This topic (or versions of it) periodically pops up on different sites, forums, and threads. Not a bad thing, as I've taken a few of the posts I've read to heart and learned from the shared experiences – both good and bad – of others. I recently added my own two cents on the matter to a similar discussion on LinkedIn:

I got into the habit of paying artists to do commissions of my characters from the MMO City of Heroes. Nothing particularly untoward about that, as a few artists are more than happy to accept original character commissions.

Some artist commissions I could pay for without a problem, and other artist commissions had a price tag that meant I had to save up every dollar and cent to pay to get a piece done (and also take into account currency fluctuations between the New Zealand and US dollars).

There was a time when I would have had a crack at drawing the characters myself, but injuries to my hands a few years back (and the resultant problems this caused) eventually led me to reorient my creative output towards writing.

My own creative comic book project is moving at a pace that has been measured in years – four and counting. Slow, but steady.

While I'm grateful to receive the occasional piece of fanart, or a piece that has been inked or colored for free from an artist, and would consider collaborating with an artist, I have shied away from the 'no pay, but great exposure' approach you see in a few writers seeking artists forums.

I have saved up to pay for the artists I would like to work with, because while I don't mind haggling over price with the respective artists, I'm not going to pay the equivalent of what amounts to a minimum wage or piecemeal rate.

With a limited income, it is time-consuming and costly to pay for everything, but I manage it. Everything from character and environmental concept art, covers and page pencils, inks, colors, lettering is paid for up-front. And provide the artist with compiled reference images and supporting documentation. It saves the artist having to spend time doing such research themselves, and cuts down on a lot of questions because most things are already covered. I don't mind doing this as I was trained in research based project work.

Slow, but steadily moving forward.

Josh Henaman said
James,

 

It sounds like we're operating on the same level.  Rule #1… Pay your artists.  If both sides are approaching it as a professional venture, it's the only way to go.  You retain the rights to your creation and the artist gets paid for his/her efforts. 

 

"Everything from character and environmental concept art, covers and page pencils, inks, colors, lettering is paid for up-front." 

 

This is where we disagree, however.  I've read too many horror stories about either party flaking to pay 100% up-front.  To use your scenario as an example, four years is a long time to have to wait for a return on an investment.  I think there's too much money involved to leave it "on faith" that the artist will deliver, especially after such a long time.  Don't get me wrong, it's a requirement that the artist get paid for all designs, pages, etc., but I think it's only fair that it's for "work delivered."  Once the artist completes a page, cut the check, designs completed, cut a check.  That way if something comes up and one of you bails on the project, it's no harm no foul.  The artist isn't out any money for work completed and you're not out a big chunk of change for something that was never finished.  It's definitely a balancing act.       

My bad, poor choice of words on my part. I mean I'm up-front about making real-world payments for an artists services, and don't promise potential future earnings via a back-end arrangement. Depending on the artist I've paid either a third or half of the total cost before work gets started, and rarely pay the full amount in advance. Once the draft/sketch and any changes/adjustments have been agreed to then the remainder is paid upon completion and delivery. I tend to pay with credit card and PayPal where possible, as it's typically easier to reverse charges if a good or service doesn't show up.

Fortunately I haven't had to do that. And I've only a couple of instances over the years where the artist hasn't come through and I've been left out of pocket. I recently had to call time on an artist for non-delivery and non-performance of sequential page pencils, but that's the exception rather than the rule. Thankfully the artist in question understood why I had to take the action, and there's no bad blood over it.