ImagineFx_-_December_2019

(Jacob Rumans) #1
clients, it’s worth putting a
bit of extra effort, says
Howard Lyon, a fine artist
and illustrator based in
Utah, US.
“When I work with a new client, I
always cross my fingers with the first
job, and hope we share the same
vision,” he says. “I’ll do extra sketches
and make them a little tighter, so there
are plenty of clear options for the
illustration. That eliminates wasting
time on miscommunication.”

WHEN THINGS GO SOUTH
Sometimes, however, relationship
breakdown is inevitable, perhaps
because the client is acting in bad

faith, or because they don’t know what
they want. “There are scammers out
there, and there are also people
commissioning artists who don’t
understand the industry,” says Annie.
“Having a contract is also a great
way of avoiding scams before they can
do any damage to you,” says Kelsey.
“One piece of advice that I feel isn’t
discussed enough is to keep your
[courier] tracking numbers, which will
let you know if a physical painting or
drawing has made it to the client.”
But whether we’re talking about
dishonest people or incompetent ones,
how do you spot potential bad clients
before taking them on? Annie lists
some red flags: “Being unwilling to

When I work with a new client, I cross


my fingers with the first job, and hope


we share the same vision


those, good communication is vital,
believes Kelsey.
“It’s important to be clear from the
start,” she says. “Let them know about
additional fees for revisions, the time it
will take to complete a project, and the
type of information you need from
them.” She also recommends writing a
contract that outlines exactly how you
handle and charge for edits. “You want
to make sure that you and your client
are on the same page and both feel
secure right out of the gate, and a
contract is a very easy way to achieve
this,” Kelsey explains.
As with any relationship, the artist-
client is one that should ideally
improve and mature over time.
Conversely, when it comes to new


“Managing your
production time is the
best way to enhance
your daily creativity,”
says Olivier.

“When clients give me a loose
brief, I still keep them updated
via ideas, sketches and
progress photos,” says Kelsey.

“I personally prefer a looser brief with more
creative freedom,” says Annie.

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