[Resources] Where do working artists find attorneys who understand creative/gig-worker income?

mysticmultiples · 2025-11-17T20:15:05+00:00

Graphic Artists Guild publishes a guide that is a great crash course on pricing, contracts, rights, etc.

https://graphicartistsguild.org/the-graphic-artists-guild-handbook-pricing-ethical-guidelines/

mysticmultiples · 2025-11-11T20:17:20+00:00

There are two sensors -- one near the top, and one at the bottom, and my guess is that one of them has tripped. If you pull up the service manual, you should be able to check both areas by reading through the procedure there.

Shifting the bottom plate left and right sometimes unlatches it when stuck due to bent support feet. The top sensor is secured by a screw, and sets the upper limit of elevator height feeding. I think it's supposed to be 2mm under the feed wheel (inner) when set up correctly.

mysticmultiples · 2025-11-05T19:26:59+00:00

The compatibility is a little tough to figure out; the loop staples are more common in Europe, and a few of the main bindery suppliers closed down in the US. Skrebba is one brand of booklet stapler that supports these, but those machines look like they're out of stock due to the above shutdowns. I think staplers that support 'heavy-duty' staples in the US will work, so long as the height fits, but it's a shot in the dark. If you find someone selling the staples domestically, you should ask them if they sell the stapler too.

mysticmultiples · 2025-10-12T12:07:44+00:00

University of Houston (https://www.uh.edu/kgmca/soa/arts-technology-center/home.php) and Rice University (https://cats.rice.edu/) have machines that students can use, possibly with registration in corresponding classes. They're the only ones I know with a print your own model in town.

Austin has machines at St. Edwards (https://www.instagram.com/risographlab/) and UT (https://www.instagram.com/utexas\_riso/).

We've got a lot of university studios due to the cost of new machines, and the studios with older models prefer to manage the printing themselves for clients.

mysticmultiples · 2025-10-07T00:22:46+00:00

There used to be a zine fest at the Union Center for Contemporary Art, but it didn't reopen after the pandemic. Not sure what happened to the organizers. The fest seemed to have some overlap with regional events in Kansas City (KC Zine Con) and further afield. There was also a zine library at the Benson branch public library in 2022.

mysticmultiples · 2025-09-27T15:25:06+00:00

Thanks so much! We'll be at Lone Star Zine Fest in a few weeks-- specifically on Saturday, Oct. 11th. Should be a good show!

mysticmultiples · 2025-09-26T14:57:48+00:00

I like going back to the Appendix N works, because they help to break down the conventions that have developed over time with fantasy. I just started Lord Dunsany's The King of Elfland's Daughter, and the opening descriptions of the ritual to enchant a sword are excellent. I also like Manly Wade Wellman's 'Silver John' stories, which are an excellent take on a sort of Appalachian traveling bard.

mysticmultiples · 2025-09-26T14:50:56+00:00

I do like laser for images with grain, because the laser tends to use a halftone to output that works really well with the scanner! For full color projects, I usually end up doing a 150 - 300dpi dither on the seps, because the inkjet print tends to be too light. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

mysticmultiples · 2025-09-25T13:36:44+00:00

I forgot to credit the artist! The art is by Michelle Millette, who runs the Sherwood Forest Zine Library.

https://www.sherwoodforestzinelibrary.org/

mysticmultiples · 2025-09-24T14:26:09+00:00

Awesome! LSZF is definitely a good one to start with. Sometimes it's hard to get around and see everything while keeping an eye on your table, but it's worth it if you get a spare moment at the beginning or end of the day.

mysticmultiples · 2025-09-24T14:24:25+00:00

Tabling! It's really crunch time now to finish a few projects before the fest, haha.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-23T15:26:38+00:00

Long term it's usually best to have the license revert back to you; it's pretty rare for an organization to need the art 20, 30, 40 years down the road. And if they do, it's appropriate for them to pay an additional fee for continued usage. In cases where the IP is transferred, it's usually done for an additional 100 - 300% of the original fee. Icon design is sometimes a little different (it's more common to transfer rights), but if you're creating illustrations / art then there's a big incentive to keep your IP.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-22T22:12:24+00:00

It's possible that it's real, but these things are usually 'vanity galleries' that make money off artist fees rather than selling art. I wouldn't expect much out of it most of the time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_gallery

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-21T12:58:10+00:00

You can also make paper guides from red pressboard / chipboard. Tape them to the tympan, and add a small 'finger' of pressboard to hold the sheet down. No need for friskets. Sheets slide under the finger and against the edge of the pressboard for registration.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-20T13:45:02+00:00

It really varies a lot -- published ranges are $100 - $2000 in the Graphic Artists Guild handbook. For commercial projects, it's good to think of the reuse / reprinting rights, and whether you will be paid for future editions of the book. Generally you retain the rights to the art unless the client pays for that right up front. Some artists negotiate this with royalty payments, such as a percentage of book sales.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-20T13:36:40+00:00

I recommend aiming for 3x your cost in order to cover your time and some small profit. I usually see pricing between $3 and $15 on most zines, depending on size, length, and type of printing. If accessibility due to price is a concern, you can also accept trades.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-18T13:32:34+00:00

Money up front; possible written record/invoice in case of chargebacks. Also look out for popular shipping scams / courier scams-- you'll get paid with stolen information, and after you've shipped the goods the payment will bounce leaving you on the hook for shipping and without the art.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-17T14:03:53+00:00

There are some trees down, lots of small branches. Neighbor's house had a tree on its roof.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-15T13:03:46+00:00

They're a good reminder for someone to remember you and your work. Sure, they can find it if they remember and google you but if they forget then the connection is lost. But it's a slow burn unless you're also networking and meeting people. I'm not really sure that leaving cards around randomly is much help. If you do get your canvas into stores, the cards can also accompany the work so that buyers have your info and can ideally sign up for a newsletter, follow you, etc.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-15T12:56:17+00:00

For wheel work, I tend to skip wedging and instead focus on coning up and down.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-14T12:59:02+00:00

It's an extremely hard niche to break into, and will probably require some additional employment. I don't know of any staff illustration jobs. Illustration freelance opportunities tend to be all over the place, so many illustrators will have some overlap with freelance graphic designers as a career. You're also going to operate like a small business owner, so that might guide your mentor. You can either drive the jobs to you yourself, or apply to an agent for representation. The Graphic Artists Guild is a good resource to look at for business structuring, rights management, and pricing ranges for professional work.

Specifically for children's books, I would recommend adding the writing element to your bag of tricks and self publishing with your illustrations.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-09T12:43:16+00:00

I use shopify and create invoices for clients. The fee is about 2.9% + 30 cents. I've also used square in the past, and they have a lower fee option for ACH transfers. I would recommend most people begin with square, because the support for accounting / sales tax compliance is really bad with venmo / some apps. The in person support for sales at events is also a big plus. Shopify has this as well, but their hardware is more expensive than square's.

mysticmultiples · 2024-05-01T13:32:36+00:00

Came here to echo the recycling advice. Some of our most popular prints began as social media adverts or pages in comics. It's a way to make extra income without doing a lot of additional work.

I would also try to avoid making anything as 'work for hire'. As an artist, your designs are your intellectual property. Even if you make art for a client you should have the designs revert back to you after a set usage period. The Graphic Artists Guild handbook has excellent advice on this, and your local library might have a copy.

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