Producing work that realises someone else’s creative vision is an art in itself. You’ll need to juggle tasks like pricing, contracts, feedback and payment, and there’s opportunity for miscommunication and other inefficiencies to throw a spanner in the works. Building a solid process that works for you and your clients is essential for making sure it all runs smoothly.
Syd Mills works full-time as a freelancer whose client work includes book covers, character art and illustrations for tabletop RPGs. Her first piece of advice for those taking on commissions is that you start out small; begin with just three or fewer clients to make sure that you don’t become overwhelmed.
Before you get going, work out your timescales and pricing. “Figure out how long it takes you to complete a non-commissioned piece, and understand that it may take much longer while working with a client,” she says. “Requests for major revisions, delays in feedback, and personal
