WHEN I started accepting art commissions online, I’d charge $20 for a digital painting that took me five hours to complete. Having no prior experience, I thought I was already charging a lot back then—so it came off a surprise when my commissioner, who was also an artist, tipped me an extra $20. A seemingly small gesture but, in hindsight, I think it led me to reflect on how I valued my art (or the lack thereof). If someone halfway across the globe thought my work was worth this much, then why did I—the one who sat in front of the desktop screen for hours to draw it—think so differently?
I suppose it was the cultural view on artists we have in the Philippines that nagged on me. One would always hear, “Artist ka lang, wala namang pera diyan.” The saddest part is that there is truth behind it, when Filipino creatives are often overworked and underpaid by the industries they work for.
Luckily, times are changing. In the past decade, the rise of internet art communities has made it possible for artists—from hobbyists to professionals—to have an avenue where they can showcase their work and promote it to viewers from all around the world. To me, the online community (specifically for illustration) is where I find solace; the presence of like-minded people make it so that there is much more support for the work we do, usually through sharing the art we enjoy.
Still, it was a journey to appreciate the value of my work without feeling guilty. I didn’t want to sound presumptuous, or overcharge for my skill level. But here’s what I learned: First, the internet makes it so that we have to deal with foreign prices. For starters, we can’t match the spending power that our Western counterparts have. It sounds crazy here, but a $20 tip just happens to be the norm elsewhere! The fact that we don’t have such a norm—despite having so many talented Filipino artists—pains me, but we’ll have to make do for now.
Next, accept that personal commissions are largely a luxury, so there’s virtually no such thing as “overpricing.” It’s important we recognize this because increasing the worth of our art helps the local artist community in the long run by setting our own standard; seeing much higher commission rates than what they were some five years ago keeps me optimistic.
It’s cheesy to say, but as time went on, I did learn how to value my work more, thanks to having been enabled by a supportive network. As a young Filipino artist, I do think that it’s about time we receive due credit for our work, and accept that we deserve more than a liveable wage. While there’s still much work to be done to bridge the pay gap between the Philippines and wealthier nations, I’m hopeful that our continued progress proves how sought-after and valued our skills and efforts are—until we no longer become an afterthought.
Looking back to my first ever tipper, it fills me with joy to now say that perhaps we’re not so different after all.
