- 50% upfront before I even begin - this is non-negotiable, I'm afraid. In the instance where the agreed payment cannot be split into two parts, we will discuss before the commission begins how payment is to be handled. In the instance of a singular past festival item, I may request 50% of its LAH in treasure/gems as a deposit. This will then be refunded to you via 2-way CR when the item is due as final payment.
- After deposit is received, a sketch is provided to check whether the art is going in the right direction for the commissioner. This sketch will have "COMMISSION" badged over it. Any alterations (and I mean tweaks, not a change of brief, characters added, radical compositional changes etc) are made at this stage before colour begins. I will ask for a clear indication to proceed (in essence, a sign-off on the sketch which indicates your acceptance) before progressing to finished and coloured (if coloured) stage.
- Final piece, with "COMMISSION" badged over it, is then shown to the commissioner. Very minor tweaks can be made, but any substantive changes will be charged for, which is why the commissioner's sign off at sketch stage is paramount.
- Once it is determined that the commissioner is satisfied with the piece, the remainder 50% payment is required, and only then will the final piece, minus the "COMMISSION" watermarks, will be delivered
- Both artist and commissioner agree to: 1) not sell the piece commercially (i.e. on any kind of merchandise, even if it's not-for-profit). The commissioner is entitled to sell the original piece on to another buyer, but it must not be a copy, version or an alteration of the original image. 2) allow the piece on their blog/forum/site etc with proper credit to both parties 3) not remove the artist's signature - I don't make it large or intrusive and try to incorporate it into the piece as best I can
How much?
Obviously this depends on the nature of the piece e.g. a bust, a logo, a full-body piece etc, as well as the style. I am more than happy to give a quote. I accept USD, treasure, gems and items (especially festival-related ones), and my list of desired items can be found below.
How much?!
My prices are high by FR standards - I make no excuse for that. I make a living in the artistic world and I have no desire to go back to the days of drawing for peanuts. You will find other artists willing to draw for you for less, and they are easy to find. Commissions on FR don't go towards paying my bills, so I do have the luxury of being choosier with what commissions I accept and for what remuneration. It is unlikely that I will be charging the equivalent of industry rates because people would have a heart attack (psssst it's AU$50 per hour in real life!)
What kind of things do you draw?
I work digitally pretty much all the time now. I can work in cartoony, stylised, semi- and realistic styles. I can draw busts/headshots, both human and non-human, gijinkas, full-body, gestural, character design (including turnarounds) and logos. I can also do animation, but by its very nature it's labour-intensive and therefore expensive. I will be honest and say that chibis, pixel-art, banners and breeding cards aren't really my forte but I am willing to have a go if you wish. However, you might be better off commissioning an artist who has more experience in those things. Examples of previous commissions can be found below, and I also have a DeviantArt page.
Do you do custom skins/accents/skincents?
Yes. I also have a thread for ones already printed or proposed here:
Do you do art trades or accept dragons as payment?
Sorry, it's very, very unlikely.
How long will a commission take?
It depends on the nature of the piece, and I will give you an estimate at the start or at the quote stage. I work full-time, and I'm not a gun in terms of speed, but I won't leave you hanging. I will keep you up-to-date on my progress and notify you as soon as it looks like I will overrun my estimated time.
What if I'm not happy with the final piece?
I'm not here to give people unsatisfactory work and then shrug if there's a complaint. I have pride in my work and it's important to me that a commissioner is happy with the final piece. However, I don't accept being messed around e.g. changing the brief, disappearing for weeks without giving any response to any messages I send, changing your mind at the last minute etc. Again, this is why there is a sign-off at sketch stage. To date, I've not had any complaints about this working method, as it protects both parties. I don't want to give you something you didn't want or expect.
What is your refund policy?
It's in my best interests to give you what you want. If a compromise cannot be reached and the commission has started, please be aware that your 50% deposit isn't refundable. I will ask for as many specifics as possible so please... better that you give me too much information than not enough! If you go into "silent running" mode (i.e I can see you've fed your dragons, responded to other forum posts etc) and don't respond to repeated messages, I reserve the right to pull the plug on the commission - this doesn't necessarily mean I will! I do understand that real life happens and you may not be able to instantly respond. But if you can, let me know if you foresee any problems, or need me to stop work for whatever reason. Communication is key!
Do you have a ping list?
