Thanks to the Internet, the way we do business is changing, allowing individuals to buy and sell directly to each other without having to go through a retailer or other corporate entity. And while we can't expect art galleries to disappear anytime soon, the art business is changing online thanks to websites and artist communities like deviantArt.

DeviantArt is an online community that was launched in 2000 with the help of a group of investors from Los Angeles. With over 25 million members and over 140,000 submissions every day, it's one of the largest social networks on the Web, let alone one of the most popular art sites around. It's primarily known for its fan art submissions--particularly for manga and anime fans--but deviantArt is also home to hundreds of serious, professional artists and photographers who use the site as a portal for attracting new patrons and greater appreciation.

The community allows for its members to use Creative Commons licensing and the right to choose how to share and distribute their creations with their audience. As they proved in 2011, deviantArt's members take copyright very seriously. When Chad Love-Lieberman was able to sell hundreds of original artworks through his site art4love.com without permission, deviantArt retailed with a very public campaign to file a class-action lawsuit and get his site shut down.

To avoid such issues with copyright, deviantArt members are perfectly willing to create works of art for a commission. Here's what you have to remember when you've decided to commission a particular artist for a specific work you'd like them to create.

1. Get a clear idea of the artist's style and what you'd like them to do. While some artists are willing to experiment with new works, they usually have a set style and may not be able to create what you're hoping for.
2. Paying for a commission is usually handled through PayPal. You should find out what the artist normally charges for a commission and have a budget set aside for how much you're willing to pay. If you're both in agreement on the price, then it's essential that you're ready to pay on time, whether you've agreed to pay in full or in installments.
3. Many artists will provide a sketch or other Work In Progress to give you an idea of how your artwork is coming along. Depending on the agreement, you may have to be willing to pay a little for each sketch, but the benefit is that you can see if the work is to your liking and suggest changes as needed.
4. If you're commissioning art for personal reasons, then you won't need much more than a consistent email exchange with the artist. However, if you intend for the art to be used in a commercial format, then it's best to have a contract ready for the artist and to go over what legal rights and attribution they're entitled to once the work has been completed and delivered.

Whether you're an original artist looking to create art for paying customers or a customer willing to pay for personalized, high-quality art, all you have to do is create an account on deviantArt.com to get moving into the fascinating new world of the online art trade.

Image by Catarina Carneiro de Sousa on Flickr