www.gumroad.com/trentk In this video Trent explains a few ways that you can get started earning money for doing artwork. How to get paid to draw. Make a living as an artist.
It's a crazy coincidence that I've done most of what you recommended already! I've done pet portraits, commissions on deviantart, and I've raised my price to the point now that I'm making $30/hr with recurring clients. Great advice Trent!
@@TrentKaniuga Hey man, thanks for the video. Wish I've found your channel earlier, subscribed immediately. I've been able to support myself on commissions doing fanart or just the client's own characters (surprisingly a lot of people have creative imaginations, just not have the skill to fully realize it into pictures), even to the point where it pays just as well as full time job in my area. But I'd still like to land a position as an in house 2d artist/ concept artist. My question is, these commissions are often not contract work, just one time gig. Can I still sell it as work experience to the hiring manager? for example if i've done it for a year, can I sell it as a one year experience, or even half year? Cause in essence they're still satisfying clients, and sometimes even with 'real' freelance jobs, the clients are not necessarily "image"ly creative.
Hello Trent, I know it's 6 years later but I got hired to do illustrations at a studio, paid per project. I'm very excited, because it's a start and I know it will lead to another. Your videos and talks helped me a lot with my motivation so I want to thank you!
I actually got offered 200$ a week ago from a lady who was starting her own small baby shower business, she wanted an illustration of a baby to put on her gift bags! it was my first paycheque and it felt so awesome!!!
joseph's daughter's son I thought it was spelled wrong and I was saying that I knew I could believe since he didn’t even know how to spell paycheck but apparently it can also be spelled paycheque. The more you know.
Love these ideas! As a "traditional" painter, I also recommend working in public if you can. Draw at farmer's markets (this HAS gotten me small gigs), zoos, and landmarks/tourist traps. People will ask what you're doing, and I always have an arsenal of business cards!
2019 and I just discovered you man. Been an artist my entire life but it turns out the missing piece has been finding your channel. Thank you for existing and posting these videos. I wish I had found this in 2015! Lol. Imagine where I'd be by now! Just telling myself 33's not too old and I can do this for a living!!!!
You acted as a bridge in my life, a bridge connecting dreams to realisation, no one, and I say no one ever motivated me so much on what I wanted to do, your name I will carry as inpiration for ever, thank you so much!
Yep, wholeheartedly agree with this. I always wanted to pursue art because it's something I love doing but I was always scared since schools would always tell us that art is a joke and we need "real jobs". However a few months back when I started watching Trents videos they really inspired me to go to university and pick the course I really wanted, and I've never been as happy as I am now.
This video is incredibly encouraging. I have been streaming on twitch for over a year now, but only a few months ago stopped streaming games and started streaming art. I started getting questions about commissions and prints, so I posted all the info on my twitch channel. I did raffles for sketch requests every stream, giving viewers a taste of my work and flexibility. I got my first commission. Then I got another. And another. Streamers are asking me to do emotes and shirts. I had to limit my active commissions and start a wait list. So I can say that that first job is important, and pursuing the outlet you got that job from even more so. And following any roads that branch from it, because if you follow through, it'll snowball. This video encourages me to keep up the pace, because I'm just getting started!
@@jeremiahgreen8662 Due to some personal issues and being displaced from my home, I had to stop a couple years ago. I actually primarily do 3D art now, and am getting into Environment Art. I do still recommend it. So long as you don't get it in your head that Twitch partnership and subscribers is the end goal and even remotely sustainable (spoiler: it's not), it offers a lot of possibilities for freelance opportunities. It's a great way to branch out, build a small audience, and potentially get some work. It's also great accountability to get you to put in the hours.
i started a little late. i was pretty decent in high school)better actually from what im told) i stopped drawing for like 8 years... picking it back up at 30... I feel its a bit late. Subscribed .
It’s never too late there’s a guy that didn’t start tattooing until he was in his late 30s or early 40s, he was off and on drawing not talking it seriously until then. He went on to become a top portrait tattoo artist.
You want to know if this has helped me ? Dude, EVERYTHING you post helps me out in a big way... this one, I think, most of all. I'm 50 years old, I'm just recovering from a major life upheaval, and I've finally said SCREW IT - I am sick and tired of dreading going to work in the morning. I have drawn all my life, and its time to put it to work. Now, I've got a sharp pencil and a good hand - if I do say so myself - and I can do a mean comic ( or anything else ) the old fashioned way... but I didn't know a blessed thing about the business end of the art industry, and I'm still catching up with things like software and other technology... and of course technique can always be improved upon... It can be really daunting without fine persons like yourself lighting the way. I'm subscribed !
I really appreciate your laid back approach in explaining things. I think it’s easy to feel overwhelmed but you affirm that it’s good to start somewhere and to grow. I’m an older man, but I just started my freelance art career a few years ago. Business has been slow the last year, not that it was ever that good to begin with, but I appreciate your attitude on all of this.
This is very inspiring! : D Trent, you got such a kick-ass attitude. I've finally managed to score my first job as a concept artist and art director at a company I started with some friends. Thank you so much for making these videos! ^_ ^
Man, I don't even know how/when I found your channel, but every now and again I drop in when a new video shows up. This is way too relevant to me though, thanks so much for making this.
Trent, I just wanted to thank you for this video and for your channel as a whole. If it wasn't for all of your advice, motivation, and inspiration, I'd probably still be forcing myself to go into a career that I would end up absolutely hating. I haven't landed a gig yet because I want to hone my art abilities before reaching out, but this has given me the insight that I needed to start my career as an artist.
Great video Trent... I have done some of the things youve mentioned in this video previously and i have had a few paying gigs!! It feels amazing to get those first few gigs under your belt. From there i started my own website, and started doing art contests and got business cards made up and ive been spreading the word. Havent had anything in a while so i just might start my own facebook page for my artwork. Again thank you for the video, you are a class act sir!
Posting in 2021 here, this video just randomly came on my recommended so it's not the cause of this, but I still wanted to share - I've been drawing and painting and writing comics as a hobby for basically 2 decades now, and I just opened up my very first commissions. I'm very very very very extremely super late to the party, considering I'm not even close to a beginner and probably pretty far along the path between intermediate and advanced, but I'm still excited and proud to have my first paying gig drawing. It's only $50 for someone's OC, but I'm still very happy about it! Thanks for all the great content btw.
hey man, thanks a lot for making this channel! I'm a digital painting noob and I've learned so much from your videos, keep up the good work and best of luck for your future projects!
Great advice. I've had several art jobs and also side gigs but everyone can still learn something new. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and I'll take it to heart. Look out because I'm going to make a name for myself! Then I'll show ya!
This is was so inspirational and motivating for me! Thank you so much and I'm already working my way through your other videos, hopefully this will be the boost of encouragement I need to take more action in my life.
Another great video! I shut off my drawing aspirations after high school to work steady. I just recently was motivated by your videos and a few other you-tubers to jump back in the fire. I have had a couple tattoo requests, and a few people ask to draw portraits of them, but my proudest moment so far, is my current project. I was asked to illustrate playing cards for a post apocalyptic board game, as well as the game map. So far this is the only project requested that actually follows my interests and sparks creativity for me. Quite a large project to tackle, but exciting nonetheless.
I know this is an older video but I'll put in my two cents anyway. I've have a few gigs here and there with art stuff. I've even done some UI stuff for an indie VR game that's in early access right now (which doing game concept art is my eventual goal) but right now my most frequent paying gig is actually painting the interior of escape rooms. They double as how the room is set up and as mood pieces of how the rooms should feel when they're all built. It's funny because I was only focused on doing character or creature designs for a career but because of this job I've gotten pretty good at painting interiors and props... I'm sure it will come in handy. Anyway thank you very much for the inspiration! Love to listen while I draw!
It's really inspiring, thank you! I'm looking into doing some commission work in the future, like creating cosplay props, etc... glad I stumbled upon this vid. I just found your channel today. I actually did my first cosplay from your drawing of a D3 wizard, it was so pretty, I had to try to make it irl haha :D Thanks for doing what you do!
Ever since I subscribed to your channel I've been taking in nothing but inspiration and knowledge on every aspect of art. I highly appreciate all the time and effort you put into these vids, whether they're 3 minutes or a little over an hour, each vid is filled with decades worth of wisdom. My goal is become the best I can be as a newly found digital artist, and for that, I thank you!
Trent is spot on with this. I still do this stuff to get side work. Also would like to add that the more you do this people with tell others about you. I have got work through people I have worked for telling others about me.
I'm glad I subscribed, talks like these give me hope that I may have a future in what I'm doing now. Thanks a bunch!! As well as for your uploads! Maybe this time I hope to take risks and challenge myself as an artist to grow and become who I am going to be. (That was a declaration for myself so I don't lose sight of the path I want to take :D)
Hey Trent, I've been watching your videos for like 1 year and I absolutely love your work, every video I learn something new that I can use in my drawings. My favorite piece made by you is the Glass Dragon. The combination of light and perspective in it is fantastic. I really like the ideia of having a small hero facing a gigantic creature. Keep doing your great art man, it really helps me out. Also, I'm in my last year of high scholl now and lookin foward to a Digital Design college, where I can lear how to use photoshop better than I do now and get access to the tools I need. So far I have been doing my drawing all by hand and, lucky enough, a lot of people come to me asking me to draw a tattoo or an especific drawing for them to hang in their bedroom wall. Most of the time I do it for free, for my closest friends but I charged others as well. At my first sell I made 16$ for a Arctic Monkeys A2 paper drawing, made it like 8months ago and it was awesome to realise I could make money!
Just found your videos recently and really enjoying what and how you're sharing your knowledge in all them. I started doing $10 for 10 minute on the spot charcoal portraits this summer, having someone sit for 10 mins either at events, local farmers' market or busking on the street. It's felt really great to earn some cash from it and get some recognition of my skills. I've been teaching my mom art and paying off some debt to her, and I'd like to make that transition from having my current consistent part time be something I'm more passionate about, like learning art. It's good for me to start branching out more. Thanks for sharing these thoughts!
I honestly love your advice so much! Instead of making the creative industry seem like a super competitive and 'survival of the fittest' kind of environment - you have painted it as something so amazing to fall into :) I'm currently done with my 3rd year as an Interior Design student and am not too satisfied with what the course entails, tbh. Art fulfills my soul and makes me so happy - but I find myself getting so discouraged when nobody seems to be interested in commissioning me or buying my work. Even if they do - they are not willing to pay a decent amount and end up backing out. This affects my creativity as well as my self-esteem so much :( The only gigs I get are by fluke and even those come once in a blue moon. I have tried to propagate my work on social media - but it isn't always reliable. After watching your video, I am inspired to join online communities and take up freelancing jobs. Even if they pay less - it all adds up, doesn't it? ;) Thank you so much!
I as well have done what you suggested before I watched your video. Have come across small graphic design jobs, although it's not what I went to art school for, I was able to help people locally in need. Rings true buddy, great video/stream of conscious thought.
Hi, Trent. I really enjoyed listening to this video as I am working on a character design for a client that I was found to work on a comic for a couple months back. I too have started from the bottom like any artist would. I even went to school for graphic design and maybe learned a bit of some start of animation (voluntarily). I agree with a lot of things you have said in this video because breaking into the art community itself is not an easy task as some would think it is. Whether it is for comic, gaming, board games, etc. I told a friend of mine that I had landed a gig as a comic artist and they were thrilled. The only thing was they did not agree with the payment I was receiving. I could understand where they were coming from, but my main thing was even if it was small pay per page, it was a chance for me to get my foot set in the door and I did. It is true that I may not be a super top notch artist, but after completing my work with the client, they loved my work so much that they have decided to hire me on for another issue later this year. To top even that, my client has chosen specifically me out of everyone on the team that helped with the comic series to start another one to pitch their idea to an upcoming indie comic company. I was lost for words and was even touched by their kind words about my work. I still have ways to go to keep getting to places because like every other artist out there I am still growing in my own way. So thank you for making this video. Hopefully as I too am encouraging others we all can continue to help each other grow. I have told my fans that because of them, I still have the passion that I need to keep going. And I do what I can to give back to them.
Hey you guys Trent is dead on about how to get paid to draw. I started off this way and I'm doing very good for myself now from doing this method. If you don't try you will never know what you can do. So guys please listen to him and what he is saying it does work and you can do it. I will be putting up my story on how This process work for me in the near future. The title will be from $5 to $45 per character as a character concept art.
+World of DeadSoul Art Nice! Thanks for leaving this comment. I know that a lot of people would love to jump into making piles of money right away, but if they cant get jobs being too expensive, they might quit, or think that their work isn't good enough to make any money at all. Everything successful is built on momentum.
I've been on hiatus making freelance art for a while now... I must say your video really inspire and gave me a nice kick to get back in that creativity loop! :D YAY ♥
Inspiring! I'm a professional sculptor who has always wanted to move into illustration. I think I'll try and get some $10 jobs. That really would be a nice ego boost to sell SOMETHING even if it is so low. Very cool concept as well Trent!
My first gig was as a concept artist for a small company. We were working on a US government funded game for teen girls with an anti-smoking message. Not a glamorous project, but at least I was working in the industry.
Hey Trent (I should probably call you Professor Trent but I don’t think you like that so I continue xd) I am one of those who had the passion and talent since childhood but then I had to quit for a few years, now I am 25 and started to do and learn art again. It has been one week i am listening to you and I just wanted to say thank you for being such a great man (this video almost made me cry) despite being such wonderful artist! Best wishes
I'm wish to see this earlier . I was once really passionate into drawing, but when I grew up I think that I'm my skills are bad and sorts of, depression hit and I was dropped like 3 years. Never too late to start I knew have to do something after watching this. Thanks Trent.
im here to get the information how to get paid to draw, but instead I got the easier way how to color black and white painting, that help a lot, thanks!
Your video actually gave me the confidence to accept my first commission and I made my first money from doing what I love to do. ( I was asked to design different Mascots) Your Videos are amazing and your beeing very natural. I admire that. Keep the good stuff coming. Greetings from Germany.
Discovered your channel recently and god how much useful advises I got from it. Now that I'm writing this, I'm working on some t-shirt designs for some guy who discovered me streaming on twitch(1st paid job indeed). Funny how much 5 views can bring. I'm currently an art student and having a bit of income does help financially of course, but more importantly it proves that your art is worth something. I'd like to suggest a topic idea (if it wasn't already addressed, I still have to watch the rest of the videos). What does it take to be an indie game artist vs a AAA game artist? What skills you need to develop for each/types of portfolios/Stuff you need to know before choosing/ how to switch from one to another...? Keep up man, you're doing a great job!
The first time I sold an artwork was in highschool when a friend's mother saw one of my sappy semi-anime paintings of two people hugging in a snowstorm. She bought it for 10 bucks, I believe. It felt so extremely weird so be paid, but I think it's good that this awkward situation happened, because it showed me that people seem to enjoy the visuals I create so much that they want to give me money.
I accidentally turned down my first ever gig offer because of the language barrier. I was practicing bridgeman's figure drawing, just reproducing the sketches from the book, and a gentleman speaking approached me and spoke rapid fire spanish while indicating his tattoos. I thought he was asking me to personally ink him and I said no(because I'm not qualified to tattoo people). A few minutes later another guy who had been eves-dropping approached and told me this: "You know he was asking you to draw a tattoo design right? Not to apply the tattoo itself." By then the first guy was gone. Would have been reaallllly helpful if guy #2 had butted in during the conversation. I probably would have still turned it down because I was still very early into learning to draw, but if it happened today i would definitely accept. I'm still a few months away from being comfortable with my art and plan to start putting myself out there, but if somebody approachedm e before then and made a request I'd probably accept.
Thanks for the video. I've been wondering how I could make a start on maybe selling of my drawings or even some of my photographs to make some extra money.
I had my first paycheck I think 3 years ago doing a few 3D renders, client had a 3D character and wanted some poses rendered. Since then I've been doing some small 3D contracts as a one man show.. About 2 months ago I decided it's time to specialize, and I've had a hard time figuring out what is the right path for me. I've picked up drawing again, I went through the "shut off" phase you talked about, I was intimidaded, I thought I wasn't good anyway so I might aswell just leave it... Today I realize I'm more of a creative person than a technical person, and this is a core skill that will benefit me wherever I end up. So, I draw. I'm totally lost but I just sit all day and draw, and hope destiny is nice to me.
You reminded me to make myself available for commissions. Haha. I thought about doing it but forgot and just kept drawing. The facebook thing is kind of necessary now. Some people want to know if they can see your work there becasue that's all they know. At least until you got a real good dotcom in place. Keep uploading Trent! Now I'm gonna go bananas with opacity in sketchbook. My photoshop is being unruly.
wow this video really helped me!! I draw alot and get payed in donations witch isn't alot! but this has really helped to guide me with my prices and where to find customers :D some of my commissions are on my channel. Thank you so much for, well, your whole channel!!! :)
+Marcos Berto It doesnt matter if its 5 dollars or 50 dollars. The idea is just to start small and grow it over time. Your confidence in art and learning how to charge for that art will grow with time as well. But you gotta start somewhere.
Hey Trent! Awesome advice for creative minds who are trying to sell their skills. I do think there's another side of the coin though. I mean, don't sell yourself short! For me it was all about confidence too. I did a lot of gigs for free over the past few years but about half a year ago I figured, hey I'm pretty good at this. So i started showing my work to people more and more often, telling them I am an illustrator(for real?!). And now the assignments just seem to be coming at me one after another! Hopefully I can get to working on games and stuff in the future but for now I'm glad I can make a bit of money on the side(Oh yeah barrista dayjob, shoutout!). Now I'm investing the money I'm making mostly on online classes, new tools and ofcourse a certain someone's gumroad vids ;) But yeah, thanks a bunch man! Cause watching your vids contributed to where I am now. So keep 'm coming, and we can all keep getting better!
+Apothefox That's a pretty awesome success story man. Some people dont need to charge money to build that confidence, and maybe this advice isnt for them. But the important thing is sticking with it. You're kicking ass my friend!
The gradial/gradient shading technique with layers of colour applied is something I see used here...and of course the dark outlines. I think I'm practicing some key techniques that add a lot of quality to my creations, but the question of practice is most of what I need, since I haven't mastered those approaches yet enough... you can't just make amazing art by applying techniques unless you practice enough to get good at them. My work is making progress though, but just 2 weeks of tackling concept art.
Hi trent. In your video, you mention that Kindle books is a good area to amke some money. Is there a forum that there is for this process? Or how does one find a job on kingle for a book cover? Might seem silly but im new the field.
I dabbled in commissions for a little while on dA and learned... That I absolutely did not enjoy it one bit. It's been a few years since then and now almost all art I do is exclusively for myself, but it was an interesting learning experience that started off kinda fun and useful, then quickly turned into a nightmare after a couple of times overpromising and delivering my best effort which fell far short of what was needed. Nobody ever gave me grief over it, but it just really shot my personal pride to pieces.
I am currently a 2nd yr engineering college student and I am having a very hard decision on what should I really choose, should I become an Artist because I love to draw and atleast try to get paid for it or should I become an engineer for my parents. I would like to hear some your opinions.
I always love watching your videos. So inspiring! But yeah, growing up I was always known as that black dude that draws really well. Throughout high school, I would get paid to draw stuff for people. I was even commissioned after high school by a guy I knew to do a few projects for him and his uncle. It was cool, but I wanted to do other stuff like create stories. I have TONS of stories that I would like to do. Just never knew how to go about doing that from scratch. I like comics, but I never actively read them like most people. But I would like to start making my stories into comics. Can you give me any advice on that? Oh, and thanks for the vid! Great info. I've been wanting to freelance pro-style for a while now.
My first freelance gig was for a kids book. I provided 1 clean pencil drawing for each of 22 pages. i charged $20 a page, plus like 5 character designs at $20 ea. it was a great gig that fit well between semesters.
i was in a city in south east asia called ( Kuching ) i had free home stay cuz i made a mural in the hostel , and i was making 10 $ a day out of my work in arabic calligraphy . precious memories . most of the things u said happen , i was living out of my art for few days .
Can a random someone comment in a 5 years old video to say: you are a bless and has brought light to my heart💖 . Because I already did and hope it reaches to you. I'm so grateful to restart consuming art related videos just to find the great value of yours C':
Thank you, I have ALWAYS wanted to go into comic books as a kid, but then I joined the Army and didn't think I had time for art. now I am 38 and found your ch... I will do the goal thing of ten bucks. I wanna do a dark series of Biblical comics. It's time.
I'm already a little step beyond "the first job that gets paid", but I still remember the feeling someone bought a drawing of mine ^^ It was a portrait, just a sketch really. I only got like 1 euro for it, but it felt great! (I was only 12) I was drawing portraits (of real and imagined people/animals) after that nearly every day for years ^^ Didn't get paid often and certainly not a lot, but I just really liked doing it. Some years later came the real boost though. I visited a studio of an artist during an "open day" where all the art studios in that village open up and you can walk around and take a look. And one artist had these really interesting graphite sticks, he was praising them, said they came from France or something and my fingers itched man! I wanted to try them! But I was too shy to ask. A friend of mine saw it and luckily was not as shy. So she told the guy I was an artist too (I didn't really feel like it) and if I could try it. I just sketched a face, I think I tried his face, or just a face. Because of all the practice I could now sketch a face with a few strokes and he was so impressed he bought that sketch for 10 euros. That was it for me. I got recognised as an artist by another artist, he even said his own students could learn from this drawing. I used the money to buy my friends hot chocolate ^^ At the moment I'm not doing art full time, but I do illustrations for a small board game publisher (one game per year, getting paid) and I'm drawing comics on the side (getting practice ^^). My day job is teaching biology in high school (four days a week), which is my other passion. It pays the bills and this all keeps me busy eight days a week, but I love the balance!
It's a crazy coincidence that I've done most of what you recommended already! I've done pet portraits, commissions on deviantart, and I've raised my price to the point now that I'm making $30/hr with recurring clients. Great advice Trent!
+Tyler McGrath You rock! I wish that I could put your comment right under the video for everyone to see.
wow
im starting out
@@TrentKaniuga pin the comment
@@TrentKaniuga Hey man, thanks for the video. Wish I've found your channel earlier, subscribed immediately. I've been able to support myself on commissions doing fanart or just the client's own characters (surprisingly a lot of people have creative imaginations, just not have the skill to fully realize it into pictures), even to the point where it pays just as well as full time job in my area. But I'd still like to land a position as an in house 2d artist/ concept artist. My question is, these commissions are often not contract work, just one time gig. Can I still sell it as work experience to the hiring manager? for example if i've done it for a year, can I sell it as a one year experience, or even half year? Cause in essence they're still satisfying clients, and sometimes even with 'real' freelance jobs, the clients are not necessarily "image"ly creative.
much respect... seen this comment. And from one artist to another, I just had to say. Im proud when I hear of any of us being successful.
Hello Trent, I know it's 6 years later but I got hired to do illustrations at a studio, paid per project. I'm very excited, because it's a start and I know it will lead to another. Your videos and talks helped me a lot with my motivation so I want to thank you!
Good job man! 👍 Hearing all these stories make me hopeful. Wish you prosperity!
I actually got offered 200$ a week ago from a lady who was starting her own small baby shower business, she wanted an illustration of a baby to put on her gift bags! it was my first paycheque and it felt so awesome!!!
+Lewlew066 YES! Great gig! Now you'll be developing skills AND getting paid!
How did u get that opportunity to do that for that particular person like give me some details because I’m an artist to
The word paycheque is how I know I can believe you
@@animationstation5802
What do you mean? Can you explain please?
joseph's daughter's son I thought it was spelled wrong and I was saying that I knew I could believe since he didn’t even know how to spell paycheck but apparently it can also be spelled paycheque. The more you know.
Love these ideas! As a "traditional" painter, I also recommend working in public if you can. Draw at farmer's markets (this HAS gotten me small gigs), zoos, and landmarks/tourist traps. People will ask what you're doing, and I always have an arsenal of business cards!
WOAH. Solid idea!
2019 and I just discovered you man. Been an artist my entire life but it turns out the missing piece has been finding your channel. Thank you for existing and posting these videos. I wish I had found this in 2015! Lol. Imagine where I'd be by now! Just telling myself 33's not too old and I can do this for a living!!!!
Your words are too kind. Thanks Amber!
how much do you get for money?
You acted as a bridge in my life, a bridge connecting dreams to realisation, no one, and I say no one ever motivated me so much on what I wanted to do, your name I will carry as inpiration for ever, thank you so much!
+Nicolas Camargo Cool! I really hope that this video helps you.
I'm in the same situation, it's tough.
Such solid advice!
Yep, wholeheartedly agree with this.
I always wanted to pursue art because it's something I love doing but I was always scared since schools would always tell us that art is a joke and we need "real jobs".
However a few months back when I started watching Trents videos they really inspired me to go to university and pick the course I really wanted, and I've never been as happy as I am now.
2019 and this is still valuable advice
2021 and this is STILL good advice
@@jwei-chan7939 hung
This video is incredibly encouraging. I have been streaming on twitch for over a year now, but only a few months ago stopped streaming games and started streaming art. I started getting questions about commissions and prints, so I posted all the info on my twitch channel. I did raffles for sketch requests every stream, giving viewers a taste of my work and flexibility.
I got my first commission. Then I got another. And another. Streamers are asking me to do emotes and shirts. I had to limit my active commissions and start a wait list.
So I can say that that first job is important, and pursuing the outlet you got that job from even more so. And following any roads that branch from it, because if you follow through, it'll snowball. This video encourages me to keep up the pace, because I'm just getting started!
+Amberthyst Thats awesome! Streaming on Twitch is a GREAT IDEA!
@@jeremiahgreen8662 Due to some personal issues and being displaced from my home, I had to stop a couple years ago. I actually primarily do 3D art now, and am getting into Environment Art.
I do still recommend it. So long as you don't get it in your head that Twitch partnership and subscribers is the end goal and even remotely sustainable (spoiler: it's not), it offers a lot of possibilities for freelance opportunities. It's a great way to branch out, build a small audience, and potentially get some work. It's also great accountability to get you to put in the hours.
i started a little late. i was pretty decent in high school)better actually from what im told) i stopped drawing for like 8 years... picking it back up at 30... I feel its a bit late. Subscribed .
It’s never too late there’s a guy that didn’t start tattooing until he was in his late 30s or early 40s, he was off and on drawing not talking it seriously until then. He went on to become a top portrait tattoo artist.
No worries I did the same, life got in the way. Important thing is that we came back!
You want to know if this has helped me ? Dude, EVERYTHING you post helps me out in a big way... this one, I think, most of all. I'm 50 years old, I'm just recovering from a major life upheaval, and I've finally said SCREW IT - I am sick and tired of dreading going to work in the morning. I have drawn all my life, and its time to put it to work. Now, I've got a sharp pencil and a good hand - if I do say so myself - and I can do a mean comic ( or anything else ) the old fashioned way... but I didn't know a blessed thing about the business end of the art industry, and I'm still catching up with things like software and other technology... and of course technique can always be improved upon... It can be really daunting without fine persons like yourself lighting the way. I'm subscribed !
I really appreciate your laid back approach in explaining things. I think it’s easy to feel overwhelmed but you affirm that it’s good to start somewhere and to grow. I’m an older man, but I just started my freelance art career a few years ago. Business has been slow the last year, not that it was ever that good to begin with, but I appreciate your attitude on all of this.
This is very inspiring! : D Trent, you got such a kick-ass attitude. I've finally managed to score my first job as a concept artist and art director at a company I started with some friends. Thank you so much for making these videos! ^_ ^
Man, I don't even know how/when I found your channel, but every now and again I drop in when a new video shows up. This is way too relevant to me though, thanks so much for making this.
Trent, I just wanted to thank you for this video and for your channel as a whole. If it wasn't for all of your advice, motivation, and inspiration, I'd probably still be forcing myself to go into a career that I would end up absolutely hating. I haven't landed a gig yet because I want to hone my art abilities before reaching out, but this has given me the insight that I needed to start my career as an artist.
Great video Trent... I have done some of the things youve mentioned in this video previously and i have had a few paying gigs!! It feels amazing to get those first few gigs under your belt. From there i started my own website, and started doing art contests and got business cards made up and ive been spreading the word. Havent had anything in a while so i just might start my own facebook page for my artwork. Again thank you for the video, you are a class act sir!
Posting in 2021 here, this video just randomly came on my recommended so it's not the cause of this, but I still wanted to share - I've been drawing and painting and writing comics as a hobby for basically 2 decades now, and I just opened up my very first commissions. I'm very very very very extremely super late to the party, considering I'm not even close to a beginner and probably pretty far along the path between intermediate and advanced, but I'm still excited and proud to have my first paying gig drawing. It's only $50 for someone's OC, but I'm still very happy about it! Thanks for all the great content btw.
hey man, thanks a lot for making this channel! I'm a digital painting noob and I've learned so much from your videos, keep up the good work and best of luck for your future projects!
Great advice. I've had several art jobs and also side gigs but everyone can still learn something new. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and I'll take it to heart. Look out because I'm going to make a name for myself! Then I'll show ya!
This is was so inspirational and motivating for me! Thank you so much and I'm already working my way through your other videos, hopefully this will be the boost of encouragement I need to take more action in my life.
Another great video! I shut off my drawing aspirations after high school to work steady. I just recently was motivated by your videos and a few other you-tubers to jump back in the fire. I have had a couple tattoo requests, and a few people ask to draw portraits of them, but my proudest moment so far, is my current project. I was asked to illustrate playing cards for a post apocalyptic board game, as well as the game map. So far this is the only project requested that actually follows my interests and sparks creativity for me. Quite a large project to tackle, but exciting nonetheless.
GREAT video man! I'll definitely give it a try now and stop hesitating! Thanks for the great tips/advice!
I know this is an older video but I'll put in my two cents anyway. I've have a few gigs here and there with art stuff. I've even done some UI stuff for an indie VR game that's in early access right now (which doing game concept art is my eventual goal) but right now my most frequent paying gig is actually painting the interior of escape rooms. They double as how the room is set up and as mood pieces of how the rooms should feel when they're all built. It's funny because I was only focused on doing character or creature designs for a career but because of this job I've gotten pretty good at painting interiors and props... I'm sure it will come in handy. Anyway thank you very much for the inspiration! Love to listen while I draw!
Thank you so much for putting this together! I will do as you say and push forward to see where my art can go.
It's really inspiring, thank you! I'm looking into doing some commission work in the future, like creating cosplay props, etc... glad I stumbled upon this vid. I just found your channel today. I actually did my first cosplay from your drawing of a D3 wizard, it was so pretty, I had to try to make it irl haha :D Thanks for doing what you do!
Ever since I subscribed to your channel I've been taking in nothing but inspiration and knowledge on every aspect of art. I highly appreciate all the time and effort you put into these vids, whether they're 3 minutes or a little over an hour, each vid is filled with decades worth of wisdom. My goal is become the best I can be as a newly found digital artist, and for that, I thank you!
Northwest Indiana represent! La Porte here. Love the vids friend, thanks very much for all the tips and technique examples.
your amazing, realy, so happy that there are people like you that help others fulfull their dreams.
This video really helped me. I always look forward to your videos.
Trent is spot on with this. I still do this stuff to get side work. Also would like to add that the more you do this people with tell others about you. I have got work through people I have worked for telling others about me.
I'm glad I subscribed, talks like these give me hope that I may have a future in what I'm doing now. Thanks a bunch!! As well as for your uploads! Maybe this time I hope to take risks and challenge myself as an artist to grow and become who I am going to be. (That was a declaration for myself so I don't lose sight of the path I want to take :D)
Awesome video! Great advice for people like me. Thanks for getting me motivated to start using my skills.
You're great dude! This video inspired me. Keep them coming.
i love to hear you saying that.. and you are my model in LIFE !
Hey Trent, I've been watching your videos for like 1 year and I absolutely love your work, every video I learn something new that I can use in my drawings.
My favorite piece made by you is the Glass Dragon. The combination of light and perspective in it is fantastic. I really like the ideia of having a small hero facing a gigantic creature. Keep doing your great art man, it really helps me out.
Also,
I'm in my last year of high scholl now and lookin foward to a Digital Design college, where I can lear how to use photoshop better than I do now and get access to the tools I need. So far I have been doing my drawing all by hand and, lucky enough, a lot of people come to me asking me to draw a tattoo or an especific drawing for them to hang in their bedroom wall. Most of the time I do it for free, for my closest friends but I charged others as well. At my first sell I made 16$ for a Arctic Monkeys A2 paper drawing, made it like 8months ago and it was awesome to realise I could make money!
Thank you very much. I started to push myself trying to look for a paid gig!
Just found your videos recently and really enjoying what and how you're sharing your knowledge in all them. I started doing $10 for 10 minute on the spot charcoal portraits this summer, having someone sit for 10 mins either at events, local farmers' market or busking on the street. It's felt really great to earn some cash from it and get some recognition of my skills. I've been teaching my mom art and paying off some debt to her, and I'd like to make that transition from having my current consistent part time be something I'm more passionate about, like learning art. It's good for me to start branching out more. Thanks for sharing these thoughts!
I honestly love your advice so much! Instead of making the creative industry seem like a super competitive and 'survival of the fittest' kind of environment - you have painted it as something so amazing to fall into :)
I'm currently done with my 3rd year as an Interior Design student and am not too satisfied with what the course entails, tbh. Art fulfills my soul and makes me so happy - but I find myself getting so discouraged when nobody seems to be interested in commissioning me or buying my work. Even if they do - they are not willing to pay a decent amount and end up backing out. This affects my creativity as well as my self-esteem so much :( The only gigs I get are by fluke and even those come once in a blue moon. I have tried to propagate my work on social media - but it isn't always reliable.
After watching your video, I am inspired to join online communities and take up freelancing jobs. Even if they pay less - it all adds up, doesn't it? ;) Thank you so much!
May God bless you man :) Jesus loves you
I as well have done what you suggested before I watched your video. Have come across small graphic design jobs, although it's not what I went to art school for, I was able to help people locally in need.
Rings true buddy, great video/stream of conscious thought.
Hi, Trent. I really enjoyed listening to this video as I am working on a character design for a client that I was found to work on a comic for a couple months back. I too have started from the bottom like any artist would. I even went to school for graphic design and maybe learned a bit of some start of animation (voluntarily). I agree with a lot of things you have said in this video because breaking into the art community itself is not an easy task as some would think it is. Whether it is for comic, gaming, board games, etc. I told a friend of mine that I had landed a gig as a comic artist and they were thrilled. The only thing was they did not agree with the payment I was receiving. I could understand where they were coming from, but my main thing was even if it was small pay per page, it was a chance for me to get my foot set in the door and I did. It is true that I may not be a super top notch artist, but after completing my work with the client, they loved my work so much that they have decided to hire me on for another issue later this year. To top even that, my client has chosen specifically me out of everyone on the team that helped with the comic series to start another one to pitch their idea to an upcoming indie comic company. I was lost for words and was even touched by their kind words about my work. I still have ways to go to keep getting to places because like every other artist out there I am still growing in my own way. So thank you for making this video. Hopefully as I too am encouraging others we all can continue to help each other grow. I have told my fans that because of them, I still have the passion that I need to keep going. And I do what I can to give back to them.
Hey you guys Trent is dead on about how to get paid to draw. I started off this way and I'm doing very good for myself now from doing this method. If you don't try you will never know what you can do. So guys please listen to him and what he is saying it does work and you can do it. I will be putting up my story on how This process work for me in the near future. The title will be from $5 to $45 per character as a character concept art.
+World of DeadSoul Art Nice! Thanks for leaving this comment. I know that a lot of people would love to jump into making piles of money right away, but if they cant get jobs being too expensive, they might quit, or think that their work isn't good enough to make any money at all. Everything successful is built on momentum.
+Trent Kaniuga M8 I think its the time for you to make a video on how to design a character in your style step by step you drawing from scratch.
omg i was so worried when i read "Hey guys Trent is dead"...
Your art is amazing! and thanks for the inspiring words.
I love watching you draw Trent.
I've been on hiatus making freelance art for a while now... I must say your video really inspire and gave me a nice kick to get back in that creativity loop! :D YAY ♥
Inspiring! I'm a professional sculptor who has always wanted to move into illustration. I think I'll try and get some $10 jobs. That really would be a nice ego boost to sell SOMETHING even if it is so low.
Very cool concept as well Trent!
+Tom Mason It's just a start! You can get better gigs as you progress and develop art and business skills. Good luck!
My first gig was as a concept artist for a small company. We were working on a US government funded game for teen girls with an anti-smoking message. Not a glamorous project, but at least I was working in the industry.
You are The One, just what I needed. Subscribed.
This video made we wanna start drawing again. Thank you, Trent.
Awesome video,.. great inspiration!.. Truly appreciated.
This was so helpful, thank you💞
I’m so glad I found your channel!
Hey Trent (I should probably call you Professor Trent but I don’t think you like that so I continue xd) I am one of those who had the passion and talent since childhood but then I had to quit for a few years, now I am 25 and started to do and learn art again.
It has been one week i am listening to you and I just wanted to say thank you for being such a great man (this video almost made me cry) despite being such wonderful artist! Best wishes
Awesome stuff, truly inspirational!
I'm wish to see this earlier . I was once really passionate into drawing, but when I grew up I think that I'm my skills are bad and sorts of, depression hit and I was dropped like 3 years. Never too late to start I knew have to do something after watching this. Thanks Trent.
you are so inspiring... Thanks for your videos.
Hi Trent, nice drawing. Thank you for this video, encouraging comments. 😀
This video motivated me to actually put my talent to use. Liked subscribed and inspired.
im here to get the information how to get paid to draw, but instead I got the easier way how to color black and white painting, that help a lot, thanks!
Hey you really reached in to my chest and touched my heart.. thanks
NIIIICEEEEEE! love youre stuff!!
Very helpful video, dude. Thanks
Your video actually gave me the confidence to accept my first commission and I made my first money from doing what I love to do. ( I was asked to design different Mascots)
Your Videos are amazing and your beeing very natural. I admire that. Keep the good stuff coming.
Greetings from Germany.
Great.advice, thanks! Will report back when I've completed the challenge!!
Discovered your channel recently and god how much useful advises I got from it. Now that I'm writing this, I'm working on some t-shirt designs for some guy who discovered me streaming on twitch(1st paid job indeed). Funny how much 5 views can bring.
I'm currently an art student and having a bit of income does help financially of course, but more importantly it proves that your art is worth something.
I'd like to suggest a topic idea (if it wasn't already addressed, I still have to watch the rest of the videos). What does it take to be an indie game artist vs a AAA game artist? What skills you need to develop for each/types of portfolios/Stuff you need to know before choosing/ how to switch from one to another...?
Keep up man, you're doing a great job!
I've done a couple a pet portraits but didn't know how to branch that out. Thank you so much for this video.
The first time I sold an artwork was in highschool when a friend's mother saw one of my sappy semi-anime paintings of two people hugging in a snowstorm. She bought it for 10 bucks, I believe. It felt so extremely weird so be paid, but I think it's good that this awkward situation happened, because it showed me that people seem to enjoy the visuals I create so much that they want to give me money.
Thats awesome! I hope that you stick with it!
I accidentally turned down my first ever gig offer because of the language barrier.
I was practicing bridgeman's figure drawing, just reproducing the sketches from the book, and a gentleman speaking approached me and spoke rapid fire spanish while indicating his tattoos. I thought he was asking me to personally ink him and I said no(because I'm not qualified to tattoo people). A few minutes later another guy who had been eves-dropping approached and told me this:
"You know he was asking you to draw a tattoo design right? Not to apply the tattoo itself."
By then the first guy was gone. Would have been reaallllly helpful if guy #2 had butted in during the conversation. I probably would have still turned it down because I was still very early into learning to draw, but if it happened today i would definitely accept.
I'm still a few months away from being comfortable with my art and plan to start putting myself out there, but if somebody approachedm e before then and made a request I'd probably accept.
Thanks for the video.
I've been wondering how I could make a start on maybe selling of my drawings or even some of my photographs to make some extra money.
Goshenite here. I was not expecting to hear a mention of my state, let alone my exact county.
Thanks I just got out of school and trying to make money off what I'm trying to do thank for the great advise!
I had my first paycheck I think 3 years ago doing a few 3D renders, client had a 3D character and wanted some poses rendered. Since then I've been doing some small 3D contracts as a one man show.. About 2 months ago I decided it's time to specialize, and I've had a hard time figuring out what is the right path for me. I've picked up drawing again, I went through the "shut off" phase you talked about, I was intimidaded, I thought I wasn't good anyway so I might aswell just leave it... Today I realize I'm more of a creative person than a technical person, and this is a core skill that will benefit me wherever I end up. So, I draw. I'm totally lost but I just sit all day and draw, and hope destiny is nice to me.
wow! thanks for all the advice!
You reminded me to make myself available for commissions. Haha. I thought about doing it but forgot and just kept drawing.
The facebook thing is kind of necessary now. Some people want to know if they can see your work there becasue that's all they know. At least until you got a real good dotcom in place.
Keep uploading Trent! Now I'm gonna go bananas with opacity in sketchbook. My photoshop is being unruly.
+BjornMS Illustration I've been digging into sketchbook a lot ore recently as well. Im hoping to do more vids with it in the future.
+Trent Kaniuga Great! Can't wait.
wow this video really helped me!! I draw alot and get payed in donations witch isn't alot! but this has really helped to guide me with my prices and where to find customers :D some of my commissions are on my channel. Thank you so much for, well, your whole channel!!! :)
Oh my thank you so much for this video! I will get my first 50 bucks this year soon and I will come back here to thank you again
+Marcos Berto It doesnt matter if its 5 dollars or 50 dollars. The idea is just to start small and grow it over time. Your confidence in art and learning how to charge for that art will grow with time as well. But you gotta start somewhere.
Hey Trent! Awesome advice for creative minds who are trying to sell their skills. I do think there's another side of the coin though. I mean, don't sell yourself short! For me it was all about confidence too. I did a lot of gigs for free over the past few years but about half a year ago I figured, hey I'm pretty good at this. So i started showing my work to people more and more often, telling them I am an illustrator(for real?!). And now the assignments just seem to be coming at me one after another! Hopefully I can get to working on games and stuff in the future but for now I'm glad I can make a bit of money on the side(Oh yeah barrista dayjob, shoutout!). Now I'm investing the money I'm making mostly on online classes, new tools and ofcourse a certain someone's gumroad vids ;) But yeah, thanks a bunch man! Cause watching your vids contributed to where I am now. So keep 'm coming, and we can all keep getting better!
+Apothefox That's a pretty awesome success story man. Some people dont need to charge money to build that confidence, and maybe this advice isnt for them. But the important thing is sticking with it. You're kicking ass my friend!
man, I hope you don't die. make stuff foreverrr !
Great video!
Yes Trent, Thanks Trent!
thank you so much... its really help me
The gradial/gradient shading technique with layers of colour applied is something I see used here...and of course the dark outlines. I think I'm practicing some key techniques that add a lot of quality to my creations, but the question of practice is most of what I need, since I haven't mastered those approaches yet enough... you can't just make amazing art by applying techniques unless you practice enough to get good at them. My work is making progress though, but just 2 weeks of tackling concept art.
When you said Elkhart I FLIPPED!!!! That's where I live now😂😂!! Shout out to the RV Capital!!!
Hi trent. In your video, you mention that Kindle books is a good area to amke some money. Is there a forum that there is for this process? Or how does one find a job on kingle for a book cover? Might seem silly but im new the field.
I dabbled in commissions for a little while on dA and learned...
That I absolutely did not enjoy it one bit. It's been a few years since then and now almost all art I do is exclusively for myself, but it was an interesting learning experience that started off kinda fun and useful, then quickly turned into a nightmare after a couple of times overpromising and delivering my best effort which fell far short of what was needed. Nobody ever gave me grief over it, but it just really shot my personal pride to pieces.
I've made 237 euros with my art thanks to you! Yay!
I am currently a 2nd yr engineering college student and I am having a very hard decision on what should I really choose, should I become an Artist because I love to draw and atleast try to get paid for it or should I become an engineer for my parents. I would like to hear some your opinions.
I do not have a drawing tablet but I have a pretty decent skill with copic markers do you think I could make money with these
Hey Trent, this worked.
just amazing!
I always love watching your videos. So inspiring!
But yeah, growing up I was always known as that black dude that draws really well. Throughout high school, I would get paid to draw stuff for people. I was even commissioned after high school by a guy I knew to do a few projects for him and his uncle. It was cool, but I wanted to do other stuff like create stories. I have TONS of stories that I would like to do. Just never knew how to go about doing that from scratch. I like comics, but I never actively read them like most people. But I would like to start making my stories into comics. Can you give me any advice on that?
Oh, and thanks for the vid! Great info. I've been wanting to freelance pro-style for a while now.
+Jikiface I cover a lot of this topic in my box set of tutorials. Check it out at www.gumroad.com/trentk
My first freelance gig was for a kids book. I provided 1 clean pencil drawing for each of 22 pages. i charged $20 a page, plus like 5 character designs at $20 ea. it was a great gig that fit well between semesters.
Ok, i really need to say that i love you Trent.
btw this is a pretty old video, i so happy it jumped on my suggestions.
mind blowing advise.
If u get commissioned for a digital drawing do u send your client the png of that painting or do you print it and ship it to them?
Cool vid Trent
i was in a city in south east asia called ( Kuching ) i had free home stay cuz i made a mural in the hostel , and i was making 10 $ a day out of my work in arabic calligraphy . precious memories . most of the things u said happen , i was living out of my art for few days .
Can a random someone comment in a 5 years old video to say: you are a bless and has brought light to my heart💖 . Because I already did and hope it reaches to you. I'm so grateful to restart consuming art related videos just to find the great value of yours C':
Wow, thank you
Can you tell me exact what platforms i need to use to promote and sell art. Every one of them.
Thank you, I have ALWAYS wanted to go into comic books as a kid, but then I joined the Army and didn't think I had time for art. now I am 38 and found your ch... I will do the goal thing of ten bucks. I wanna do a dark series of Biblical comics. It's time.
You a good dude man inspiring video
I'm already a little step beyond "the first job that gets paid", but I still remember the feeling someone bought a drawing of mine ^^ It was a portrait, just a sketch really. I only got like 1 euro for it, but it felt great! (I was only 12) I was drawing portraits (of real and imagined people/animals) after that nearly every day for years ^^ Didn't get paid often and certainly not a lot, but I just really liked doing it.
Some years later came the real boost though. I visited a studio of an artist during an "open day" where all the art studios in that village open up and you can walk around and take a look. And one artist had these really interesting graphite sticks, he was praising them, said they came from France or something and my fingers itched man! I wanted to try them! But I was too shy to ask. A friend of mine saw it and luckily was not as shy. So she told the guy I was an artist too (I didn't really feel like it) and if I could try it. I just sketched a face, I think I tried his face, or just a face. Because of all the practice I could now sketch a face with a few strokes and he was so impressed he bought that sketch for 10 euros. That was it for me. I got recognised as an artist by another artist, he even said his own students could learn from this drawing. I used the money to buy my friends hot chocolate ^^
At the moment I'm not doing art full time, but I do illustrations for a small board game publisher (one game per year, getting paid) and I'm drawing comics on the side (getting practice ^^). My day job is teaching biology in high school (four days a week), which is my other passion. It pays the bills and this all keeps me busy eight days a week, but I love the balance!