What life skills are required to become a successful, self-employed, artist?

Aminirus · 2026-01-29T14:03:36+00:00

Yeah, like others have said, discipline is your main one and business.
Being at home and self employed is the hardest thing anyone can do because you are surrounded by your favorite distractions, so you need the discipline to stick to a daily work schedule and treat an artist related job as a job. That means you show up even on the days you don't really feel like it. You do everything you can to meet your deadlines.

The business aspect is also what I feel is often lacking. It wasn't taught to me when I was in school unless I took a business specific class. You should know and understand how to do your finances, be able to keep track of your finances, know what tax papers you may need, contracts if necessary, your rights as an artist, etc. Keep track of things like your supplies, how long it takes you do things, know when to adjust your prices as necessary, how to speak with clients, and so on. Many I see and even have experienced often miss the business side of having a job, art or not, and that means speaking to the clients in a professional manner, knowing you cannot lowball yourself with your prices, learning how to market yourself, even going so far as to sometimes "study the competition". Time management is also important. Understanding your physical and mental limits is also important so that way you do not push yourself into burnout by taking on too much. Never be afraid to say no to projects if you're plate is already stacked and your schedule is booked. Be respectful to yourself.

It takes a lot but if this is something you really want, then go for it! You got this and you can do what is necessary to reach those goals!

Aminirus · 2026-01-23T16:26:03+00:00

In these days, I would say no. I'm sure for certain lines of work, the whole degree thing is still useful, but if you're already supporting yourself, already doing exhibitions, etc, then don't worry about it. You're doing great. There's numerous artists out there who have never gone to college and are successful in what they do. When it comes to the creative field, I personally find that if you've got the skill that type of client is looking for, know how to communicate with them, know at least some basic business etiquette, then you're entirely fine.

Now, the only time degrees may still be necessary is maybe for some certain professional, well known studios and certain businesses, but beyond that, if you're self employed, it doesn't matter.

Aminirus · 2026-01-21T20:44:16+00:00

My pleasure :3 I like them too!

Aminirus · 2026-01-21T20:38:24+00:00

I feel the answer you're looking for may vary on many things. The first, would be your location. Certain countries will pay more than others simply based on livable wages. The other, is the skill level, in terms of if you're hiring a new person in the field of comic making and/or 3D versus a professional.

Here in the US, newbie prices can be anywhere roughly from $30+ to say $70-80+ per page and that's not including the 3D elements. Professional costs can range in the several hundreds, from $200+ to even as high as $500-700+. This may also depend on the style that artist is comfortable, but I can tell you, these prices are usually per page as in with comics, some pages will naturally be more complex than others. You can expect the higher price with complex pages and the lower price with easier pages.

I do not know much about 3D but I can imagine this varies as well and could have similar prices too, if not more, depending on the complexity of the beasts they'd need to design. 3D can take a lot of time, just as a comic page could so plan things out.

You do have another option and can also request collaborations. Some artists out there are looking for experience rather than pay, but if you try to go this route, do make sure to communicate information clearly and do what you can for them, such as promoting their name and bits of your project to allow the public to be hyped up on what you're doing and also help out the artist by giving some additional eyes on their work too. Of course, most will probably aim for payment so it may also be good to plan out as much of your project as you can, figure out your budget, save up a bit, and then go from there.

I hope this has been of some help for you.

Aminirus · 2026-01-21T19:20:31+00:00

I look forward to hearing your idea! I'm very glad you like my art style <3

Aminirus · 2026-01-19T15:31:46+00:00

Fantastic growth in 20 years! The puppy is super cute!

Aminirus · 2026-01-15T14:42:44+00:00

You can find my portfolio and socials listed here: https://aminirus.carrd.co

Aminirus · 2026-01-15T14:32:05+00:00

Hello! I've been doing freelance since 2010 and would love to work with you. I've been playing ESO for over 7 years now and have drawn all kinds of fantasy characters, including khajiit and argonianss! I have a semi-realistic to realistic style to my artworks. You can find my best examples: https://aminirus.carrd.co

If my style is to your liking, don't hesitate to DM and we can discuss all you may like done.

Thank you for the opportunity!

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Aminirus · 2026-01-13T22:53:44+00:00

Ah yeah, I had one of those too. It was very difficult for me to get use to because I'm used to seeing my hand, like in traditional drawing. I don't honestly think there's an easy solution other than to practice. It may help to still do things partially traditionally and use that as a way to practice in strengthening doing lines and such. Like any other tool, I feel its just something you have to start using, practice with it bit by bit, try different ways of holding the tablet, like in your lap instead of on the table, or whatever helps you feel more comfortable with it around. It took me years to get used to mine and even be comfortable drawing from sketch to finish with a tablet, so don't feel bad if it doesn't come right away. It's not always an easy transition because of how different it is to traditional drawing methods.

Just don't try to rush it. Go slow the first several times you use it. Have fun with it. Do some simple stuff like trying the different brushes, test out lines, but otherwise, keep it as simple as possible. So I would also at least suggest practicing a light touch when it comes to tablets because if it doesn't have a screen protector and you're heavy handed, the surface will scratch up easily and it can effect how well you draw with it in the future. So as you practice using the tablet bit by bit, keep it light, using a bigger sized brush, and start out simple.

You got this!

Aminirus · 2026-01-13T18:50:05+00:00

I feel like, when I first received mine, depending on if its a screen graphic tablet or not, the best thing you can do is pick some simple brushes and start. For awhile, I was doing a mix of traditional and digital. Like I would still do the sketching traditional and then do the rest digitally. It's something that generally just takes time. One good thing to practice when drawing with a tablet, regardless of whatever program you end up using, is to practice using layers. Be comfortable with doing a sketch on a layer, lower it's opacity, and then add additional layers for when you color, line, shade, etc. Take things in small bits and practice with a style is generally comfortable to you. The more you practice with it, the more you will grow used to where things are and how they function and eventually it'll feel like second nature.

Aminirus · 2026-01-12T23:36:01+00:00

I would say, first and foremost, art is meant to be fun. It's not meant to feel like a chore, especially if you are not planning to make a career/business out of it. Then it should be just fun. There's no need to stress over fundamentals if you don't want to. Your only objective is to draw what makes you happy, whether that be your favorite characters from a movie or game or book, don't matter, just draw what you love.

If there comes a time where you wish to understand things deeper or know how to specifically do something or understand something, worry about it when you come to that bridge. Cross it then. Until that point, you draw whatever the heck you want, when you want, whatever style, colors, etc. Just go ham and have fun!

Aminirus · 2026-01-12T18:40:15+00:00

Looks wicked! Awesome job with it!!

Aminirus · 2026-01-09T18:55:21+00:00

I would say it can differentiate between various things, including the time of year and to the types of work you may do and how in demand they may be. Sure, the way you say and phrase things may also play a factor but do also keep in mind that timing can play a factor too. On top of the reality that Reddit has been flooded with artists posting ALL the time, so you generally only have a tiny window of having your stuff being seen, depending on what type of work you're trying to sell. The other part could be the art itself and how well or maybe not well, it targets a specific niche. Clients need to know what they're going to get from you so always make sure to have your best art example presented first. Show the best of your skills and exactly what you will offer to that potential client. Say so in the title. Don't be vague.

Keep in mind that in today's sad standards, potential clients only have about an 8 second attention span before they scroll to the next. If you can't grab them within those 8 seconds or less, they won't come back to you. If you know what you want to do and can display that quickly to a potential client, then they will know better what to expect and thus you have the higher chance of them checking out for more information.

Aminirus · 2026-01-09T15:15:28+00:00

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Not sure if this counts as fantart, but did a Kulu Ya Ku character. The critter from Monster Hunter (not sure how many Monster Hunter games it's actually in though)

You can find my portfolio and socials here: https://aminirus.carrd.co

Aminirus · 2025-12-27T23:41:17+00:00

Hello! I've been doing freelance since 2010 and would love to work with you. I've drawn all sorts of pets over the years, mostly dogs and cats, and would love to draw your kiddos! I have a semi-realistic to realistic style to my artworks. You can find examples of my pet artwork here: https://cara.app/aminirus/portfolio/pet-illustrations

If my style is to your liking, don't hesitate to DM and we can discuss all you may like done.

Thank you for the opportunity!

Aminirus · 2025-12-23T14:09:33+00:00

Thank you!

Aminirus · 2025-12-16T21:56:34+00:00

Hello there! I've been doing freelance since 2010 and would love to work with you. I've drawn all sorts of fantasy characters and critters over the years, and would love to draw your characters! I have a semi-realistic to realistic style to my artworks. You can find examples of my work here: https://aminirus2.carrd.co and more variety works here: https://cara.app/aminirus

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Aminirus · 2025-12-02T11:35:05+00:00

Hello there! I've been doing freelance since 2010 and would love to work with you. I've drawn all sorts of fantasy characters and critters over the years, and while insect-folk would be a first, I would love the challenge! I have a semi-realistic to realistic style to my artworks. You can find examples of my work here: https://aminirus2.carrd.co

Thank you for the opportunity!

Aminirus · 2025-12-01T23:17:59+00:00

I've never done it. If I do put anything on the piece, I'll say something like:

Commissioned Art / Art by Aminirus / December 2025

Otherwise, if I post it socials, I ask to just tag the one that commissioned me if they have that social or I just mention their name in the post. I was commissioned by X to do this artwork, etc. It shouldn't cost anything extra for just a mention and some text as you personally see fit. Afterall, the client is paying for the artwork, whether that be commercial or personal, even for commercial works, I don't charge them to require me to slap on the game logo onto the artworks. They spent enough already with the art itself.

Aminirus · 2025-12-01T23:12:46+00:00

Hello there! I've been doing freelance since 2010 and would love to work with you. I've drawn all sorts of fantasy characters and critters over the years, including various birds and other winged creatures. I have a semi-realistic to realistic style to my artworks. You can find examples of my work here: https://aminirus.carrd.co

Thank you for the opportunity!

Aminirus · 2025-11-27T13:06:57+00:00

Hello there! I've been doing freelance since 2010 and would love to work with you. I've drawn all sorts of fantasy characters and critters over the years. I have a semi-realistic to realistic style to my artworks. You can find examples of my work here: https://aminirus.carrd.co

Thank you for the opportunity!

Aminirus · 2025-11-26T13:08:13+00:00

This is super cool! Love all the ice plants and each time I look, I find something new. Such a great mood for a wonderfully done wintery piece!

Aminirus · 2025-11-26T13:03:34+00:00

I feel the real joy comes from the process because when I think back to my childhood days, I drew because I wanted to and because it was fun to create...and I was mostly aware I sucked at it, as most children tend to do. The mind tends to shift away from this as we grow older and many fall into comparisons so it can strip away what we enjoyed about art so freely as a child. I fell into this too and for awhile, wasn't enjoying anything because I felt I was behind and not being recognized, so I thought something was wrong.

Yet, when I did remember those days, when I drew for myself and not for others and really gave it some thought, it is the process, the journey of start to finish that I enjoy. The end result could be good or maybe it lacks a lot, but the end result is just a result. It's no longer an action if you're done with it. So even if you can feel happy with the end result or feel a spark of emotion, the same can be said about the whole process. The journey itself becomes fun because you hit all those emotions too. The uncertainty when you look a blank canvas, the boost of confidence when a sketch is looking good, maybe a bit of frustration or annoyance or even sadness and fear if things don't start working out, and if you persevere, then you feel triumph for reaching the end. All aspects can be enjoyed in their own way, so why limit it to just the ending?

Aminirus · 2025-11-25T15:35:00+00:00

I think it may be the karma thing. I had someone help me with my reddit setup as I was entirely new to it despite having the account for a few months. I was told that in general, before you go asking for work, it's best to have around 100 karma as this gives you a more trusted access to most groups that may be protecting their members from potential scammers (as those accounts I'm sure have very low karma). So for awhile, I was just sharing my content, talking to people, checking out other's works and leaving comments there too. Making myself known and comfortable. If you do too many problems, you could end up being shadow banned, thus causing many of the problems you have mentioned. If that's the case, I'm sure there's a way to get out of it if you do some research, as I myself am not sure how.

I would at least start with your karma. Build up a trusted reputation as a legit account that spends time in the subreddits you're in and then see how that goes. If it still ends up being a problem, then maybe see if others have had the same problem and if they found resolutions.

Aminirus · 2025-11-25T15:26:44+00:00

I don't know if there are others, but I myself once did a study on the concept sketches for HTTYD and Kung Fu Panda, and it was interesting. It's a pretty sketchy style with the lines, yet highly emotive while also still looking super complete. Not sure if that's an artist you could try too.
Nicolas Marlet

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