FA+
Shop
Secret's guide for the good commissioner
16 years ago
Secret's guide for the good commissioner V.2 ----> http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2884549/
Secret's guide for the good artist----> http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/989763/
Secret's guide for the good artist----> http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/989763/
In this world of art and dog penis, there is a clear figure that fills up galleries upon galleries with pictures: The artist.
They are the main source for it, drawing on different styles and characters, but there is a second one which provides just as much art: The commissioner.
Commissioners are people that either because they are unable to draw or they want to see their characters draw in different style, pay artist to get pictures (mostly) done for them or sometimes for other people the wish.
Now, there is a common missconception here, where people belive that an artist is the only important person when a commission is asked to them... far from truth. Art is a bussiness and like any other bussiness the quality and good results of it depends from BOTH PARTS
There are good profesional artist and some times sadly there isn't but the same applies with commissioners, being a jerk and demanding just because of the fact that you are the one tossing the money is not a proper way to act, so I would love to give some tips in order to maximize that artist/commissioner relation.
Before the commission is accepted
-Be polite. First and most important of all the rules, as a friend once told me, kindness goes a long way. When you deal with someone, you don't want them to feel intimidated or fustrated just because you are the one with the money at hand. They aren't forced to work with you, so show them how would you apreciate their work and talk in a manered way. Don't rush when talking with them, you have all the time in the world to write them a note or a mail so watch your grammar and your words, artist LOVE to treat with inteligent people so good impressions are always great.
-Research a bit on your own. Furaffinity is a powerfull tool on that regard, artist like to stuff their info all over their profiles and journals. That info will help you to know several things, their commission prices, restrictions on content, if they are open or not. Most artist will let you know if they are constantly open for commissions, if they are currently close and when they will accept more. Browse their commission info and their past journals and you will learn how they usually act for it.
-Ask them anything. Comunication is the key. In order to maximize the quality of the work, there must be no doubts between any of the parts. Before you give them away the description of what you want, be sure to ask them if they will draw something in particular. Don't be afraid, they aren't here for judging you, the worst you can expect from them after you tell them you want a 20inches dog dick up the ass of a cub herm is a simple "No, I won't draw that"
-Ask them anything part 2. Requesting certain things. I felt like I had to do a second comment on this one as there is one thing that made me think some time ago. One of my favourite kinks is to have my character draw with one from the artist itself, thats something that is actually really common, so whats the best way to request this to the artist?
If you go ahead and say "I would like to draw me screwing with your 'sona" .... read that again, you just realized what you said? That will make the artist feel akward and see you as a creep, their characters are their creation and while there are some who don't mind, others have very protective with them, so don't go ahead and ask such a thing on that way. "I wonder if I could request to have my character draw in an adult situation with yours, in case you don't mind him/her be drawn with others"
See the difference? With a question like this, the artist would only reject when their fursona means something more deep for them and don't wish to have it that way, but at least they won't do it just because you are a FREAK.
-Let them know how you praise their work. It doesn't have to be on the "ass licking" style. You are commissioning them, that alone shows that you like their work, but letting them know as well on a kind way will help them taking the desition on taking your commission or not.
After the commission gets accepted
-Provide a detailed description and references. Some people likes to give just a basic idea of what they want like "I want xxx position" and usually some artist don't mind, but most of them are gonna feel a bit stressed because is extra work for them, havint to come up with the rest of the details theirselves. If you provide a complete description of what you want (positions, face expressions, place of each limb) and provide other images that could be similar, the artist will instantly picture the image in their mind and will be much quicker and less stressfull, they will LOVE to work with someone who has clear what they seek. And when you provide a character reference, be sure to point out details that might not be as clear (for example, my character sheets doesn't show the color of Secret's shaft, so I usually let artist know about it)
In short: Detailed description -> Less stressed and happy artist -> Fasted work and better results
-Request a preview of the work. Is your right and the artist should have no problem on giving it to you, is the only stage where mayor details can be changed, so be sure to let them know if you see something out of place, they won't mind to change it so it looks thebest for you
-BE PATIENT. Unless the artist is ok to set a deadline, let them work at their peace, they have life as well and also personal problems, so they have their own choice of work time for it. If you let them work without pressure, the quality will be bigger :3
Of course if some time passes and you don't get any updated, you are able to request it from them, but never do it in an angered way, just ask if they are having some problems with it.
-Thank them for the work. Yeah, you paid them for it, but they used their time to have it complete and to make it look as best as they can, so let them know how you apreciate it.
-Don't expect them to be your friend. Sounds a bit harsh isn't it? But is necesary to leave this clear, you are a costumer and even if you and them have a good talk when discussion the details of the picture, that doesn't instantly makes you friends.
Some artist are a bit more friendly than others, some directly doesn't want to treat with you out of bussiness, and you have to accept it. If a friendship is born from this work, then is awesome! Is more than welcome, that means you can get along, but just don't try to force it, they will think you are only seeking benefits for that friendship.
I will add up something more if I come up with it but, for now I hope this help some people with this :D
They are the main source for it, drawing on different styles and characters, but there is a second one which provides just as much art: The commissioner.
Commissioners are people that either because they are unable to draw or they want to see their characters draw in different style, pay artist to get pictures (mostly) done for them or sometimes for other people the wish.
Now, there is a common missconception here, where people belive that an artist is the only important person when a commission is asked to them... far from truth. Art is a bussiness and like any other bussiness the quality and good results of it depends from BOTH PARTS
There are good profesional artist and some times sadly there isn't but the same applies with commissioners, being a jerk and demanding just because of the fact that you are the one tossing the money is not a proper way to act, so I would love to give some tips in order to maximize that artist/commissioner relation.
Before the commission is accepted
-Be polite. First and most important of all the rules, as a friend once told me, kindness goes a long way. When you deal with someone, you don't want them to feel intimidated or fustrated just because you are the one with the money at hand. They aren't forced to work with you, so show them how would you apreciate their work and talk in a manered way. Don't rush when talking with them, you have all the time in the world to write them a note or a mail so watch your grammar and your words, artist LOVE to treat with inteligent people so good impressions are always great.
-Research a bit on your own. Furaffinity is a powerfull tool on that regard, artist like to stuff their info all over their profiles and journals. That info will help you to know several things, their commission prices, restrictions on content, if they are open or not. Most artist will let you know if they are constantly open for commissions, if they are currently close and when they will accept more. Browse their commission info and their past journals and you will learn how they usually act for it.
-Ask them anything. Comunication is the key. In order to maximize the quality of the work, there must be no doubts between any of the parts. Before you give them away the description of what you want, be sure to ask them if they will draw something in particular. Don't be afraid, they aren't here for judging you, the worst you can expect from them after you tell them you want a 20inches dog dick up the ass of a cub herm is a simple "No, I won't draw that"
-Ask them anything part 2. Requesting certain things. I felt like I had to do a second comment on this one as there is one thing that made me think some time ago. One of my favourite kinks is to have my character draw with one from the artist itself, thats something that is actually really common, so whats the best way to request this to the artist?
If you go ahead and say "I would like to draw me screwing with your 'sona" .... read that again, you just realized what you said? That will make the artist feel akward and see you as a creep, their characters are their creation and while there are some who don't mind, others have very protective with them, so don't go ahead and ask such a thing on that way. "I wonder if I could request to have my character draw in an adult situation with yours, in case you don't mind him/her be drawn with others"
See the difference? With a question like this, the artist would only reject when their fursona means something more deep for them and don't wish to have it that way, but at least they won't do it just because you are a FREAK.
-Let them know how you praise their work. It doesn't have to be on the "ass licking" style. You are commissioning them, that alone shows that you like their work, but letting them know as well on a kind way will help them taking the desition on taking your commission or not.
After the commission gets accepted
-Provide a detailed description and references. Some people likes to give just a basic idea of what they want like "I want xxx position" and usually some artist don't mind, but most of them are gonna feel a bit stressed because is extra work for them, havint to come up with the rest of the details theirselves. If you provide a complete description of what you want (positions, face expressions, place of each limb) and provide other images that could be similar, the artist will instantly picture the image in their mind and will be much quicker and less stressfull, they will LOVE to work with someone who has clear what they seek. And when you provide a character reference, be sure to point out details that might not be as clear (for example, my character sheets doesn't show the color of Secret's shaft, so I usually let artist know about it)
In short: Detailed description -> Less stressed and happy artist -> Fasted work and better results
-Request a preview of the work. Is your right and the artist should have no problem on giving it to you, is the only stage where mayor details can be changed, so be sure to let them know if you see something out of place, they won't mind to change it so it looks thebest for you
-BE PATIENT. Unless the artist is ok to set a deadline, let them work at their peace, they have life as well and also personal problems, so they have their own choice of work time for it. If you let them work without pressure, the quality will be bigger :3
Of course if some time passes and you don't get any updated, you are able to request it from them, but never do it in an angered way, just ask if they are having some problems with it.
-Thank them for the work. Yeah, you paid them for it, but they used their time to have it complete and to make it look as best as they can, so let them know how you apreciate it.
-Don't expect them to be your friend. Sounds a bit harsh isn't it? But is necesary to leave this clear, you are a costumer and even if you and them have a good talk when discussion the details of the picture, that doesn't instantly makes you friends.
Some artist are a bit more friendly than others, some directly doesn't want to treat with you out of bussiness, and you have to accept it. If a friendship is born from this work, then is awesome! Is more than welcome, that means you can get along, but just don't try to force it, they will think you are only seeking benefits for that friendship.
I will add up something more if I come up with it but, for now I hope this help some people with this :D
thanks for spreading good manners!!
seriously well done mate
come on give me something to work with!! lol XD
so ..who do you worship? lol i can confidently say secret. the horny furry dude XD
"Be efficient"
"Have a plan to kill everyone you meet"
Well, the biggest thing for me is when the person sends a note asking about commissions when I've said a million times (and put it on my front page) that no, I'm not.
Be polite: First and most important of all the rules, as a friend once told me, kindness goes a long way. When you deal with someone, you don't want them to feel intimidated or fustrated just because you are the one with the money at hand. They aren't forced to work with you, so show them how would you apreciate their work and talk in a manered way. Don't rush when talking with them, you have all the time in the world to write them a note or a mail so watch your grammar and your words, artist LOVE to treat with inteligent people so good impressions are always great.
Be efficient: Having a clear idea of what you really wish for in your image helps a lot. Provide plenty of details for the artist to work with, and be straight to the point.
Have a plan to kill everyone you meet: ...Wait what?
I love the last 3, but especially this one:
-BE PATIENT. Unless the artist is ok to set a deadline, let them work at their peace, they have life as well and also personal problems, so they have their own choice of work time for it. If you let them work without pressure, the quality will be bigger :3
Of course if some time passes and you don't get any updated, you are able to request it from them, but never do it in an angered way, just ask if they are having some problems with it.
And I thought i was signed into my clean account when I began typing this...guess I'm not D8> oh well. lol
the be patient one, i tend to have that issue with people sometimes..8[
**Period
many commissioners i turned down are utter jerks waddling around and fanning money around as if its kryptonite ^^""""""""
Well some do it, thats called "wingerized" (Artist Doug Winger)^^
***
Art with the Fursonas of the Artist
Well I would first simple ask "Would you made an Artwork with your and my Ava?".
I usual take only adult, erotic or romantic Artworks, what the Artist made I can usual see on her/his FA-Page or on a Con at the Samples.
If not, I can ask that in a second Question.
What I like to do is to use Artworks of other Artists to explayn the Positions of the Ava on the Art, for Example, I have use for the Artwork "Tiger-Power" ( http://www.furaffinity.net/view/2409307 ) an Artwork from the Artist DR. Comet (Fans of him will maybe know, what Artwork I have use^^).
one thing I also hate is working on a character without any picture references, a detailed description does help a lot but a picture makes my job a lot easier and quicker. there was this one guy I had to a reference sheet for, he had a really complicated sona and no pictures of it so I pretty much had to give my best guess of what he wanted based on his info.
I will explain you what I mean with a simple example.
When you read a book, one without any kind of picture of sort, you imagine a world. You get to imagine colours, positions, faces, situations. Even the characters involved become of your own, in a way. Noone else will imagine the rooms, the items, the ambience the same way you do. So, if a commissioner has a picture in his/her mind, and writes it down inch by inch for the artist, when the artist is gonna read it - well, maybe the overall concept will be ok, but it won't ever be the same as the commissioner wanted. So better put it clear: a commissioner cannot expect the artist to draw what he/she has in mind as it is.
Personally, I feel more pressure when I am given too many details (specially for fursonas without references) because I know a fursona must be exactly the way a commissioner wants it, but, no matter how many words will be written, it will never be as the commissioner wants. So, if one really wants to fit in a shitload of details for a picture, he/she would better be googling around for reference piccies (eg. I want the snout of my fursona AS the fox in this pic -link-) and so on.
And the commissioner should keep in mind the fact that the artist itself has a very own way to interpret references too. So, consider the style he/she used for other similar pics before deciding to go for a commission.
Plus, but this is really just me... I love when they ask me to "draw my fursona doing whatever you want" :D
Of course if some time passes and you don't get any updated, you are able to request it from them, but never do it in an angered way, just ask if they are having some problems with it.
This part... I love you. ;; I just recently got myself another job and having to juggle two jobs AND being a student in college takes alot of time from me. And I prefer to work on commissions ALL in one go. rather than little tiny bits at a time. (Sorta helps much more if people would commission avatars cause those are small enough for me to zoom through. <3)
now i can feel better knowing that even if i do requests for peeps i don't have to rush
Out of the maybe xxx I've gotten so far, the 2 that have tipped me. And I remember exactally who they are :) Just a suggestion. Let me know what you think of that SecreT.
_rain
But what you fail to meantion here and what I'm interested of is how to manage to commission popular artists that have commissions qued for roughly 5 months and once finished they're all full up in few hours again. I've missed 4 artists in the past 1½ months because I was too late to commission them once they opened for less than a day and each one of them have now over 8 commissions lined up again so it's another 5 months of waiting.
Bet you're going to suggest: 'Follow journals closely'
Sometimes even being a fervient follower is not gonna help, the people who were able to fill in those spots were simply lucky enough to been browing FA at the same time the artist opened, all things in live have their hint of luck
I wish I could fav this. You should add not be cheap and try to haggle either.
(=^=)
A good guide there, thanks for taking the time to make it for us
These are just my thoughts, I do not mean this in a hostile manner, ask any artist I have ever worked with and I am sure they would say mostly good things about me. I just feel that sometimes artists do not feel that us commissioners deserve the same rights.
I would love if more people read this and followed it, especially Provide a detailed description and references because there's nothing more frustrating than getting "my character is a red fox and has *insert description of about 80 odd weapons from various cult games*" as an artist and yes, that's an actual description I got one time, I didn't know whether to draw a red fox or a weapons rack. XD
1. Use common sense.
2. Don't be an asshole.
Done.
But seriously, this is a very well done list, and while to some it make seem natural, I'm glad you took the time to type this all up. Very nice.
*slow claps sincerely*
Thank you ever so much!
I must say(not trying to be a suck up :P) I enjoy most of the art of whom I follow, I'm just quite shy when trying to think of something to say to the artist on their work. ><; I don't like to accidentally offend.
Again, thanks Secret, Keep up the great art ^-^ I'll patiently wait for the next piece :3
This is one of the best journals I have read on the topic. Pointing others to this now.
My own journal advertising this: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/2251774/
*bookmarks for when he feels the need for a reference to point jackasses to*
I suggest you put a situation if the commissioner doesn't like the artist's work, so as to avoid drama and stress for both parties (like how to handle refunds if the commissioner isn't satisfied)