Opinion from graphic artists, please

[MorganGrayson]

OK...I'm not looking for this work, the work has been done. What I'm looking for is an opinion on what work of this nature would be worth. (The extremely gifted graphic artist doing the work is under the current impression she is doing it as a favor and for the sheer amusement value. Once I determine what a fair price for the work is, I will disabuse her of that notion.)

I needed a rather cartoon like static graphic made for one of my sites. I described to her what I wanted. As she is apt to do...she nailed it perfectly with the first graphic she showed me. She then went on to make about 7 variations of the character, small changes that took her very little time to do. (He's pointing, he has a thought bubble, etc.)

What is fair market value for this kind of work?

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

OK...I'm not looking for this work, the work has been done. What I'm looking for is an opinion on what work of this nature would be worth. (The extremely gifted graphic artist doing the work is under the current impression she is doing it as a favor and for the sheer amusement value. Once I determine what a fair price for the work is, I will disabuse her of that notion.)

I needed a rather cartoon like static graphic made for one of my sites. I described to her what I wanted. As she is apt to do...she nailed it perfectly with the first graphic she showed me. She then went on to make about 7 variations of the character, small changes that took her very little time to do. (He's pointing, he has a thought bubble, etc.)

What is fair market value for this kind of work?

I would like to say that it quite high of a value...

However, I know a couple of good graphics people on the net that will do a character for about $50 or $75 and then will do all sorts of variants of it pretty cheap.

I would say offering $100 for something that she thinks was gratis is fair.

As a person that appreciates art and what it takes for an artist to get stuff done I would love to be able to say that you have to give her $500 ...

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by sarettah

I would like to say that it quite high of a value...

However, I know a couple of good graphics people on the net that will do a character for about $50 or $75 and then will do all sorts of variants of it pretty cheap.

I would say offering $100 for something that she thinks was gratis is fair.

As a person that appreciates art and what it takes for an artist to get stuff done I would love to be able to say that you have to give her $500 ...

I'd love to be able to give her $500. She's absolutely fantastic. (She has a tendency to use phrases like "hold on a sec, now that you like the basic, I have to do the shading" which makes me go "erm...ok." The shading thing is an *issue* with her. She despises American cartoons due to the lack of shading and can go ON about anime, which she adores.) Then a few minutes later the perfect grahpic is popping at me through AIM.

However, many, many thanks, sarettah. I *can* give her a "fair market" surprise.

[Osiris]

About $150.00-$250.00


Those fuckers selling work for way less undercuts people like me and it's why I got out of design for a long ass time. I'm still not that active with it because nobody wants to pay...

[MorganGrayson]

Originally Posted by Osiris

About $150.00-$250.00


Those fuckers selling work for way less undercuts people like me and it's why I got out of design for a long ass time. I'm still not that active with it because nobody wants to pay...

Oh, yes indeed. This person gave up on professional site design after getting hammered by a couple of "professional" gigs. The question "tell me what you've got in mind?" couldn't be answered. Then hour upon hour of work for the "oh, I also wants." Lots of those. Sitting around and letting her mind just flow and making a "shareware" site didn't make her any money, but it certainly was more fulfilling creatively. It also kept her from committing a felony.

And you're right. Being a graphic artist lately is probably about as fulfilling as being a writer. The hacks of ruined the business.

[Newton]

150-250 as Osiris said .. the test ones are normally line art and the finished one is the shaded and coloured one ..

[MorganGrayson]

I sent $150 via PayPal.

I wish to hell it could have been more...especially when she hit me with "so...you want a header?"

*thunk* (went I)

This damned TGP better start bringing in the $$$ for me, 'cause once it does...I'll slip her some more.

I want to thank everybody who assisted me with this. It's a "nice" feeling to slips a little token. It's a *great* feeling to be able to say "look, I talked to professional graphic artists and got a 'fair market value' for your work...and check your PayPal."

[Newton]

Well done Morgan