In my time on FA, I’ve been able to see both sides of the commission frustration, and have heard a fair amount of complaining from both sides. Strangely, I haven’t yet actually seen any form of “Rules of Etiquette” from either side. So I figured I should write a few up.

To Commissioners:

1. First and foremost, remember that the person making your commission is a human being. They have priorities that come before you, they have feelings, and are subject to stress.
2. Be ready to put your money at risk. Always always always make sure that the person you are buying art from is one that can be trusted. Asking other people who have commissioned this artist may help, and making sure the artist has a refund policy is also important.
3. Only give your artist the versions of the character that you want them to use, otherwise they may still draw that green paw that you got rid of. If you want the design to change, let them know in extreme detail.
4. If you have no existing references of a character, be descriptive. Sweet mercy, be descriptive. Describe the character physically. A backstory of the character can only be used to determine the character’s demeanor. As a bare minimum, give height, weight, build, every fur color and where it separates, mood, hair length and style, and exact clothes or at least an idea of what the character wears. Give the thousand words required to make a picture.
5. Study your artist’s art style before getting in touch with them. It will tell you what aspects the artist focuses on. If the artist has only drawn mammal anthros, it might not be a good idea to commission a feral dragon. Also, aspects an artist pays attention to, such as eyes, might be something you should address, otherwise your extremely evil character might end up with a pair of adorable headlights.
6. Don’t set high expectations. Getting a vision of how the completed piece will look in your head, and basing it off the artist’s absolute best work will likely lead to disappointment. The artist has had a lot of practice in drawing characters that aren’t yours, so the transition can sometimes be bumpy. Their rendition of you may also not remotely resemble another artist’s, which was the direction you were hoping for.
7. Unless you have a lot of faith in the artist, get one that will give you updates before the picture is finished. If the artist working for you can get your commission done extremely quickly, make sure they’re the type who are willing to redo the piece if it’s totally off.
8. If you're commissioning a picture that has someone else's character in it, make sure they're fine with it. IE Don't pay someone to put your character and someone else's in a porn piece without getting consent, not everyone sees this as a compliment.
9. Don’t be a horrible nitpick. Unless you paid an inordinate amount of money for the commission, don’t make them redraw entire parts of the body or outfit because of small detail errors. Also, be willing to accept that some artists will take liberties with your colors, and may be fuller or duller than you wanted. Unless that’s a huge issue, enjoy the piece for what it is.
10. Be quick about responding to your artist when they contact you. Disappearing on your artist makes both of you look bad, and can hold up other commissions.
11. Accept that the artist’s style will play a major role in how the piece looks. Most FA artists have two styles, tops, and won’t be able to make too extreme of changes to them to meet the tone you may be hoping for. If you pay an artist to draw something for you in another artist’s style, prepare for a certain amount of disappointment.
12. There’s a difference between reminding your artist about their obligation and harassing them, and the line isn’t all that fine. Don’t send them daily reminder emails/notes, don’t spam them via IM, and don’t become their ‘best buddy’ for the week until you get your finished product.
13. When you get your piece, show adequate thanks. Yes, they already have their money, but they’ve just been staring at your character for a very long time, and appreciate knowing how much it means to you.

To Artists:

1. First and foremost, remember that the people who commission you are human beings. They have feelings, and very often, a high opinion of you.
2. Don’t take on a single commission unless you’re completely and totally ready to deal with the pressure that they bring.
3. Don’t treat your commissioner like an inferior. Yes, you can probably draw a lot better than them, but they are holding up their end of the deal. You can’t just badmouth them because they aren’t as ‘cultured’ as you, especially if you’re making them wait longer than they should have.
4. When a person commissions you, they are giving you more than a handful of money, they are giving you a hope. A hope that you will create something that will mean a great deal to them, this is especially true in the furry community. The first quality rendition of my character meant more to me than I can say. Respect that hope.
5. Of all the people there are on FA, your commissioner chose you. It is very likely that there is someone out there on FA who can do better than you, faster than you, and cheaper than you. They liked you and your work enough to put their trust in you. Respect that trust.
6. Figure out how much leeway your commissioner will give you with the design. Most people are pretty lenient, but there are some details you can’t screw up and get away with.
7. Drawing things that are outside of your current obligations while commissioned makes you look like a huge jerk. If you’re OCing and Ustreaming while there’s a commission waiting for you that you haven’t even touched, you’re being incredibly inconsiderate. The only acceptable exception to this is if your side-work is directly related to the commission, such as figuring out how you want to go about drawing beaks.
8. If you’re writing journals to the effect of “Stop bothering me about when your commissions will be done,” realize a large portion of the blame may be sitting squarely in your lap. Snapping at the people who are paying you, namely when you’re taking longer than scheduled, is extremely mean, especially if you have a following.
9. Don’t threaten the people paying you. Meaning, don’t tell them to buzz off or you’ll refund their money or tear up their piece. This kind of behavior doesn’t remotely fly in any other occupation.
10. Treat every piece like it was being made for you. If you’re not willing to put in your best effort, don’t make people pay the kind of money that reflects it.
11. Be swift in getting the commission done, -especially- if the piece is meant to be a gift for someone else. If your piece is going to be someone’s one and only birthday present, treat it like it was your only birthday present. Taking more than a month on a piece, when it would only take between one and four hours if you buckled down, is unacceptable, and you should be ashamed of yourself. It doesn’t matter how good your art is, taking that long demonstrates horrible service, period.
12. Be responsive. Let your commissioner know how things are going when they ask, instead of avoiding a reply. Becoming unresponsive makes you look incredibly indignant and heartless, and leaves the commissioner feeling like they can’t even approach you.
13. Don’t get upset when all your commissioner discusses with you is their piece. Yes, you can tell them that you’re aware and that you’d prefer to not be reminded as often as you are, but if this person doesn’t have a previous relationship with you, expect that all conversation will be about the job you accepted.
14. Keep your workload small enough that you can get things done quickly enough. If you have two commissions that you’ve been letting sit for two weeks, you should probably tell others to hold off before commissioning you.
15. Be nice. Particularly to those who are buying their very first commission. Your behavior not only represents yourself, but every other artist on FA.

If I’ve forgotten anything, please let me know.

ATTENTION ALL YOU LONELIES OUT THERE WHO FEEL THE NEED TO BAWW OVER HAVING NO VALENTINE.

I WILL BE YOUR VALENTINE.

Some terms and conditions apply.

Three-thousand views accomplished in the space of TWO YEARS.

Boy howdy. I need to draw more and appeal to more people's tastes.

Oh yes, and not suck.

Thanks guys, I think.

Well, seeing as my most recent submission somehow won me six new watchers. I might as well update this freaking journal.

I'm currently halfway through a special project for someone else, and will still be needing to make Achilles' actual piece, but aside from that, I felt like asking you guys for your thoughts.

Is there anything you guys would like to see more of? I mean, you guys actually decided to watch me, and I put my crap up for you to see. So I might as well ask what you'd like more of.

As memory serves, I haven't had a dream in months. So evidently, that means that all the freaky wierd crap that happens in normal dreams just condenses further and further until it finally gets an opportunity to show itself.

I swear most of this made sense as it happened. Most of it was also strangely hallmark-esque....

The part I remember the most is being in a bank inside of a ludicrously large shopping center. Upon entering, I noted just how frantic and stressed the staff was. So, logically, I decided that the best course of action was to use the bank's computers to (somehow) mail them one of those stupid anectdotal "Life is lovely, don't stress it" emails everyone deletes.

Of course the recipitent of the email (the most stressed of all the workers) was not happy with this. He proceeded to print out the email, and step over to where I was and seat himself.

I can't remember what was said, but he vaguely asked if I had sent that. I vaguely denied without lying. He then accuses me of lying, to which I get deeply offended and throw a pen at his head, hard, from a distance of two feet.

The guy doesn't even flinch, and I notice his forehead is starting to bleed. I start apologizing and he just demands to know if it was me, to which I agree.

It gets fuzzy here, because at some point this white male turns into an Asian female. She's deeply moved by the email and wants to give me $150. I decline, but she presses. So I tell her five bucks would be good if she insists. She then gives me five, along with four women's heeled sandals. Two match, two don't. It also doesn't help that I put them all on with what seems to be four feet. The black ones with the magenta rhinestones look fine, but the black one with the orange rhinestones does not match the white one. So I step back inside and switch for a matching black one, because now the bank also sells shoes.

I step out, and there's my mother, angry with me. She demands to know where I ate breakfast. I ask why she's so frantic if she had told me she wouldn't be coming out this way today. She demands again to know where I ate breakfast, to which I reply "Next to the Orange Julius."

And that's where I woke up.

This 1980's cartoon should illustrate my point.

If there is any motto I've found useful while being online, it would be "Assume the Best."

If I had a dollar for every time I stressed myself stupid for thinking that someone hated me or was angry at me, just because they didn't reply or I twisted their words into the meanest possible comment, I'd be able to afford out of state tuition.

Assuming the best is probably THE best way to get around the internet. As it is, the internet is one of the most high-context places on earth. Those of you unfamiliar with the term, it means that there is a lot said that actually isn't said. Let's look at a scenario:

John Jingleheimer is having a friendly chat with Nick Nichols using an instant messenger. John, caught up in the atmosphere makes a statement that is humorous, but could easily be misconstrued as offensive. Suddenly, Nick stops responding. After three solid minutes of silence, John prods Nick for a response, but instead gets the message that Nick has signed off. A week passes, and Nick does not sign on again.

Now, the common idea here for the high-context of the internet is to assume that Nick has been and still is royally pissed at John. In reality, Nick's mom caught him chatting online when he still had a five-page report due the next day that he hadn't even started, and was subsequently grounded for said week. Upon finally being free of said punishment, he logs on to find his friend acting in one of many ways, ranging anywhere from apologetic, to afraid, to indignant, and maybe even angry.

Now let's make a worst case scenario worse. Nick logs on and John gets out three lines of his rant/apology/indimidated hello, and without a word, Nick logs off again. Turns out mom absolutely had to have Nick along to take care of some things, and by the time he gets home, he has to go to bed. At this point the lack of communication has left John feeling like the friendship between the two of them is shot, because all he's seen is a logged-off username, and blatant disregard to what he says.

If this trend of miscommunication continues, it may result in the termination of friendship between the two, for what may very well be no reason at all.

Similarly, Nick could have very well read John's potentially offensive statement, and of course gotten offended. It's easy to twist words around that someone says and make them into the worst possible thing, but not many people online really want to offend their friends.

Assuming the best includes realizing the person you're dealing with has a life outside of the internet, and outside of you. Understand that when they say they're busy, they more than likely are VERY busy, and are still trying to find time to talk to you. Also, keep in mind that in a lot of situations you aren't this person's #1 best friend or person they're trying to get in contact with. At times, I myself will focus less on my best friends in instant messanging in order to get a certain important matter discussed.

Lastly, assuming the best can do wonders for friends that aren't actually as fantastic as you're assuming them to be. Letting them know that you respect their time or that you see the best in them, may very well help them to become better people. Certainly giving them a feeling that you're demanding their time or getting upset when they didn't mean to make you won't help the relationship, so why waste the energy?

Of course, that's just what I think.

Disclaimer: If anyone thinks I'm referring to them in this, I promise I'm not.

Wow. Finally a meme I actually give a crap about!

-What is your fursona?
See my avatar.

-Where did the name of your Fursona come from?
ME BEING AN IDIOT AND DEMANDING A SHORT K NAME. Which in turn, ended up sounding like some name a 14-year old would name themselves as they inserted themselves in their DBZ/Digimon fanfic.

-What species is your fursona and why did you choose that species?
Kiru(Kai) is a Rastalockenkater, AKA Felis Dreadlockius, and I didn't pick him. I was just lying in bed minding my own business when he waltzed into my mind's eye and started shakin' it. If choosing had been left to me, I most certainly wouldn't have picked a cat.

-What colour is your fursona and why? Hair/fur/eyes/etc.
Brown, brown, and....brown. He's like a walking ball of chocolate. Even his discolored tail tip is brown. And why? He came that way, although I lightened his fur a bit.

-What is your fursona's personality and how does this compare to your real life personality?
We need to have a separate personality now?

-What is one item your fursona owns that is significant to you in real life?
Um, what?

-What is one thing you would say to your fursona if you could meet?
Okay I'm going to hug you now.

-What is one thing your fursona would say to you if you could meet?
Crazypants.

-How has your fursona changed over the years?
Uh...lighter fur? And I gave him a shirt and long pants. He was originally shakin' his booty in a pair of kahki shorts.

-How long have you had this fursona?
Working on two years now, and I have zero plans to change him.

-Would you like to be more like your fursona?
To really have that face and those beyond-awesome gorgeous locks? Do I even need to answer that?

Sorry for not uploading squat.

I've actually been doing tons of art, except it's coloring for someone else, and it can't be posted (Yeah, what good is that?). I'll have something up soon, I hope.

And if you're still not satisfied....uh...I got stitches in my leg just last week, so...yeah, don't get mad at the injured.

Kiru: Hello?

Optometrist: Hello, is Andrea there?

Kiru: I'm sorry, no, but she should be back later.

Opto: Oh, okay, is this her mother?

Kiru: No, this is her brother.

Opto: Oh, I'm sorry, I thought....uh, well I'll just call back later.

Kiru: Okay, bye!

As I predicted, the nice folks who regulate the site ((Not being sarcastic, seeing as I wasn't banned for mass art theft or something)) asked me to take the pic down, to which I complied.

I am free, though, to link to the picture, so long as FA is not the host.

http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?.....ltrasammn1.png

There ya go.

So long for now, and thanks for all the fish.

I don't care if I'm posting two consecutive journals!

Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE NEEDS to play this game!

http://nigoro.jp/game/rosecamellia/.....secamellia.php

I don't care what you're into! This game has got to be one of the greatest web games I have ever, ever found.

PLAY IT NOW.

((And if someone could get the translations, that'd be just peachy))

Seems some of the HP books were accidentally put on shelves prematurely.

Hardcore HP fans should stay away from the internet for a while.

You have been warned.

It’s been bothering me for a while now.

For some dumb reason, whenever I feel any pressure at all about a drawing ((I’m rushed, the drawing sucks, I make a mistake, the piece is important)) My body temperature shoots up and I get clammy. This is of course not good for the nature of art as it is, and if I start to get clammy, by body temp shoots up again due to this stress and makes things worse. Eventually it escalates to the point where I am so physically uncomfortable that I can’t even focus anymore.

Does anyone else out there have some weird physical anomaly that prevents them from being able to draw?

You know, I had really thought that FA had been the means of me coming to hear of every last fetish (Or variation thereof) that could exist.

But no, this morning I go eat breakfast and come to the discovery that nothing is safe, what with a bird that acheives orgasm if he sees or tastes cereal...

I think I need to leave the internet for a while...

If RickGriffin can do it, I can, too!

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/570384/

Vinch made this for me! Someone whose works have done more for me than I deserve!

This is what FA should be existing for!

Go look at it, and then look at everything else Vinci draws, because it's all made with love, and that's what makes it truly beautiful!

*Almost falls down the stairs*

*Went to Collins College and is proud of it*

*Agrees with every political/religious statement ever*

*Spins around gleefully like a cat in a dryer*

*Still has fifteen hypotenuses to square root*

*Judgejudylove*

*Pollinates own chrysanthemums*

*Can't wait for The Land Before Time XLII*

Now you add some!

(It's late, cut me some slack)

For those of you who didn't know...

And again for those who already did...

Colored text is most totally available.

How, you ask? Well, it's simple. Anyone who's ever used a PHBB (or whatever it's called) board should know. Simply find the color code you want (IE #335577) and stick it right here.

[color=YourColorCode

and then cap it with another ]

Then when you're done, end it with your typical /color, wrapped up in []'s. And it'll come out looking something...

Like this!

Just make sure you don't forget the #!

Okay, three months without a journal. Fine, I'll update it. If anyone actually reads it, I'll be so amazed that confetti will shoot out of my nose.

Anywho, I figured out all my technical problems all by myself. It doesn't mean I don't want/need help anymore, but honestly, I'm about ready to start going Little Red Hen on people.

So yeah...and stuff

Well, let's see what I can manage to actually draw this year. If I could just pull myself away from all my Christmas presents, I'm sure I could acheive SOMETHING worthwhile. Ah well.

First and most importantly, if SOMEONE could help me learn how to get sketches turned into inked pieces via wacom, I'd REALLY appreciate it.

Yep, I just realized. Out of everything I've drawn, only seven pieces of mine are purely my doing. The rest are fanarts or me learning someone else's style. I'd like to say that's not gonna happen any more, but I'm right in the middle of a secret Santa...

I mean, I don't evidently care about what my fursona looks like! I draw everything else on my good paper and take hours doing them, while HE is done in a day.

Man, what a rude awakening!

Would any of you lovely peoples know where I might be able to find whatever program is used by comic authors for making speech bubbles and so forth?

Any info would be just peachy.

Hey, check it out. ZinaCat's hosting a secret santa. All you people who like to do luv luv things for random individuals need to get in on it.

DO IT I TELL YOU!

So I've figured it out. I've figured out how to get aaaaaaaaall of FA's attention. I've figured out how to become "Popular."

The process is simple, and I will list every action one must do to be noticed. The order that they are posted in is from requiring the least amount of talent to the most.

- Go out and watch every user on FA. Also known as the Deaki tactic.

- Make your avatar something that appeals to a group on FA, like vore or something. You don't even have to draw it.

- Shout like nobody's business. If you can't think of anything witty to say, start a trend, like "If you get a dozen your loved!"

- Go out and fave every pic you see that falls perfectly into a certain category, leaning more towards the extremes. This will turn your page into a reference site for others so they don't have to surf for it themselves.

- Go out and comment twice on every user's art, either praising it or offering constructive criticism.

Now, should you find these tactics below you, there's still more you can do, the next stage requires actual artistic talent, though, but it's slightly more ethical. In drawing, the trick is to focus on quality, not quantity, because it takes less time. Do all of these.

- Draw porn, for the most part this is the only exception to the quality/quantity argument.

- Draw a very fat fur. Preferably one eating another one that's either as big or bigger than it.

- Draw Sonic using very controlled, thick lines.

- Draw a fur with a huge rack; be suggestive.

- Draw a fur surrounded by very small buildings.

- Draw the most adorable animal in the world, revamping it to meet all rules of cuteness, add cute markings.

- Draw pokemon, digimon, or dragons using any of the above mentioned themes.

- And to attract the attention of Graveyard Greg, draw a tall, built, and cute-faced girraffe. Set the theme to muscle, and the gender to male, and wait.

What? All of this work just for attention is still below you, you say? Well, then. I guess all that's left is to actually draw what you want, watch those who you actually like, say what you actually think, display yourself how you actually like it, improve your art at your own pace.

What? That's what you're doing already and you're not popular? Well then, I've got the perfect solution for you! Just start reading this entry from the beginning again!

I know why I'm not a popular artist! It's because 1) My gallery's small and bites, and 2) I need to spend more time becoming a full fledged FA surf whore!

I need to just go around and watch anything that moves! Just watch until my shoes explode! And then favorite any picture that has recognizeable objects in it!

And then, all this meaningless love will cause people to like me, and then I'll have pageviews! PAGEVIEWS I TELL YOU!

It's either that, or I need to start drawing smut.

Lots of smut.

What the? I can't watch people! I've watched like X number of people, and they don't show up! How the heck am I supposed to fix that?!