Help with selling artwork for a cover.

[lone-momo]

Hey guys.

I'm in a bit of a pickle. I was approached at ConVersion by someone who said they knew someone who would be willing to pay me for a cover illustration for a book of short stories done for a contest. Unfortunately, when she brought said person over to talk to me, I found out they usually DIDN'T pay for their cover art. Immediately I knew that they already thought I had agreed to the idea. I told them I would need to be paid to do cover work. They said that they could probably wrangle some cash up for it, but they want to full out commission me a black and white illustration for this cover, but allow me to keep the rights of it to sell it as a print afterward.

She only wanted to pay me the price of what one of the prints would cost. Of course this is fairly unacceptable, as I only sell my prints for about 10 bucks each. I've never had someone commission me before and be okay with me selling prints afterward though. Should I still charge the same amount as a normal commission of this caliber would cost? Or take into account the non-exclusive rights?

Any help on this would be fab. I'd love to just do a pic for them, but as a starving student and artist... I just can't. ; \

[Spenny]

Ahh yes, the people that want things for free!

Yes, the price can be slightly different for non-exclusive rights, but you should still be getting paid, and paid enough for your work. If they want someone that only works non-profit, then they can either find someone or this can be one of those ones you only do once in a while. You should get them, and anyone else you're doing work for, to sign a contract. If you need one I can send you one via e-mail.

If people want you to work for free, they're usually either non-profit, or amateurs themselves. This is fine. You should take a couple minutes to educate them though that this isn't a hobby for you, this is your full time work, that you use this to make the money to live, and that you are also a member of an organization that requires you to adhere to the terms, policies and fair treatment of artists and graphic designers in Canada (the GDC, Canada, and maybe even the ML someday).