[ambelamba]

There's one local company hiring sketch artists. Here's the detail.

We are in the midst of producing DVD presentations of classic
literature. Included in these presentations will be "composite sketches." The
black and white sketches you provide will be imported into computer
software to give them a distinctive look.

We are producing 6 titles for release next year but plan to produce 84
titles in the next four years so there is plenty of work if you're
interested.

We are still yet to hire sketch artists for the first 6 titles. If you
are selected for a title you will be required to produce 75-100
drawings over the course of 8 weeks. You will be the sole artist for that
title and be given a "loosely stringent" schedule to adhere to (basically
you'll be turning in a minimum of 15 sketches a week -- you can turn in
more if you'd like -- as long as you hit your minimum, the work is to
be done purely on your schedule). You will be paid $5 per sketch.

And here's the quality of works they demand...



Of course I can do whole lot better than this!

Oh well, should I take this job? Getting paid 5 bucks per sketch is...uh...a bit cheap. But I have no choice. I need to start somewhere and I need money. What should I do?
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Human mind is the battlefield of good and evil.

[balistic]

If you even spent an hour on a sketch you'd be making less than minimum wage, and you're not going to get much good portfolio material out of it, because you'll just be banging out crap as fast as you can.

I don't know . . . if you decide to take it, get at least some of the money up front, so you know that the client has some, or add an obnoxious watermark to anything you send before you get paid . . . often the clients willing to pay the least are the most likely to try to steal your work or demand excessive revisions. Watermark the work and hold it hostage until you get some cash.
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brian.prince|light.comp.paint

[stacy]

Just another example of the corporate world expecting
another artist to work for nothing.

$75 bucks for 15 drawings is an insult.
$75 per illustration is just the BEGINNING of a fair rate.
$150 per illustration would be more like it.

You can tell by the quality of their samples that they've
already used the services of some zero talent kid,
who by virtue of placing a pencil to paper is their "artist".

Now they think that's what an artist does, (crap), and they will
always and forever think they need pay real artists virtually nothing.

As someone who obviously has ten cents worth of decirnment
and REAL talent, but as a beginner, maybe going as low as
$25 to $50 would give you the exposure you need and put
them back on a short leash when it come to treating your
talent with the respect that a gift from God deserves.

Ask for $50 and if or when they squirm, if you're so inclined,
maybe go as low as $25. But that's the Pre-Cambrian, absolute, rock-bottom. (period)

You obviously can do better work, so provide a couple of examples
of real art for them to feast on when you set your rate.

[eyewoo]

I think you'd do better spending the eight weeks looking for a better opportunity. This one does not feel like an opportunity.
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[ArtHo]

Be very wary! No "professional" company wanting professional results would even consider offering those prices. Also, I agree with Balistic that the cheap companies are the first to withhold payment.

[Gort]

Woof.

I recall the days . . .

"We presently don't have the resources to pay a lot, but down the road there'll be more work and money - promise!"

How many of you have heard that song and dance before?

If the "quality of work" up there is what they're looking for, then I wish them the best of luck. It doesn't jive with anything "professional" I would direct or want to purchase.
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- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Spooky]

Sounds like they are either very naive or really trying to fleece their artists. If your gut tells you something is fishy, chances are something is.
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http://www.digitaldreammachine.com/

[Odds]

$5 a sketch?
Something does seem fishy... I wouldn't take it. (If I had the skill of course )

[makototaramoto]

Did they see your work? I would assume that they won't go past 20 a sketch being it is a sketch...they are not finished pieces and they will be used on the computer so maybe you can snatch that job up aswell...how established is this company? Are supplies included? I would take it even if it was low pay it does build exprience...maybe no port. work but that all depends on you i would assume...you will be building work expirence. When you finish this job and either leave or move on...a potential employer would call and ask what was needed and how you preformed...and if all goes good this company will give you a few connections...back to finishing the proj. you might see a payraise if they see you are dependable and of course they can sell the product to a big time place...you could take it as your foot on the door job...working from the bottom of the ladder...gaining work expirence...getting connections. Or you can see it as...a 'corp. world' taking advantage of a artist...chump change...a joke. I would take it for all the good it will come with...unless of course u have rent to pay then either get a side job since they work with you (art comp.)...
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mercer