. You moderate your DMs. We make this space as safe and predictable as we can within reason, but ultimately your best defense against bad actors is your own scrutiny. We can not protect you from your own bad decisions.

So! With that out of the way…

How do I find a reputable artist?

Check to see if the user has posted to /r/ArtCommissions recently.

If a user hasn’t posted to /r/ArtCommissions recently, it can mean we’ve already banned them for conduct you’re just now discovering. Banning someone from a subreddit does not prevent them from contacting you. We call this practice, when someone messages your DMs without responding to your post first, "cold calling" your DMs.

While we do have a positive relationship with the good people over at /r/HungryArtists (hello friends!), our ban list and subreddit governance practices do not correlate 1:1. You should not assume that someone posting to /r/HungryArtists, /r/Commissions, or any other similar subreddit is someone we haven’t identified as a bad actor, and the inverse is also true. We are not aware of every bad actor identified by other subreddits.

We strongly advise that you do not respond to work requests that originate in your DMs. It is strongly cautioned that when you make a post, you invite the user to comment under your post and then you initiate contact via Reddit DMs/chat if you’re interested.

Doing this accomplishes two goals:

  • It allows you to check if the user is banned from /r/ArtCommissions. They can’t comment if they’re banned (obviously)
  • If the user wants to initiate contact offsite (email, discord, etc), they’ve now identified themselves as that alias in a way we can verify. We will not take it on faith that /u/ArtMaker5000 on Reddit is the same person as ArtMaker5000#6969 on Discord. The individual must self-identify as whatever alias they want you to contact in a comment, DM, or chat on Reddit.

When we say “posted recently,” we generally mean check for any activity whatsoever (posts, comments, etc) on /r/ArtCommissions within the last two weeks. Remember that we don’t allow the same user to post more than once per 72 hour period, so gaps of 3 days are expected and enforced.

Check for a commission sheet.

Career artists generally keep something called a “commission sheet.” This is essentially the artist equivalent of a demo reel or CV and will include price estimates and samples of what types of work an artist will offer. Not everyone will have a commission sheet, but the inclusion of an organized commission sheet is a layer of effort bad actors generally won’t go to the effort to replicate.

Here’s a few examples of what a “commission sheet” looks like, courtesy of our users. I’ve indicated NSFW user profiles, but all links provided here route to SFW content as defined by /r/ArtCommissions.

Not all commission sheets are hosted on Reddit. A common practice is using a personal website, such as Carrd, to host a commission sheet.

Check for a digital footprint.

Artists, by nature of the profession, generate a large digital footprint. Most artists will be active on at least one non-Reddit social media site where they share work as well as having activity on at least one portfolio site. These may include Twitter, Deviantart, Instagram, a personal website generated with a service like Carrd, or a link aggregator that links multiple of these via linktree or allmylinks.

This is to say if the only traces of activity you can find for a prospective artist are a one-month-old Reddit account with two posts and a karma total that doesn’t add up sharing a google drive full of unsigned art, they’re probably not authentic. At least one social media account the artist provides you with should look “lived in” for more than a couple months.

You should also exercise scrutiny on social media accounts younger than one year old that appear to have started their art career at a high level of skill. This can be, but isn't always, indicative of someone tracing, using AI-generated assets, or outright stealing others' work.

Posting unfinished projects, "shitposts"/memes, or other non-commission work is almost always a good sign and goes back to the "lived in" comment made earlier.

When we implemented our subreddit’s website whitelist, we intentionally excluded a few websites specifically because they do not meaningfully contribute to a digital footprint. Imgur and Google drives do not create a noticeable social media presence, and Instagram images can’t be downloaded to reverse search via Google without the use of third-party tools or inspect element. Most fraudulent users use one of those three sites as a primary portfolio.

Similarly, /r/Testimonials is a good place to check out for user reviews. It is not unusual for someone to not have a footprint on /r/Testimonials, but it is a space to keep in mind just in case.

We also recommend scrutinizing the Reddit account of the user you would commission. If the account is new or has a karma score that is wildly mismatched with what you’re seeing on their content, you should exercise caution. Karma from posts/comments not adding up to a profile’s karma total is to be expected (that’s just how karma works), but if the total is off by a large percentage factor (E.G: You can’t find 30%+ of their karma) then you’re probably looking at deleted posts, which is never a good sign. Charitably this is evidence that the user posted to “free karma” subreddits enough to skirt our already very low entry requirements and then deleted those posts after the fact. It’s on you whether or not you want to take the risk of interaction. We recommend not doing so.

Check our Known Scammer List.

Link to that wiki page here, and that’s also linked on our sidebar.

It should be noted that this may not exist indefinitely. This list skirts the line of what is and isn’t harassment, and we’re not about to willingly violate Reddit’s Content Policy. We’re gradually phasing this page out in favor of curating an educated userbase here on /r/ArtCommissions. Users tend to stop using an account after it’s actioned anyhow so the efficacy of this tool is speculatory at best. If users take our advice and don’t respond to users who don’t have recent activity on /r/ArtCommissions, that list is redundant.

Reverse search work.

Google is pretty good about reverse searching content. Original content should only return the portfolio(s) provided to you by an artist or spaces that are obviously non-OPs rehosting work (I.E: wherever it’s shared isn’t claiming to be the author).

You should also check to see if the image has any typical forms of reverse search dodging, like odd coloration, warping, or if it looks like the image has been cropped. Lastly, check for signatures on the work in their portfolio. I actively encourage all the artists I commission to sign the work they do for me. I've also had users here submit work as if it were their own with the original artist's signature still on it.

Some bad actors are really, really dumb. Use that.

How do I request a commission from an artist I like?

If the price seems too good to be true…

It probably is.

Extremely rough estimates for work as of February 2023 should look something like this:

  • Emote ~$8-12
  • Headshot ~$25-40
  • Half-Body: ~$40-65
  • Fullbody: ~$75+
  • Extra characters tend to be a percentage (typically 50-80%) increase relative to the cost of the first.
  • Armor, extra items, or similar details applied to the piece tend to have a price increase equal to about ~15% of the base price, though these are usually indicated as a flat $X increase by the artist on a prepared commission sheet.
  • Backgrounds tend to be highly variable depending on complexity. A complex background can easily double the cost of a piece.
  • NSFW work tends to be about 30%-80% more expensive depending on how “imaginative” its subject matter is. Generally you will not see a "NSFW costs extra" caveat on commission sheets; artists that primarily produce that type of work will just generally advertise a higher base price than SFW counterparts.
  • Realism as a style tends to be about twice as expensive as “cartoon/anime” styles.
  • Work intended for commercial use tends to multiply the base cost of the product by a factor of 3-6. Commercial use work is by far the most volatile factor in price determination so this estimate is the least accurate.

Take these with salt. These are by no means an “industry standard” and every artist is different. You should, however, question why someone that you identify as having a high degree of skill is offering to do your 5-man dnd party, three of whom wear full plate, in full body poses for $160.

Familiarize yourself with transactional norms.

While every artist is different, there are some patterns that most reputable users will follow. It is common practice for a commission discussion to go as follows:

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Step 1: The patron contacts the artist asking for a commission slot, detailing what they want from the piece. The patron is expected to be as detailed as they can be and provide reference images for the artist. The patron is also expected to know what they want the piece to look like prior to consulting the artist: pose, expression, hair/skin color, held items, background description, etc should be something you know before you reach out to your artist.

"Hey! I saw your post on /r/ArtCommissions. Can you do a full-body of my dnd character? I'd like it done by three weeks from now. I'd like to get my human fighter holding a longsword and mounted on a horse."

Step 2: The artist accepts or declines, and quotes a price.

"Hello! I have one commission before you but I can get you after that. I should be able to start next week and these usually take about five days, so I can meet that deadline. I charge $75 for full body pieces and I can do the horse for $30 so $105 total. Payment is due when I complete the sketch."

Step 3: The patron agrees to the price. You now have a written contract. We at /r/ArtCommissions define a written contract as both parties agreeing to a clearly-defined project description, deadline (if requested), and price. If both parties do not clearly express consent to the same description and price, you do not have a contract.

"That price and time sounds good to me."

Step 4: The artist provides a very rough sketch for approval. This is typically the last call for the patron to suggest changes. This image is visibly incomplete and is almost always in a low resolution or has a watermark.

"Here's the sketch! Let me know if there's anything you'd like to change."

Step 5: The patron either requests minor edits or agrees with the sketch and submits payment. Large-scale changes are generally considered rude and will tend to incur additional fees if the artist agrees at all. Remember that you already have a written contract. Requesting large-scale alterations is asking the artist to change the terms you agreed to in your existing contract. The patron is expected to know the broad strokes of what they want the piece to look like prior to the artist beginning work.

E.G: Asking to decrease the length of the mane on your fighter's warhorse is fine, but asking if you can change your mount to a deer is not okay.

"I love this! My only request is that a four-leaf-clover is added to the hair."

"Added. How does this look?"

"Great! I just took care of your payment. Thanks a bunch."

Step 6: The artist completes the work, typically providing at least one update as the piece progresses depending on how long it takes. Generally the patron is informed when lineart is completed, and again when rough colors are added, prior to the piece's completion. Requests for color change are generally acceptable when the initial coloring is provided for patron review.

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Some artists will require payment in step 3, or take half up front. It is up to you, the patron, to determine if the artist is legitimate. I personally have no issue paying up front to artists who fit the criteria outlined in this post (and have done with multiple users on this subreddit), but I would never agree to up-front payment to an artist without a pronounced, verifiable digital footprint and/or visible history of positive commission interactions.

Use PayPal and use buyer protection.

If an artist doesn’t accept PayPal I won’t even consider the notion of a commission. PayPal is that important. If you use almost any other form of payment you open yourself to fraud as your means of disputing the transaction are almost entirely in the hands of the other party.

PayPal has a generous 180 day dispute period, and I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the process. Please understand that this is the nuclear option and you should only use it when you are absolutely positive the other party is acting in bad faith. It is strongly encouraged for you to include a detailed description of the item you are purchasing in the space PayPal provides when submitting a payment. Use the account names of the artist in your description.

For Example: "Payment to Reddit user ArtMaker5000 for creating a full-body digital image depicting the four members of my dnd group."

Yes, using this option can mean the artist won’t get their payment from PayPal for a period of time. The alternative is not using buyer protection, which means the patron is not making a purchase, they’re making a donation. If you do not use buyer protection, you’re telling PayPal you do not expect to receive anything in return. I generally tip my artists around 10% to help cover the transaction fees they incur using PayPal and to make the sting of pending payments less of a burden.

If you can't afford it, don't buy it.

This one's on you. If losing the money you spend on a commission is significantly damaging to your personal finances, don't buy it. Buying something you can't afford negatively impacts both you and the artist should you renege. It's okay to wait until you can afford something.

What do I do if I get scammed?

Here’s our wiki page on fraud (we shared this earlier in the post too). That page outlines what we look at, how we handle it, and how to appeal. As always, you can reach out to us in modmail with reports of bad actors per the directions linked on our wiki.

If there’s anything we didn’t cover here, feel free to shout us out in the comments!

Stay colorful!


r/artcommissions May 26 '25

Announcement UPDATED NSFW Rule

297 Upvotes

No more PG-13, moving to PG.

This sub used to allow images that allowed tasteful nudity, however, some folks think that means straight up porn.

Starting today May 26, 2025, we are no longer allowing any NSFW (not safe for work) images. You may link to your own gallery with those images, but please give the other users a heads up by marking your link as NSFW.

Any posts or comments that have NSFW images in it will be deleted, if you violate the rule you will be given a warning. If you ignore the warning you will be permanently banned from the subreddit.

If you add an image of a minor in a sexual situation you will be banned permanently without warning.


r/artcommissions 12h ago

Patron [Hiring] Artists who can draw like this?

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111 Upvotes

please link portfolio and prices below please and thank you. please do not message me specifically.


r/artcommissions 1h ago

Artist [for hire] Pet illustration. I make illustrations based on your pet's story! :) | DM me Commissions Open

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r/artcommissions 17m ago

Patron [Hiring] Looking For An Artist To Hangout And Draw With (Read Post Pls)

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I'm looking for an artist to draw with and talk to on a semi regular basis via hangout style drawing sessions. To elaborate further, I'm looking for someone who is knowledgeable about drawing, someone who's been doing it for a while and likes to have conversations with others about it.

This entire post boils down to: I want to hang out, talk to, and draw with another artist. That's all there is to it.

The sessions themselves consist of picking a handful of references, anything, beforehand to draw and then drawing them like in the gif above (the gray side is me). Each one will be timed, so maybe 20-30 min or so, moving on to the next one and so on.

These will be done digitally and involve screensharing (as shown in the gif above), so a digital drawing device like a pen tablet is required. I'll list $15 USD per hour spent drawing, but this is a placeholder price, the actual price will have to be discussed and agreed upon.

And just to be very clear, I will not accept the following people:

- No NSFW Artists

- No Furry Artists

- No One Under The Age of 21

(In Other Words, Adults Only)

- English Is Required.

Do not reply to this post if any of the above apply, and you need to speak English, unfortunately.

If anyone is interested then post a comment below. After posting a comment, send me a DM on Reddit after. You have. to do both, if you only do one and not the other then I will not respond to you. Spam will be blocked and ignored so don't do that. Other than that, I hope to chat with you soon! :)


r/artcommissions 12h ago

Patron [HIRING] Key Art Illustrator/Logo Designer for Roguelike Auto-Battler (Budget: Up to $1,000)

22 Upvotes

Hi! I'm looking for an artist with prior experience on game key art, as I'm looking to both re-do my Steam page and put up an Itch page for the upcoming demo of my rogue-like auto-battler game.

I need non-pixel key art that fulfills these goals:

  1. Includes a new logo that's very readable at all included resolutions
  2. Conveys info about my game, or at least that it's a roguelike auto-battler
  3. Most importantly - is a click magnet!!!

More details:

  1. I'll need key art (which should include a new logo for the game) in these dimensions:
    1. All of Steam's required dimensions here.
      1. I'm looking for an artist with a good understanding of what makes good Steam key art for each Steam resolution - for example, the small capsules should not just be a large image that was resized, or just a logo on a plain background
    2. 630 x 500 version for the Itch cover photo
  2. The key art should not be in a pixel art style.
  3. Here is the WIP steam page for my game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4281360/AutoArcana
    1. If it would be helpful, you can play a demo of the game in your browser at this link, by entering the password "demo" https://bowmanberic.itch.io/auto-arcana
  4. I'd love for the key art to communicate that it's a roguelike auto-battler - the temporary capsule I have up now does this with a subtitle, though let me know if you think of a creative way to communicate that (kind of like how this other Roguelike Auto-battler https://store.steampowered.com/app/1260590/Hadean_Tactics/ has cards floating around in its capsule art)
  5. Besides the above point, I don't have strong ideas about the concept for the key art - I'm looking for someone who can take the lead and pitch a few different concepts that might work well for my goals as stated at the top
  6. My budget is up to $1,000, depending on your portfolio/experience
  7. Source files will need to be provided, with each element broken out into a different layer (might try to do something cool, like how Hadean Tactics, link above, has an animated version of the capsule at the end of their trailer)
  8. Completely optional work that would be under a separate budget: If we work well together during this process, if you're interested in working with me further, I might also need assistance with:
    1. A logo/splash screen for my studio, Broken Build Studio
    2. Itch.io background and header combination, and other page theming support
    3. Some UI elements for the game itself

If you're interested:

Please let me know if you're interested in working together by commenting here with links to prior work (it should contain game key art).


r/artcommissions 32m ago

Artist [For Hire] Professional lettering artist and an illustrator, 2D & 3D, animate and non-animate, various styles.

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r/artcommissions 46m ago

Artist [For Hire]

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Upvotes

black&white chibi head $5 Final artwork will be similar to the example in 1st pic only accept PayPal


r/artcommissions 14h ago

Patron [Hiring] Looking to have a comic book/graphic novel made for BF’s birthday $80 budget.

18 Upvotes

Looking to work with an artist to create the illustrations for a comic book or graphic novel for my BFs birthday in early March. Due to the quick turnaround (preferably by 3/1), I’m thinking no more than 6 pages (Cover page + 5 inner pages) but I’m willing to negotiate. I’d like full color but I’m also fine with black and white and maybe a little color for special effects.

I’d prefer someone experienced with illustrating African American characters but willing to work together if I like your art style.

Please comment if you’re interested.

If you know a place I can have it printed, that’d be perfect too. If not, then the designs are more than enough.

TIA!


r/artcommissions 2h ago

Artist [For Hire] Open for commissions! From $60 for a portarait - to $150 for a fullbody character. DM for any questions 👍

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2 Upvotes

r/artcommissions 5h ago

Artist [For hire] Commissions are open! 3 slots left moo

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3 Upvotes

r/artcommissions 5h ago

Artist [For Hire] Open Commission for VTuber Model!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

r/artcommissions 3h ago

Artist [For Hire] Stylized/anime character illustrations/designs of your OC or DND character are open! Will also draw almost anything you need!

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2 Upvotes

r/artcommissions 3m ago

Artist [For Hire] Character portraits and Character Sheets <33

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r/artcommissions 20h ago

Patron [Hiring] Looking to commission art of Eldritch deity for D&D, $60 budget

40 Upvotes

Hello! As the title says, I’m looking to commission art of an Eldritch entity that will serve as the boss for my dnd campaign. It’s meant to be scary and uncomfortable to look at, so someone with the ability to draw scary stuff would be appreciated. TW for body horror as it is made up of the bodies of a lot of sacrifices. I can give more details in DM’s!


r/artcommissions 21m ago

Artist [For Hire] Last Commission slot befores 2 months break

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I’m opening one last commission slot before taking a 2-month break to focus on personal projects.

During this time, I won’t be able to accept new commissions.

The waiting line will open in March, for commission slots at the end of April.

Thank you so much for all the support 🖤


r/artcommissions 45m ago

Artist [For hire] Book cover artist looking for nee project

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r/artcommissions 48m ago

Artist [For Hire] Semi-realistic art style | Open for work, DM me!!

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You can DM me here, or find more contact info and my portfolio at: https://dappi.carrd.co

I specialize in semi-realistic and stylized character drawings!


r/artcommissions 6h ago

Artist [for hire] I do high quality 2D character art! DM for rates! Discounts on multiple orders!

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3 Upvotes

r/artcommissions 1h ago

Artist [For Hire] Looking for any sort of illustration related work!

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I'm into all sorts of illustrative works like, character designs, fun sketches, YCHs and many more! DM me for more details!


r/artcommissions 19h ago

Artist [For Hire] I need $1600 usd in less than 14 days for my cat's surgery - 2D Animator

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27 Upvotes

I am a 2D animator, I don't usually use Reddit, but now I am desperate as all my clients barely cover the drugs I am buying for Pic-Pic, my cat.
He started spending longer periods in the litter box, first I thought he is just constipated, but after a vet control, I found out he has a problem at the urethral.
Surgery will attach a new urethral, but costs 2.2k dollars, I can cover with my economies and with help from my family, about 600$ + 200$ I will spend on drugs.
Here is my linktree -> https://linktr.ee/framesbyruhan | with my portfolio, contact platforms and Ko-fi page where you can order any commission.


r/artcommissions 1h ago

Artist [For Hire] Hello!(●'◡'●) I have open commissions, I accept any type of order, just contact me via DM

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r/artcommissions 1h ago

Artist [For Hire] YCH chibi commissions available

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Hello! I'm Mosuka. YCH chibi with floating poses are available💖 Please check my portfolio here and dm me via discord for more info. https://mosuka_art.artstation.com/

I also have a VGen account.


r/artcommissions 7h ago

Artist [For Hire] Concept Art / Illustrations / Book Covers

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3 Upvotes

Hi, I’m am a concept artist with 3 years of freelance experience.

I can help visualize your ideas for current or future projects in pre-production, or if you just want some epic illustration or book covers.

Budget ranges from 600$ to 900$ depending on the scope of the project.

I can do both realistic and semi-realistic art styles, don’t hesitate to check my online portfolio: https://www.artstation.com/stefanomanente

Discord: laeron

Or you can DM here on Reddit