The question of 'value'

Context: Reworking my commission tier structure and figuring out new rates + designing new commission info.


*still deliberating, not finalized yet

Thinking about the new commission rates is giving me anxiety. I just can't get used to the idea since I've never really been rich enough to be an art commissioner, even buying prints is already a little too luxurious for me and I can only afford to do it very seldomly.

Internally I really agree with opinions of more experienced artists/clients that getting bespoke, custom art is a luxury and certainly far from a need. And I really get it that there are different market demography. There are people who think that art is worthless beyond its function, but there are also those who truly value art as a bespoke, unique creation.

Thing is though I've always mentally been comparing myself with low tier artists who offer cheap services for art they can make quickly because I've been conditioned to think that art should be cheap. Meanwhile making the kind of art that is very time-consuming and that just makes my rate-per-hour absolutely atrocious.

I would want to at least try and shift my mindset, find the kind of client who actually value the work I put it rather than those who just wants a picture. Experienced artists all say something similar: find clients who wants art from *you* beyond anything else. And even if it's very scary, I'd like to believe that I am offering some kind of unique value. And if I'm lucky, there would be commissioners who agrees with that sentiment and would be okay with a rate that would be fairer for my well-being.

Honestly the new pricing is suggested based on:

• The amount of details in my art usually, honestly so far my income per hour has been truly atrocious...,

• My account has considerably grown since my last price update,

• Getting used to the idea that it's okay to let some people getting priced out. Unfortunately I have to think about my well-being. I need to try and make my situation improve or I'm pretty doomed in the long run X_x,

• I'm getting way too much commission requests beyond my ability to complete them. Trying to balance it out so I'm getting just enough work monthly to fill my quota.,

• Honestly, all-in-all I'm still not sure about the pricing. From the feedback I've gotten, I should at least charge about this much. I'm not very sure myself. Just gonna try and see if it works, otherwise I'll readjust later until I find the threshold.

Also trying to remove some tiers that requires me to create very clean lineart. I think I want to try zone in more into a style that I am very comfortable with, embracing my sketchier stroke more rather than force a super clean style or anything. (edited)

In the end, I can only try and see where my position is within the market landscape and respond to feedback. I am desperate enough to try, that's for sure. I've just been slowly sinking deeper and deeper down and I'm very close to giving up, it feels like...

Fingers crossed, my effort ignites something.