Invoicing and Billing for Sketch Card Projects

     So you have received your first official sketch card project and you have finished all of your work. Now what? If the project was for Topps then you should have noticed that within your e-mail with your information containing the deadline, project perimeters and other import information, a Topps invoice template. It is very crucial that you fill this out properly and submit it to the art director (editor) so that you can be paid and within the time constraints written before. Make sure that your invoice number is not repeated with any other invoice you have supplied them already. To cover yourself even more send in a W-9 if you are in the US to make sure they have your tax info.
     Other companies such as Unstoppable Cards use PayPal invoicing to complete the project. First of course you need a Paypal account. Next you need to go under the button at the top that says create an invoice. Under the first column mark SC PROJECT and maybe even the name of the project, under the quantity mark the amount of cards created and sent in (do not include personal cards) then under price mark the amount that you and the company agreed upon. For the e-mail to use ask your contact at the company so that it goes through the proper channels. I will be showing actual screen grabs later in a separate area.
     For other companies you would need to ask your contact there. Every company has their own way of doing things. Some companies will pay within 24 hours of receiving the invoice some are net 30 or net 60 and some can even wait till the actual comes out. Find out first before you agree to a set so that you don't look bad asking for payment when it was clearly stated it would not be to you until the product came out much later.

Wesley Smith "How To" create sketch cards You Tube Channel

For great information from one of the masters of sketch cards please subscribe to his page.

Welcome to the Professional Sketch Card Artist Page

Hello, and welcome to my page. I have been a professional sketch card artist for 10 years this coming November 2017. In that time frame, I have created over 2,500 sketch cards with over 75% of that number being on licensed stock for such companies as Strictly Ink, Topps, Upper Deck, Cult Stuff, Perna Studios, Unstoppable Cards, Viceroy Limited, Versicolor, Breygent and Robert Aragon.

     When I first started out, I learned from others different way on handling the business side of the hobby. I have learned the right and wrong way of doing things both from watching others and my own actions. I hope to be able to explain how to do things so that the companies that hire you... hire you back, you make the most money that is available for your artwork and brand yourself for maximum exposure.

     This blog won't necessarily be about the art rendered, but by how to do the business and marketing side of things. That includes from sending in samples to companies to finishing the cards in time for deadline, managing multiple sets at the same time and how to invoice properly so that you get paid.

I will also be setting up a Patreon account where I will actually be creating some marketing tools and other informational sheets so that you can have some professional looking materials for your next show or marketing campaign to sell your return cards (or artist proofs) which I will also explain later.
I am also available for consultation on a one to one basis.

Next up: How to invoice properly and what to expect on getting paid.

OK? So what exactly are sketch cards?

Sketch cards are original pieces of artwork done on trading card sized card stock or illustration board. The title is actually a misnomer anymore because the majority of artwork on these cards are full pieces of original artwork. Almost twenty years ago when these items came out most, if not all of the artists creating them did do a simple sketch. Now artists may spend up to 4-5 hours on a single card to create some of the most realistic pieces of photo realistic or comic artwork.
A sketch card is 2.5" x 3.5" in size and in some cases can be larger in what are called panoramic or widescreen cards. Cards that are not licensed are called ACEO or PSC. If a card is licensed, that means that a company has secured the rights from a licensee such as LFL in order to print a blank card with the Star Wars logo on it. Then the company hires artists out that have been vetted by both Topps (who purchased the license to create the cards) and LFL/Disney who hold the license.
    Cards that are licensed are worth more because they have been approved and were not just created on blank cardstock. Plus there are a limited number of these cards that have gone into packs or boxes worldwide.
     Artist proofs are cards that are given to the artists for working on a project as part of compensation along with money. These cards have to be approved by the companies involved and are originally only available direct from the artist. They are usually worth more because they are only available from the artist.