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MOVING ACCOUNTS
Posted 13 years agoI'm going back to my 
account. Yeah my very first one. Which means I'll need to move some stuff over, and so on. Please watch me over there if you haven't done already. <3
I figure I might as well. Pounce has been and will always be my main fursona no matter what else I do lol.
account. Yeah my very first one. Which means I'll need to move some stuff over, and so on. Please watch me over there if you haven't done already. <3I figure I might as well. Pounce has been and will always be my main fursona no matter what else I do lol.
How to be a professional commissioner
Posted 13 years agoHow to be a professional commissioner
So you really like this nice artist's work and you would love to see your character drawn or painted in their style? Or maybe you're a fan of adoptables and you're looking for a custom design all for you. Or maybe you've got a scene in your head but don't have the artistic ability to make it come to life. All of these are awesome reasons to commission an artist, and they are not the only ones! Commissioning art is the only way that most people gain new pictures of their characters, aside of course from drawing it ones' self. It can be a costly investment, but a good one, if done correctly.
Unfortunately, a lot of commissioners make some horrible mistakes when they contact an artist and find themselves blacklisted, or with horrible reputations. Artists DO talk to one another. They Network. If they are unsure about you they WILL ask their local art community about you. It's best to have nothing but shining, complimentary reviews from your artists, and this essay should help you become a good commissioner. Read on!
1. Know what sort of commission you want and find an appropriate artist. You may adore an artist's style, but they might not like, or have the skills, to draw what you want. Look through their galleries, read their commission information, make sure that the artist is able to draw what it is you're looking for. If it's not something that's stated in their commission information and you don't see it in their gallery, don't be afraid to ask them questions, to see if it would be something they'd be comfortable with.
2.Maintain a friendly, yet professional attitude with them. This is not a friend you're speaking with, its a potential employee. You are entering into a working relationship with this person, and your best foot needs to be put forward. This is especially true if you are speaking to the artist for the first time. In a very real way, you and they are interviewing each other to see if a working relationship is even possible, and if the artist thinks you sound creepy, demanding, or angry, they might very well back out of the deal.
3. Be able to pay for it and don't complain about prices. Commission prices vary wildly from individual to individual. Some Artists undercharge for their work, especially in the furry and anime fandoms where most of the artists are amateurs and therefore have no idea what real-world art pricing is standard. Also, they tend to price themselves low because most commissioners cannot afford the higher prices that are typical in the professional circuit. All in all, artists get to set their own prices, and if they're getting work, and people are willing to pay it, then that's what the price is going to be. If you don't like it, or have to eat nothing but rice for weeks after to be able to afford their art, then look for someone cheaper, or save up until you have the money to give them upfront. Do NOT just assume you'll find the money somewhere. It will leave you scrambling to pay them, or, it will leave you scrambling to pay for something essential. Either one of these outcomes will make you seem like an individual with bad judgement, and will make you an undesirable commissioner for the future. Do NOT try to talk an artist down from their set price by telling them that other artists charge less. That's just rude. Most artists have a somewhat cheap alternative, either an icon sized version, or a head shot, or a sketch that you can take if you just cannot afford the higher priced art they sell. Some artists state in their commission information that for higher priced artwork they will take payments. If this is an option, tell them upfront you'll need to do this, and make sure they will be alright with this arrangement. If this is agreed upon, always make payments PROMPTLY. This is another bill you will have until it is paid off. While it is nothing as essential as the water or electric bill, it could be considered akin to your cable or satellite bill, and treated just as seriously. No money, no art, just as surely as your cable gets shut off when you don't pay that.
4.Have a clear, concise idea of what you want to buy. If you have a picture of the character beforehand for references, send it to them. Write out any changes you need made, and if possible have pics of that too. If you do NOT have a picture of what you want, then write it out clearly, but without being overly flamboyant with the description. Don't tell them your character has "crystal clear orbits the color of the wild tempestual winter winds" Instead tell them "Her eyes are a cold, crisp grey" Color swatches are AMAZING if you can get one. All you need to do is open MS paint or any other paint program, and glob some colors onto it, labeling them, ex "eyes, hair, fur, spots"
4a. If you are asking for a commission that leaves the majority of the details up to the artist (Aka a "wing it" commission) then you need to still give them details about the character, but not about what they'll be doing. Don't be upset if it turns out a way you didn't expect. Wing its tend to be lower priced because the artist is able to let her imagination flow instead of having to stick to the strict, strident ideas of the commissioner.
4b. If you really just want to leave the whole thing up to the artist, including what the character looks like, that's fine, so long as this is an artist who enjoys doing that sort of thing. Once again, check commission information and ASK ASK ASK.
5. Your attitude should remain consistently pleasant and easy to deal with throughout the whole experience. Once you've given them their money it is NOT an excuse to become overbearing, rude, or hostile. If you're having a problem with them, then handle it with a calm, firm demeanor, and if it is not resolved, then take it to an art community to get advice on how to handle it. Remember, nothing once said can be taken back, and outsiders who view the logs of the exchanges are going to take things as they come across. Just because YOU do not show this conversation to outsiders doesn't mean that the artist wont! It's best to make sure that there is NOTHING negative they can say about you. This does not mean that you need to take abuse from an artist, if they are neglectful, abusive, rude, or demeaning to you, either, however handling it in an adult manner instead of sinking to that level will HELP you in the end. The moment you fly off handle, you've hurt your reputation, and human brains are wired to remember bad more than good. Please keep that in mind when dealing with the artist in question.
6. If an artist shows you a WIP (work in progress) of your commissioned piece, ask for changes then and there. There is NOTHING more upsetting to an artist than a commissioner that tells them their sketch of a particular art piece is perfect, only to line it, color it, and shade it and find out that the character's breasts should be bigger, the hair isn't THAT curly, and maybe she should be standing instead of sitting. It's also bad form to badmouth the piece after you've received it, completed. Changes need to be made while an artist is working, not afterward, and it needs to be done on that appropriate level. If you're shown a sketch, ask for the changes to the sketch to be made then, don't wait until the coloring stage. If changes need to be made to the coloring, tell them when the flats are shown, do not wait until it's been shaded and given to you to let them know something's wrong.
7. Read. Their. TOS. Terms of service will tell you in advance how many changes can be made to the art piece, additional charges that might apply, and a NUMBER of other important things that all commissioners should know! Read this, and the commission information thoroughly!
8. Be patient. Waiting a month or two or three for a highly detailed piece from an artist with a queue is perfectly reasonable. If you've been waiting for an unacceptable amount of time to you, then send them a gentle reminder and a request for progress. At max, you should only do this once a week, and that's only with artists who are uncommunicative and don't have a progression journal/picture to tell you where they are with their art queues.
9. Try to be aware of how the artist in question works, and adapt. Some artists are very chatty and like to blab away while working. They don't mind questions about art, or chit chat, but other artists are introverts who prefer to keep things strictly business and work far better when no one bothers them. Please respect them and their working styles, and keep in mind above all else that artists are not art-drawing machines. They are human, and do need to rest their hands from time to time! You get a day or two off a week when you work a normal job, and artists are allowed the same.
These are just a few things that I've picked up in my years of commissioning artists. I've never been complained about, and I'm hoping that this will help you to either clean up your rep, or never develop a bad one to begin with!
So you really like this nice artist's work and you would love to see your character drawn or painted in their style? Or maybe you're a fan of adoptables and you're looking for a custom design all for you. Or maybe you've got a scene in your head but don't have the artistic ability to make it come to life. All of these are awesome reasons to commission an artist, and they are not the only ones! Commissioning art is the only way that most people gain new pictures of their characters, aside of course from drawing it ones' self. It can be a costly investment, but a good one, if done correctly.
Unfortunately, a lot of commissioners make some horrible mistakes when they contact an artist and find themselves blacklisted, or with horrible reputations. Artists DO talk to one another. They Network. If they are unsure about you they WILL ask their local art community about you. It's best to have nothing but shining, complimentary reviews from your artists, and this essay should help you become a good commissioner. Read on!
1. Know what sort of commission you want and find an appropriate artist. You may adore an artist's style, but they might not like, or have the skills, to draw what you want. Look through their galleries, read their commission information, make sure that the artist is able to draw what it is you're looking for. If it's not something that's stated in their commission information and you don't see it in their gallery, don't be afraid to ask them questions, to see if it would be something they'd be comfortable with.
2.Maintain a friendly, yet professional attitude with them. This is not a friend you're speaking with, its a potential employee. You are entering into a working relationship with this person, and your best foot needs to be put forward. This is especially true if you are speaking to the artist for the first time. In a very real way, you and they are interviewing each other to see if a working relationship is even possible, and if the artist thinks you sound creepy, demanding, or angry, they might very well back out of the deal.
3. Be able to pay for it and don't complain about prices. Commission prices vary wildly from individual to individual. Some Artists undercharge for their work, especially in the furry and anime fandoms where most of the artists are amateurs and therefore have no idea what real-world art pricing is standard. Also, they tend to price themselves low because most commissioners cannot afford the higher prices that are typical in the professional circuit. All in all, artists get to set their own prices, and if they're getting work, and people are willing to pay it, then that's what the price is going to be. If you don't like it, or have to eat nothing but rice for weeks after to be able to afford their art, then look for someone cheaper, or save up until you have the money to give them upfront. Do NOT just assume you'll find the money somewhere. It will leave you scrambling to pay them, or, it will leave you scrambling to pay for something essential. Either one of these outcomes will make you seem like an individual with bad judgement, and will make you an undesirable commissioner for the future. Do NOT try to talk an artist down from their set price by telling them that other artists charge less. That's just rude. Most artists have a somewhat cheap alternative, either an icon sized version, or a head shot, or a sketch that you can take if you just cannot afford the higher priced art they sell. Some artists state in their commission information that for higher priced artwork they will take payments. If this is an option, tell them upfront you'll need to do this, and make sure they will be alright with this arrangement. If this is agreed upon, always make payments PROMPTLY. This is another bill you will have until it is paid off. While it is nothing as essential as the water or electric bill, it could be considered akin to your cable or satellite bill, and treated just as seriously. No money, no art, just as surely as your cable gets shut off when you don't pay that.
4.Have a clear, concise idea of what you want to buy. If you have a picture of the character beforehand for references, send it to them. Write out any changes you need made, and if possible have pics of that too. If you do NOT have a picture of what you want, then write it out clearly, but without being overly flamboyant with the description. Don't tell them your character has "crystal clear orbits the color of the wild tempestual winter winds" Instead tell them "Her eyes are a cold, crisp grey" Color swatches are AMAZING if you can get one. All you need to do is open MS paint or any other paint program, and glob some colors onto it, labeling them, ex "eyes, hair, fur, spots"
4a. If you are asking for a commission that leaves the majority of the details up to the artist (Aka a "wing it" commission) then you need to still give them details about the character, but not about what they'll be doing. Don't be upset if it turns out a way you didn't expect. Wing its tend to be lower priced because the artist is able to let her imagination flow instead of having to stick to the strict, strident ideas of the commissioner.
4b. If you really just want to leave the whole thing up to the artist, including what the character looks like, that's fine, so long as this is an artist who enjoys doing that sort of thing. Once again, check commission information and ASK ASK ASK.
5. Your attitude should remain consistently pleasant and easy to deal with throughout the whole experience. Once you've given them their money it is NOT an excuse to become overbearing, rude, or hostile. If you're having a problem with them, then handle it with a calm, firm demeanor, and if it is not resolved, then take it to an art community to get advice on how to handle it. Remember, nothing once said can be taken back, and outsiders who view the logs of the exchanges are going to take things as they come across. Just because YOU do not show this conversation to outsiders doesn't mean that the artist wont! It's best to make sure that there is NOTHING negative they can say about you. This does not mean that you need to take abuse from an artist, if they are neglectful, abusive, rude, or demeaning to you, either, however handling it in an adult manner instead of sinking to that level will HELP you in the end. The moment you fly off handle, you've hurt your reputation, and human brains are wired to remember bad more than good. Please keep that in mind when dealing with the artist in question.
6. If an artist shows you a WIP (work in progress) of your commissioned piece, ask for changes then and there. There is NOTHING more upsetting to an artist than a commissioner that tells them their sketch of a particular art piece is perfect, only to line it, color it, and shade it and find out that the character's breasts should be bigger, the hair isn't THAT curly, and maybe she should be standing instead of sitting. It's also bad form to badmouth the piece after you've received it, completed. Changes need to be made while an artist is working, not afterward, and it needs to be done on that appropriate level. If you're shown a sketch, ask for the changes to the sketch to be made then, don't wait until the coloring stage. If changes need to be made to the coloring, tell them when the flats are shown, do not wait until it's been shaded and given to you to let them know something's wrong.
7. Read. Their. TOS. Terms of service will tell you in advance how many changes can be made to the art piece, additional charges that might apply, and a NUMBER of other important things that all commissioners should know! Read this, and the commission information thoroughly!
8. Be patient. Waiting a month or two or three for a highly detailed piece from an artist with a queue is perfectly reasonable. If you've been waiting for an unacceptable amount of time to you, then send them a gentle reminder and a request for progress. At max, you should only do this once a week, and that's only with artists who are uncommunicative and don't have a progression journal/picture to tell you where they are with their art queues.
9. Try to be aware of how the artist in question works, and adapt. Some artists are very chatty and like to blab away while working. They don't mind questions about art, or chit chat, but other artists are introverts who prefer to keep things strictly business and work far better when no one bothers them. Please respect them and their working styles, and keep in mind above all else that artists are not art-drawing machines. They are human, and do need to rest their hands from time to time! You get a day or two off a week when you work a normal job, and artists are allowed the same.
These are just a few things that I've picked up in my years of commissioning artists. I've never been complained about, and I'm hoping that this will help you to either clean up your rep, or never develop a bad one to begin with!
