Freelance Art Rates

[klofft]

[Cross-posted on ENWorld and RPGnet.]

Hey all.

I don't know if this is the right place for this, but it seems to be the most appropriate spot.

I'm writing on behalf of a friend. He is a comic book artist who has done the con circuit as an independent artist. Now he is interested in breaking into the game industry.

Can anyone tell me what "standard" rates might be for someone doing freelance art for a successful-but-still-small gaming company? He doesn't want to charge too high, but he also doesn't want to undersell himself either.

Any hard numbers someone might be able to offer would be greatly appreciated (and ASAP as well!)

Thanks in advance.
C

[Hugo Solis]

Maybe a start would be to check also www.deviantart.com , but the commissions there are mostly for non-commercial use, so meybe they are cheaper than regular "gaming industry" rates.

[Lilith]

You could always send a private email to the Art Director here at Paizo (or at other game companies).

[James Keegan]

Check out the Graphic Artist's Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines. They're a good baseline place to start, with charts to say what a fair price may be for black and white or color work of varying size.

However, a "fair" price for one may be way too expensive for another, depending on size. WotC can probably afford a much higher art price tag than the Oerthjournal, Highmoon Media or Open Design (out of which only Open Design has actually payed me for illustrations and even then at below what the book considers market price). It's just a reality that to get started it's more important to get published first; it may be worthwhile to take a hit and do some free (or Cheap-As-Free) pieces just to get it out there.

[Hugo Solis]

Do you have a deviant site James? I already looked in your website. Amazing! I was wondering if you are a deviant

[James Keegan]

Thanks! I don't have a deviant art site.

[fray]

The gaming industry pays lower than the outside world. It's just the way it is. I'd go with Lilith's suggestion and email the companies and see if you can get price quotes from them. Also find out what their terms are in regards to payment. (COD, Net 60, whatever...)