Last call for silhouettes and their discounted upgrade prices (max 1 upgrade per silhouette, can also be purchased for older silhouettes that you own). The discounts end on Sept 1st, with batches closing shortly after.

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/61492157/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/61651971/

While I'm here, a reminder that I am currently taking Drawtober requests: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/11191431

I currently have more slots than requests, so if you have an idea, feel free to share it! I do my best to draw requests from as many people as I can, so if you have not made a request yet, it is highly likely that your prompt will be prioritized (assuming it follows the rules of the linked journal above).

Reminder that I'll start completing Drawtober adoptable requests: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/11191431 on Friday the 15th. If you have a creature concept that you want to see realized, please share it in the comments.

To streamline Drawtober postings and give thanks to requesters, I'll be sharing the finished concepts with their requesters as they are completed, so that they can claim them early. Unclaimed designs will be available for adoption as soon as they are posted in October.

[Updated] Rules:
- You can request as many species prompts as you want, for free.
- The requester gets first dibs on purchasing the final adoptable. If you do not want to buy the final design or do not reply before October, it will be put up for general sale.
- Requests should be no longer than a sentence in length.
- Adoptables will be $28 USD ea, but for the month of October, watchers can buy them for $23 USD (the requester also gets this deal, if buying before October).

Based on the amount of votes my polls generally get, and the fact that the Drawtober poll is currently sitting at a hefty 86% favouring starting the full 31 slots early, I've decided to call it here. With that, it's time to officially open up this year's slots!

This is your chance to grab some cheaper Drawtober-style commissions (DeviantArt): https://www.deviantart.com/the-grea.....ber-challenges I will complete commissions as they come in, and will slowly start filling open slots with requests starting Friday, August 15. Note that by default, commissions and requests will be shared as early access with subscribers. If you do not want your commissions shared as early access, please let me know when asking for your slot(s).

GENERAL RULES:
- You may not feed any of my art, including but not limited to commissions, to generative AI.
-I accept PayPal, e-transfer, Ko-Fi, or a mix.

- - -


COMMISSION TYPES/PRICES (USD):

BASIC SLOT: $33 per slot (Reg price: $56)
- One Character, no background


DELUXE SLOT: $60 per slot (Reg price: $84-$112)
One of three options:
A) 2 characters, no background
B) 1 character with a semi-simple background
C) 1 character in the deluxe style: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/32199995/


CUSTOM-DESIGNS (extra art phase required)
[NEW] Revision stage added to the commission (No extra art, you get to see and ask for corrections on the commission's sketch): +$5
1-shot design: +$15 per design
3-piece design: +$45 per set


RULES:
- Excluding the custom design phase (if applicable), there are no revisions or sketch stage.
- You can ask for OCs or design work; no fanart.
- You can buy as many slots as you want, so long as there are still slots available
- Overcomplicated designs will be simplified to fit the commission style.
- SFW art only
- Final artwork(s) can be used for commercial use by individuals or independant/emerging companies.

SLOTS:
1. COMPLETED
2. COMPLETED
3. COMPLETED
4. COMPLETED
5. COMPLETED
6. COMPLETED
7. COMPLETED
8. COMPLETED
9. COMPLETED
10. COMPLETED
11. COMPLETED
12. COMPLETED
13. HOLD
14. -
15. -
16. -
17. -
18. -
19. -
20. -
21. -
22. -
23. -
24. -
25. -
26. -
27. -
28. -
29. -
30. -
31. -

- - -


REQUESTS:

I will be creating adoptable designs for every unclaimed day. You are free to leave species requests in the comments, and I will pick and choose those that inspire me.

To streamline Drawtober postings and give thanks to requesters, I'll be sharing the finished concepts with their requesters as they are completed, so that they can claim them early. Unclaimed designs will be available for adoption as soon as they are posted in October.

RULES
- You can request as many species prompts as you want, for free.
- The requester gets first dibs on purchasing the final adoptable. If you do not want to buy the final design or do not reply before October, it will be put up for general sale.
- Requests should be no longer than a sentence in length.
- Adoptables will be $28 USD ea, but for the month of October, watchers can buy them for $23 USD (the requester also gets this deal, if buying before October).
- Purchased adoptables can be used for commercial use.

As per the last journal, discounted adoptable upgrades and commissions are available again!

Life Updates

Today has been a roller coaster, but in the best possible way; early this morning, I received a confirmation notice that I was accepted for a job! I am officially back to work on August 4th!

Silhouettes

Due to the above update, the latest batches of silhouettes will remain open until the end of August. Even better; bundle deals will once again be available, and both upgrade options will be discounted, starting August 4th! Upgrades can be purchased with a silhouette, and they can also be bought for silhouettes that you have purchased in the past (limit 1 upgrade per silhouette).

Silhouette Adopts 801-825: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/61492157/
Silhouette Adopts 826-850: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/61651971/

Commissions and Adoptables

Like the silhouettes, discounted commissions and adoptable upgrades will be re-opening starting August 4th.

Drawtober

Between work and general life events, last year's Drawtober was rather stressful for me. Because of this, I am planning to handle the event differently moving forward. Please voice your preference in the associated poll (DeviantArt): https://www.deviantart.com/the-grea.....s-year-8657446

Start creating art 1-2 months in advance, and upload them in October.
This options prioritizes keeping the full 31 slots from the event, while allowing me to complete pieces at a more leisurely pace.

5 slots per week (1 fri, 2 sat, 2 sun | deluxe comms use 2 slots).
This option emphasizes the intent of the challenge (To create art throughout the month), while still allowing me breathing room during weekdays. 21 slots instead of 31.

Subscription Updates

The final poll regarding how to set up reward access was split 50-50 between limiting lower tiers to new rewards and offering early access to higher tiers. After looking into all the options that DeviantArt, Ko-Fi, Patreon, and Discord had to offer, I have decided that it will be simpler and more intuitive to offer 1-month early access to higher tiers, specifically for member-exclusive content like livestreams, extra adoptables, etc.

Despite this, I have decided to go through with creating a small community Discord server, and to run it alongside the subscription services. It is meant to be a chill space, with a channel for all of my open adoptables, offering an alternative adoption hub for subscribers who don't use/check DeviantArt regularly. It will also be a place to engage more directly with the community and share news and updates.

This does mean more management than I originally envisioned. Combined with my sudden return to work, I won't have as much time as expected to set up rewards and ease into the routine. Because of this, I will be keeping things simple by sticking to what I have already set up:

-Art progress, for each day where I work on art that I can publicly show.
-Various adoptable and commission discounts, depending on the tier you choose (to be manually reduced from your total when you voice interest in buying a commission and/or adoptable).
-A community Discord server for subscribers.

Once I am comfortable with running these services alongside full-time work, I will consider adding the remaining rewards: livestreams and early access to said livestreams. Until then, the Tip Jar and Observer tiers will share the same rewards.

If you are interested in becoming a member, you have 3 options to choose from: Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/thegreatestmystery40332 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thegreatestmystery And DA subscriptions: https://www.deviantart.com/the-grea...../subscriptions . Tier pricing varies from platform to platform due to the fees and restrictions of each. For example, Ko-Fi and Patreon both allow me to take payment directly in CAD, while DA only allows for payment in USD, and only allows for whole number prices.

Ko-Fi is the cheapest membership option.
DA would have been the second cheapest, but due to it's pricing restrictions, may be more expensive than Patreon depending on the tier.

[UPDATE]: cellar-whales (DeviantArt) offered a very good compromise, as well as an alternate option, so I have posted an updated version of the poll to reflect the new choices (DeviantArt): https://www.deviantart.com/the-grea.....-tiers-8653942

Redirect subscribers to Discord to get their tier-based roles/ rewards
The original option (see PROS and CONS below the update).

Post rewards to all tiers; change tier access at the end of each month
The "new rewards only" tier(s) will only ever have access to that month's rewards. Once the month is over, the rewards tiers will be changed to only be available to higher tiers that have long-term access.

PROS: Doesn't force anyone to get a Discord account.

CONS: Lower tiers only get 1 month at a time; any rewards that come out near the end of the month may get missed. As opposed to Discord, where you get access to all rewards from the time where you become a member, as long as you remain a member.

Make rewards available to all, but give higher tiers early access
Flips the original idea on it's head. I'm honestly unsure if people would prefer this to the original idea, so I'm including it here out of curiosity. It would remove the opportunity for low-tier members to participate in livestreams, give higher tiers first dibs on subscriber-exclusive adoptables, and would make rewards like bases more valuable, but only for the time that it remains exclusive to higher tiers. If this option gets chosen, I would likely keep art progress available to all; Early access to early access WIPs seem redundant to me.

- - -

I've already hit my first snag; looks like it's new poll time (DeviantArt): https://www.deviantart.com/the-grea.....iscord-8653870

"Regarding new rewards VS access to everything tiers: It seems that the only way I can set this up is through Discord."
1. Redirect subscribers to Discord to get their tier-based roles/ rewards.
2. Scrap the separate tiers idea and keep patrons off of Discord.
3. Actually, there is another way to set this up... (please tell me).

I thought for sure that Patreon had the option to limit certain tiers to only seeing new rewards, but thus far, have been unable to find it. It's the same with Ko-Fi, and I doubt DA has the option, either. I was racking my brain to find out where the idea could have come from, when I remembered that this was a Discord feature! That's where I remembered it from. All 3 services allow you to connect a Discord server so this feature is still theoretically possible. However, I have mixed feelings about dealing with subscriptions this way...

Either way, I have to make this decision early on, and won't have much wiggle room to change it once I've decided. Once I start posting, I won't be able to take those posts back without angering everyone who's paid to see them.

PROS:
- I'd theoretically only have to update one place with exclusive content.
- I'd be able to easily set up and manage channels dedicated to adoptables and open commissions, as well as sales. Charity adoptables in particular complicate sales on subscription sites, as I don't want any money to go through me or any part of charity sales to be deducted from the service platform.
- I'd have extra freedom to play around with hierarchies, + I know Discord and have some previous experience setting up servers.

CONS:
- It forces everyone who wants my exclusive content to have a Discord account. I'm not sure if that's a problem with my particular fanbase, but I don't want to exclude anyone who is uncomfortable going through the extra steps.
- The subscription services essentially become a gateway to the Discord server, and don't contain much, if anything in words of content themselves. This may or may not effect traffic/ interest since you can't really see in advance how much you'll be unlocking by subscribing.
- I'm not sure if the price difference between the tiers warrants changing the subscription model.

Please vote in the poll either on DA or in the comments, it means a lot and will have a huge effect on how I handle DA, Ko-Fi, and Patreon subscriptions moving forward. In the meantime, I'll continue to think on it in my own time.

Thank you to everyone who voted and/or commented on the subscription reward-related polls! Here are the results:

- - -

DAY 1: Of the following subscription reward types, which interests you the most?

RESULTS: 7 votes
1st (71%): Reductions to Adoptables or commissions.
2nd (14%): Early access/ daily progress.
3rd (14%): Community/interactivity (streaming/ exclusive Discord server/ etc.)

Makes sense: Reductions allow repeat buyers to make their money back while getting any extra content that comes with the subscription. The rest is pretty standard and relatively easy, which is a great start.

- - -

DAY 2: Should I offer personal + commercial tiers for downloadable items, or offer everything commercially?

RESULTS: 6 votes – 50-50

This one's pretty split. I'll likely eventually do both as that offers the most flexibility for subscribers.

- - -

DAY 3: Should I have a cheaper tier that only gives you new subscription items, or give everyone access to everything?

RESULTS: 6 votes
67% want tiers

Noted. I'll have to look into this and make sure that I can actually set up this option on all 3 sites.

- - -

DAY 4: If I offer early access/ daily progress" as a subscription reward, how would you prefer that sale items be handled?

RESULTS: 5 votes
40-40 tie between including previews VS including previews + presale

I've already said my thoughts on this; I'll include previews for adoptables but don't plan on giving subscribers special privileges to regularly-scheduled adoptables. Creating extra, patron-exclusive adoptables is how I'd rather handle this particular issue, since it won't take away from what I already offer watchers.

- - -

DAY 5: If I offer themed livestreams, what style of stream would you prefer?

RESULTS: 7 votes
1st (43%): Artist Q&A
2nd (14%): Adoptables
3rd (14%): Art in general (recommended)
+ (29%): All of the above

Seems like all of the above with a preference for Q+A streams. Once I've set this up, I'll likely do a Q+A stream every 2nd month, with a subscriber-voted stream filling up the in-between months. If I see people getting tired of the Q+A streams down the line, I can mix things up. In any case, I always plan to have some form of art on-screen for these streams, as I am not interested in showing my face for privacy reasons. So a Q+A stream could become an adoptable or general art stream if there is a lull in interactions/questions.

- - -

DAY 6: If I offer some form of limited reward tier, which would you prefer?

RESULTS: 5 votes
1st (60%): streamed creature designs
2nd (20%): streamed general commissions
3rd (20%): Other (no comment attached)

Noted for the future.

- - -

DAY 7: If I offer exclusive adoptables as a reward, which would you prefer?

RESULTS: 8 votes
1st (38%): smaller adopts
2nd (38%): one big adoptable
3rd (25%): both

A complicated way of saying both xD

- - -

DAY 8: If I were to offer physical goods in the future, what would you prefer to see?

RESULTS: 5 votes
1st (100%): stickers

Noted; people like stickers! (I get that, I also like stickers). This one's still far from becoming a reality, but stickers are definately more feasible than a lot of other options. Once I'm more comfortable with the extra work associated with running 3 new subscription sites, I'd be open to looking into this.

- - -

FINAL RESULTS (In order of priority)
+ New rewards only (patreon only based on available options?) VS access to everything tiers.
+ Reductions to adoptables over 1 week old.
+ Reductions to all full-priced commissions/adoptables at higher tiers.
+ Early access/ "daily progress", including items for sale.
+ Streaming (Atrist Q&A w/ general art feed | Small adopts by request | Subscriber's choice months).

Next/Future:
+ 1 limited tier per month – streaming-related (Extra stream? Or Artist Q+A?).
+ Non-commercial VS Commercial tiers (when it becomes applicable).

First Thoughts on Subscriber Tiers + Prices:

Note that some of these rewards may take a bit of time to properly set up, and that exact details/prices are subject to change. That said, this is how I'm planning to set up my tiers based on the polling results. This is all I plan to offer until I have acclimated to running the 3 subscription sites. As always, feel free to add your thoughts, especially if you have experience either as a subscriber or artist offering subscription rewards. I will post another update once everything is up and running.

Tip Jar Tier $2 CAD ($1.50 USD)
+My gratitude.
+ Daily progress, including items for sale. NEW POSTS ONLY. (if setup is available w/ the subscription service).
+ Monthly stream. (rotating; specify each month) NEW STREAM ONLY. (if setup is available w/ the subscription service).


Observer Tier $5 CAD ($4 USD)
+ Daily progress, including items for sale.
+ Monthly stream. (rotating; specify each month. Q+A every 2nd month.)


Adopter Tier $10 CAD ($8 USD)
+ Daily progress, including items for sale.
+ Monthly stream. (rotating; specify each month. Q+A every 2nd month.)
+ 25% off adoptables over 1 week old.


Shopper Tier $25 CAD ($19.50 USD)
+ Daily progress, including items for sale.
+ Monthly stream. (rotating; specify each month. Q+A every 2nd month.)
+ 50% off adoptables over 1 week old.
+ 10% off all full-priced general commissions, upgrades, and adoptables under 1 week old (applied when bidding ends).


Big Spender Tier (Rotating, limited tier): $100 CAD ($77 USD)
+ Daily progress, including items for sale.
+ Monthly stream. (rotating; specify each month. Q+A every 2nd month.)
+ 60% off adoptables over 1 week old.
+ 25% off all full-priced general commissions, adoptables and upgrades under 1 week old (applied when bidding ends).
+ Experimental commission of the month (rotating; specify each month)

Hello again! Following up on my previous journal regarding my new Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thegreatestmystery , Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/thegreatestmystery40332 , and DA subscription tier: https://www.deviantart.com/the-greatest-mystery , I've taken some time to brainstorm all sorts of potential future rewards and would love to gauge interest from the community. After all, the last thing I want is to spend hours setting up a subscription reward that no one actually cares about. I'll also be making a series of polls over on DA to help gauge interest that way, the first of which is, "What reward type interests you the most?": https://www.deviantart.com/the-grea.....e-most-8648728

Keep in mind that:
- I will likely only be choosing 1-3 rewards to start, as I get accustomed to the nuances of each site.
- I'm more likely to pick a popular reward that I'm personally invested in or that is easy to manage.
- It may take me a few days, weeks, or more before I commit to the chosen rewards, depending on the feedback and potential challenges associated with the rewards.
- Some rewards may rotate in and out of availability from month to month (specifically limited tiers that offers 1-time rewards like special commissions, adoptables, etc.).
- Similarly, some rewards may only be available when I'm not working full-time. I'll do my best to warn people/specify this in the tier descriptions if either of the above scenarios occur.
- I am new to this and still getting a grasp of what I can/can't and should/should not do; please be kind. I am open to any recommendations on the matter.

Possible Rewards (By personal preference)

LIKELY+ (EASY/ MOTIVATED TO DO EVEN IF WORKING)

Early access/ "daily progress", excluding items for sale.
(Daily progress every day that I make progress on art that I can show publicly, excluding adoptables and other art for sale. PROS: Relatively easy.)

Character Q&A animatics/ sketches.
(Exclusive/early access to ask my OCs questions, which will be answered in sketch or sketch animatic form. PROS: I've been wanting to do this for a while; I'm motivated. | Scratches the animation itch. CONS: People need to actually be interested and asking questions | Non-consistent deliverables; depends on the questions being asked and the frequency of questions.)

Reductions to adoptables over 1 week old.
(PROS: Adoptables already exist; relatively easy | Non-members don't lose access to adoptables.)


LIKELY

PSD creature bases.
(PROS: Can become a source of steady income. CONS: Time intensive | Learning curve and best practices.)

Options to buy without subscribing, where applicable.
(PROS: Alternate option for those who are only interested in specific bases/adoptables/ etc. CONS: May make the subscriptions feel less special?)

Reductions to all full-priced commissions/adoptables at higher tiers.
(PROS: Ability to make back some of the money spent on the subscription. CONS: The % has to be enough to make the reward interesting, but it could potentially be overused, and limiting its usage is also less interesting; balancing. | Might be complicated to set up.)

Subscriber-exclusive extra adoptable(s), that open up to general sale if not sold within the month.
(PROS: New additions rather than removing access from the general public. | Allows me to experiment/ make more in-depth designs.)

Interactivity; related to other tiers like Q&As, bases, subscriber-exclusive adopts, etc.
(PROS: Subscribers get to help decide what art I'll make each month, and make recommendations during the creation process of Patreon-related content. CONS: No guarantee that all recommendations/ requests will be followed, especially if there are a lot or if requests conflict.)


NEUTRAL

Early access/ *daily progress*, including items for sale.
(PROS: Relatively easy. | No one loses access to purchasing adoptables. CONS: Gives subscribers a potential leg up by knowing which adoptables are coming in advance.)

Themed livestreams, including but not limited to: talking | fanart (OC or IP) | tutorials | animation | adoptables | etc.
(PROS: Direct interactions. | Lots of possible themes, keeping things fresh. CONS: Time-intensive to set up with multiple failure points and possible costs (internet stability/ computer limitations/ mic + streaming quality/ etc.) Definately needs to be tested before official implementation. | I'm a nervous hermit.)

Limited streamed General | Creature Design | Animatic commission tiers.
(PROS: Direct interactions. | Buyer gets a chance to make alterations in real-time. CONS: Requires me to set up general livestreaming in order to be a viable option. | Potential time-difference issues.)

High res images/ Working files, excluding purchasable art.
(.psd/ .xstage/ .asperite/ etc. Also excludes commissioned art unless consent is give by the buyer. PROS: Chance for subscribers to dig into files and see how my art is made. | Easy to implement. CONS: Means relinquishing a certain level of control over my personal art and OCs)

Cheap tier that only grants you new rewards/ Expensive tier that gives you access to all rewards.
(PROS: Makes each month's rewards slightly more valuable/exclusive, while still allowing access to anyone willing to pay. CONS: Could make subscribing less interesting to some members? | More tiers = More complicated)

Cheap tier for non-commercial use/ Expensive tier for commercial use.
(PROS: Grants subscribers that don't need commercial rights cheap access to memberships. CONS: More tiers = More complicated. | Might be hard to enforce.)

Shout-outs/ Featured tier.
( I post a monthly DA/FA/Subscription sites/ Discord server? journal featuring anyone in this tier, including their profile/art/writing of choice (SFW only and not mandatory). PROS: Relatively easy to do | Extra recognition for subscribers willing to give more. CONS: Subscribers might lose out if they are not active.)

Discord server.
(Could include: voice channel | general chat | commissions/ adoptables/ advertisements channel ( 1 for patron art + 1 for my art, especially if offering early access/exclusives) | Patreon Shout Outs Channel | Art channels | etc. PROS: Allows a central space outside of subscription sites for members to hear news and gain access to downloadable content. CONS: Needs moderation | I sometimes use Discord for work, so high activity could be distracting during work hours; muting means no moderation/interaction.)

Postcard/ Greeting cards.
(PROS: I already have the downloadable files set up since I'm already selling them on DA. CONS: I haven't sold a single one in over a year; is anyone actually interested in these?)


UNLIKELY

Early access/ "daily progress", including items for sale + the ability to buy purchasable items early.
(PROS: Exclusive early access. CONS: It would make adoptable bidding less fair for the general public/ change currently-existing norms.)

Physical goods: Stickers | Pins | Signed Physical Commissions | Signed prints | Apparel | etc.
(PROS: Rewards that you can hold in your hand and/or put on your person. CONS: Exorbitant shipping costs from my location, excluding lettermail. | Possibility of rewards getting stolen/ lost. | Costs associated with outsourcing for products that I cannot make myself/ Upfront costs needed to be able to make products myself.)

Animated Portraits

2-frame animation
-Equal to full-body general commission prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50869996
-Flip between two poses/emotions/etc. of your choice.

4-frame animation
-2x the full-body general commission prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50869996
-For more complex actions or smoother transitions.

Other Info:
-Includes revision stage.
-Can flip drawings to make extra use of the limited frames; action-dependent.
-Unlimited slots.

Sketch animatics

$60 USD (max 2 characters/ 1 character + props).
+$30 USD per extra character.
+$30 USD for complex backgrounds.
-Option to pay more after receiving the finished animatic to keep refining it.

Other Info:
This is a timed commission; the final per-frame quality will depend on the complexity of the character(s), the complexity of the action(s), the final length of the animatic, if a background or props are needed, if there is more than 1 character present, if it's a close-up or wide-shot, etc.

Due to the nature of this commission, there is no revision stage. I'll create the animatic based on the descriptions and character sheet(s) provided at the time of purchase.

The examples below took 1-2h to create; expect ~ this level of quality or slightly higher depending on the aforementioned quality factors.

Unlimited slots.

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/60170348/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/60086162/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/39234377/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/33157833/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/33070051/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/33033190/

Animated Pixel Icons

50x50
-2 frame animation $70 USD.
-4 frame animation: $90 USD.
+ $7 USD/ extra smoothing frame.

100x100
-2 frame animation $150 USD.
-4 frame animation: $200 USD.
+ $16 USD/ extra smoothing frame.

Other Info:
-Discounts may be applied if you get multiple animated icons of the same character in similar poses, as most of the upfront cost is in creating the base pixel art.
-Icons can be scaled up (both examples are 50x50 sprites scaled up to 100x100). I wouldn't recommend scaling up past 300% the original size.
-Unlimited slots.
-Minor revisions included.

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/36508616/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/51905336/

- - -

For any information not included here, see my Terms and Conditions: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8764803/
You can also read through my Commission Preferences Journal: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8764960/ if you are unsure that I would be a suitable fit for your commission. If you have any questions, please contact me.

LIFE BITES SOMETIMES

I've been dragging my feet on this update, listening for news and deciding on how I want to proceed, and finally feel that I know enough information to share the situation that I find myself in. Last Monday, the team I work for was told to halt production effective immediately, with little warning or information. The next day, we all received notices of temporary layoff. Information slowly started to trickle in; the grant that was paying for our production had suddenly been cut: https://kidscreen.com/2025/05/07/tr.....learn-grant&_u=NWtCbgFl2Xg%3D To be clear, I am not sharing this with intent to start a political debate or to shake up the companies and people those choices led to my temporary layoff (please be respectful in the comments); I am simply stating a fact that has affected me and countless others personally and deeply.

If you've been a watcher for a while, you'd know that this is not my first temporary layoff. It is, however, my first temporary layoff to happen overnight, mid-production. It hits very differently when you don't have a chance to prepare beforehand.

Anyway, there is an actual reason for this update, so let's get to that. I want to preface the rest of this journal by saying that I am not in an emergency situation. I am fortunate enough to have a small emergency fund for these sorts of situations, that I was able to build up through adoptable sales and commissions. For that, a big thank you to everyone who has purchased anything from me in the past. More importantly, however, is that I have access to unemployment benefits, which will help me financially while I start trying to find a job in this crazy economy.


UH-OH ADOPTABLES (AND COMMISSION)

Unfortunately, while on this aforementioned benefit, half of any earnings I make will go back to them. This is a reasonable but unfortunate requirement, and means that for the foreseeable future (until I start a new job), I will no longer be able to offer discounted adoptables/ commissions. This includes YCH, design package commissions, discounted adoptables upgrades, and any other discounted goods. This also includes any base adoptable sales I had planned, and if we get that far, the price of silhouette adoptables. E adoptables will continue to be posted at the normal base price, but upgrades will only be available at the General Prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50869996 As I find time, I will officially update all the adoptable/YCH/commission information, but there is a lot to change and I have more pressing things to focus on for the moment. So for now, this will serve as the official update. Charity adoptables, upgrades, and sales will remain unaffected, since no money goes through me.


PATREON? YAY OR NAY?

I have been thinking long-term as well, and have been considering the possibility of opening up a patreon/Ko-fi/DA premium/similar service in the future, if the job hunt dries up (for simplicity, I'll refer to this as Patreon from now on, though it may not be the service I go with). I've had it on my mind as a possibility for years, but never committed since I don't want to put anything I already offer behind a pay wall, and never felt confident that I would have enough to offer otherwise. Early access to adoptables/art was the main benefit I could think to offer in a consistent manner, but it felt somewhat shallow to me.

However, I have never offered livestreams or robust creature bases. I have been considering both, and especially the latter as an alternate method of income. I may not be able to offer new livestreams/bases on a monthly basis if/once I do find work, but my hope was that even when higher tiers are closed, people may continue to filter in and out to get access to the bases/livestreams that are available.

More specifically (when talking about bases), I was thinking that for personal use, 1 month of membership would give you access to all bases available at the time. If you wanted commercial rights to the base, you would have to keep paying any membership tier for as long as you were selling art created from the bases. If I can set it up, I also wanted to offer a pay-up-front cost per base for those who don't want to pay monthly, and a tier that automatically comes with commercial rights included for that month's base. I'd have to look into the minutia of this, such as the legality, structural possibility, and recordkeeping methods, before I commit to anything, but while I'm still in the concept stages for this idea, I'm interested to know if this would even interest anyone.

Please, if you have any thoughts on the matter, either as a potential buyer or as someone who has used a service like this, I'd love to hear your thoughts and learn from your experiences. Currently, my only limitation for reward ideas is physical goods like stickers; anything that has an upfront cost.


TLDR:

-I lost my job. Poo.
-If you wish to commission me or get an update with your adoptable, please refer to the General Prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50869996 until further notice. (sales prices are closed)
-Charity adoptables are unaffected by this change.
-Thoughts on potential patreon (or service-adjacent) rewards is highly appreciated.

Commission Preferences:

My Commission Preferences journal: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8764960/ has been updated to more closely reflect my current likes and dislikes. As always, if you are unsure if a particular commission would be suitable for me, please ask.

Commission Prices:

I have also updated my General Commission Prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50869996/ and Design Package Prices: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/50870065/ for 2025. No changes in price or commission types this year, just a few changes to the text.

Of note, the description regarding custom design fees has been updated:

"Custom designs (art of a character with improper or no visual reference) may be subject to a design phase, which costs extra. AI generated character sheets will not be accepted as proper visual reference. You can find the prices for custom designs here"

Commission Terms and Conditions:

I have made some much-needed updates to my Commission Terms and Conditions: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8764803/ which I will list below. I will not be including small grammatical changes (Ex: changing the words "works", "materials", "art", "pieces" etc. to "artwork" to clarify the text) as there are many and they do not change the meaning of the text.


1. Terms:

(ALTERED) Artist: The person being commissioned to create a work of art.
(NEW) Artwork: A work of art or other creative work made by the Artist and commissioned by the Client. Also referred to as a commission.
(NEW) Employee: A person employed by an individual or company, whether permanently, fixed-term, or freelance on a reoccurring basis.
(ALTERED) Derivatives (adapted material): Material created based on or using the original artwork. An alteration, rearrangement, transformation, modification, translation, etc. of the original artwork. This term does not apply to the characters depicted within the artwork.
(NEW) Generative AI: Artificial Intelligence technology that creates content, including but not limited to images.
(NEW) Primary References : References (Ex : model sheets) that are expected to be followed closely in the creation of the artwork.
(NEW) Secondary References : References (Ex: moodboards) that help form a general sense of the desired artwork, to be used as inspiration.


3. Terms Of Use:

(NEW) The Client is prohibited from willingly or purposefully inputting the artwork into any form of Generative AI system. Derivatives of the artwork are not to be made using Generative AI.


5. Credit:

(ALTERED) In the case where the Artist no longer wants to be attributed to the artwork, they may ask that the Client remove the credit line, or list the Artist as Anonymous.


8. Guarantees:

(ALTERED) The Client guarantees that they hold all rights required to use stock, art, text, primary references, etc. that might be supplied to the Artist for the creation of the artwork. The Client agrees to defend the Artist against all claims, liability, damages, expenses, and fees arising from the Client's misuse of the Artist's work, or misuse of references used to create the Artist's work.
(NEW) The Artist does not willingly or purposefully use generative AI in the creation of their artwork. If the Client wishes to supply generative AI content to help illustrate their vision, its use will be limited to secondary references, and will not be directly used by the Artist when creating the final Artwork.

DISCLAIMER!: My availability has changed since I first planned this commission sale. As such, I will not be around to accept nor work on commissions between ~August 26 - ~September 21, as I will be away from my work station and only sporadically available to answer messages. If this has the potential to effect your commission, I will let you know in advance.

Due to this hiatus, all commission slots close on August 25, a little ahead of schedule.

- - -


RULES:
- These slots are not first-come, first-served; I will fill slots based on my interest in the characters.
- All commission prices listed here are reduced to sell. However, if you feel that the prices are still too high, you are free to make a counter-offer. If your character inspires me, I might still accept.
- Please include visual references for your characters in your note/comment, unless you are looking for a custom design (see CUSTOM DESIGNS). You may also include additional descriptions.
- Excluding the custom design phase (if applicable), there is no sketch revision stage.
- You can ask for OCs, design work, or fanart (I am less likely to accept fanart).
- You can buy as many slots as you want, so long as those slots are available. I will only start work on them once payment has been received.
- Over-complicated designs may be simplified.
- No bullying of any sort to me or any other participants.
- SFW and mild NSFW (pin-up type poses, blood, artistic nudity...) only.

- - -


CUSTOM-DESIGNS (this extra art phase is required for characters with no visual reference)
rough 1-shot design: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/43654880/ +$15 per design ($20 if bought alone)
rough 3-piece design: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/46643814/ +$45 per set (can be 3 designs of one character, 1 design for three different characters, etc.) ($50 if bought alone)
Add rough flat-colours to a design sketch: IE (excluding 004 and 008) https://www.furaffinity.net/view/45290937/ +$10 per design


- - -

EXTREME PERSPECTIVE SKETCH: $12 ea
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52080663/
- Pushing perspective past my normal comfort zone.
- Semi-rough sketch.

SLOTS:
-
-
-


EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTER PORTRAITS: $34 ea
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/48885487/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52162511/
- Loose, digital paintings.
- I may experiment with colour, lighting, composition, etc.

SLOTS:
- troutfeathers (DeviantArt) (PAID)
-
-


CLOSED | ANIMATED PIXEL ICON: $35 ea
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/36508616/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/51905336/
- I create and animate an avatar of your character from scratch.
- 50px by 50px(can be doubled to 100x100, like above).
- Full body or partial body sprite, based on your preference.
- Simple looping animation, based on your preference.

SLOTS:
-  thataveragedude (PAID)
-  thataveragedude (PAID)


FIGURE SKETCH/ POSE PAGE: $40 ea
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/51994193/
- A page of semi-rough sketches mixed with sketchier figures/ silhouettes.
- Balance of detail and looseness based on the individual character.
- Max 2 unique characters per page.

SLOTS:
-
-


MYSTERY EXPERIMENTAL COMMISSIONS: $40 ea
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/51816473/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/52240477/
- Let me get inspired by your character and make something special: detailed ballpoint pen, markers, physical paintings, burnished pencil crayon, pastels, scratchboard... There's no limit to the possibilities, but you won't know until it's done.
- No directives, no constraints; could be a detailed portrait or a simpler full-body piece.

SLOTS:
25% off ($30) 1. -
25% off ($30) 2. -
-
-


PAINTED CHARACTER BOOKMARKS: $60 ea
- I draw your character onto a 2x7 watercolour paper bookmark, with accents of plants, flowers, bricks, etc (You can request certain accents when claiming a slot).
- Free international letter-mail shipping. If you want insurance or tracking, you will have to pay the difference (You also have to be okay with giving me your address if you want the physical product).
- Acrylics, watercolour, or gouache.

SLOTS:
25% off ($45) 1.-
2.-
3.-


TRANSFORMATION THROUGH MOVEMENT:
- Character transforming between two forms (ex: werewolves, druid wild shapes, shapeshifters, etc.) as they move (ex: running, jumping, biped to quadruped, etc.).
- 5 poses in various stages of transformation and movement.
- All semi-rough sketches: $48
- All semi-rough digital flat colours: $108

SLOTS:
1.-
2.-


SCULPEY CLAY SCULPTURE:
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/30133049/
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/30121814/
- I will be more picky with which characters I pick, since certain traits may be too prone to breaking.
- Completed sculptures can be shipped to you if you pay the cost of shipping. They can be insured at your cost, but I cannot guarantee that it will arrive safe or at all. I am not liable for any lost packages. (You also have to be okay with giving me your address).
- Bust sculpture: $80
- Full-body sculpture: $140
- Buy 2, get 25% off the second sculpture ($60 | $105).

SLOTS:
1.-
2.-
3.-


- - -

CHARACTER CUT-OUT ANIMATION: 15%-60% off
- see animation folder for examples (DeviantArt): https://www.deviantart.com/the-grea.....6437/animation
- Price varies based on complexity (art style, shading, type of animation, etc.)
- No Background (you can provide one), no audio (you can provide some), limited props.
- DM me with details if interested.
- Only one slot available at a time

I'm looking to pad my demo-reel, so am offering 2.5D character cut-out animation discounts on a case-by-case basis. The level of discount will depend on how well the character and animation fits into what I'm looking for. All commissions of this type will require at least partial rigs, and since I am relatively new to rigging of this complexity, the most important factor will be a simpler character design.

THINGS THAT ARE LIKELY TO GET YOU A BIGGER DISCOUNT :
-simple, pre-existing character design
-simpler style (ex : cartoon compared to anime)
-little to no shading; no complex shading
-interesting animation prompt
-reasonably short length
-non-commercial

SLOTS:
1 -


FULL CHARACTER ANIMATION RIG + ANIMATION: $500
If you really want to support me, and also get a cool animation and animation rig in the process, this commission is for you and you alone. I don't expect anyone to actually buy this, but if you do, you'll be able to get future animations for much cheaper, as the rig will already be set up for your character. I will be extra picky about which character I accept for this slot, as I am still relatively new to professional rigging; I want to start simple. This commission covers the following:

-5-angle sketch turn-around of your character (including flips for non-symmetrical details) + 1 coloured
-5-angle flat-coloured ToonBoom rig w/ all non-symmetrical flips, basic hand + foot kit, lipsync, up + down angle heads for F, QF, and P, and blinks.
-2 simple animations or 1 moderate animation, looping or not (no BG, no sound, no props)

SLOTS:
1. -


- - -


Notes:
- Final artwork(s) can be used for commercial use by individuals or independent/emerging companies.
- I accept PayPal or e-transfer.
- No refunds for completed work.
- Prices are in USD.

If you're interested in commissioning me, please read my Terms and Conditions Journal: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8764803/ first for all the details. You can also read through my Commission Preferences Journal: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8764960/ if you're unsure that your character would be suitable for commissioning. If you have any questions, please contact me.


Other commissions and devious fun https://www.deviantart.com/the-grea.....er-devious-fun

A useful point of reference for anyone thinking of commissioning me, but unsure about what I draw.

What I Like and LOVE to draw:

- Custom creature designs
- Simple, realistic markings/patterns
- Simple accessories or clothing (when applicable)
- Narrative reasons behind designs
- Most types of characters, especially those falling under humanoids, animals, and beasts.
- Long, slender or snake-like bodies
- Wispy, elegant, or organic shapes
- Terrifying monsters
- Cute little critters
- Colour schemes (complimentary, split complimentary, triadic, etc.)
- Pastels/natural colours, sometimes with a touch of vibrant colour
- Concise, fun, or original designs

What I Dislike or (most often) REFUSE to draw:

- NSFW - sexual in nature
- Questionable or controversial themes
- Mechas and other heavily mechanical forms
- Over-sexualized designs (GIANT-breasted women, beefed-up for the sake of looks, etc.)
- Characters created using generative AI
- Complex parts needing heavy referencing (especially if proper reference material is lacking)
- Pin-ups, overly-provocative poses or themes
- Brutally gorey (minor blood/gore is fine)
- Rainbow, oversaturated, or competing colour palettes
- Excessive amounts of unnecessary details, especially if unnatural or illogical

1. Terms:

Artist: The person being commissioned to create a work of art.
Client: The person paying for production of the commissioned artwork.
Artwork: A work of art or other creative work made by the Artist and commissioned by the Client. Also referred to as a commission.
Individual or Independant/Emerging Company: A single person, or a business consisting of no more than 12 employees.
Larger Company: A business consisting of more than 12 employees.
Employee: A person employed by an individual or company, whether permanently, fixed-term, or freelance on a reoccurring basis.
Non-Commercial: Not primarily intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation.
Commercial: Intended for or directed towards commercial advantage or monetary compensation. This includes anything from advertising, to branding, to direct resale.
Derivatives (adapted material): Material created based on or using the original artwork. An alteration, rearrangement, transformation, modification, translation, etc. of the original artwork. This term does not apply to the characters depicted within the artwork.
Share: To provide the artwork to the public under a circumstance out of the Artist's control (Ex: putting the artwork on posters, billboards, websites/blogs, T-shirts, etc.) Sharing includes the reproduction, public display, and distribution of the artwork.
Technical Modification: Modifications that must be made in order to use the artwork under specific circumstances. (Ex: Cropping, resizing, or changing file type)
Generative AI: Artificial Intelligence technology that creates content, including but not limited to images.
Primary References: References (Ex : model sheets) that are expected to be followed closely in the creation of the artwork.
Secondary References: References (Ex: moodboards) that help form a general sense of the desired artwork, to be used as inspiration.

2. Copyright:

Subject to Canadian law, the Artist retains full copyrights of all works produced, and may choose, under written agreement, to share commercial rights with the Client. Character(s) depicted in the artwork remain the property of their original owner(s). The Client cannot claim copyrights they do not own.

3. Terms Of Use:

If the Client is an Individual or Independent/Emerging Company, all listed commission prices are for Commercial purposes, including Derivatives. This is an indefinite right granted at the time of purchase, for the commissioned artwork. It is retained even if the company grows. However, these rights do not eliminate the obligation to give proper artistic credit.

For all Larger Companies, the listed commission prices are for Non-Commercial purposes, with no Derivatives. By commissioning the Artist, the Client agrees not to use the artwork for commercial gains, nor publicly share any derivatives of the artwork. If the Client wishes to commission the Artist for commercial work, they must clearly state their intent upon requesting the commission, so that an appropriate price and contract can be drafted.

The Client is prohibited from willingly or purposefully inputting the artwork into any form of Generative AI system. Derivatives of the artwork are not to be made using Generative AI.

The Client may share commissioned artwork on other sites, so long as they respect their rights, and proper credit is given. Linking back to the original artwork is allowed and encouraged.

Technical modifications to the artwork are not considered derivative.

4. Cost, Procedure, and Refunds:

The Artist will not begin work on a commission until it is paid for in full. Larger commissions can be paid for in parts; each part will be finished when it is fully paid for. If the work is not completed 30 days after payment, the Client may request a refund for all work not already completed. The Artist will also refund the Client if circumstances make the commission impossible to properly complete, or if the Artist deems the artwork to be unlawful or immoral.

By commissioning the Artist, the Client understands that certain liberties may be taken in drawing the subject. However, the Client may ask for specific requirements so long as they make these clear before commencement of the artwork. Unless the artwork differs substantially from the original description or references, excessive changes will result in further costs for the Client, and possible delays in schedule.

A draft will be sent at the sketch stage for the Client to review and accept. A delay in approval may create delays in schedule. Once the sketch has been approved, changes to the artwork will be restricted. Once the commission has been deemed finished, the Artist will no longer make adjustments to the artwork.

5. Credit:

If sharing the artwork, The Client must respect their rights, and properly credit the Artist, preferably by linking back to the original artwork and mentioning the artist in their description.

In the case where the Artist no longer wants to be attributed to the artwork, they may ask that the Client remove the credit line, or list the Artist as Anonymous.

6. Endorsement & Moral Rights:

The Artist does not endorse what the Client does with the artwork after its completion. The Client may not assert or imply that their use of the artwork is connected with or sponsored by the Artist. Additionally the Artist may seek compensation or take-down if the artwork is used in a way that is immoral, racist, sexist, or otherwise deemed inappropriate.

7. Exceptions and Limitations:

These terms and conditions cannot reduce, restrict, or impose conditions on the Client that could lawfully be made without permission of the Artist. (Ex: Fair Use) If any part of these terms and conditions is deemed unenforceable, it shall be automatically reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable.

8. Guarantees:

The Client guarantees that they hold all rights required to use stock, art, text, primary references, etc. that might be supplied to the Artist for the creation of the artwork. The Client agrees to defend the Artist against all claims, liability, damages, expenses, and fees arising from the Client's misuse of the Artist's work, or misuse of references used to create the artist's work.

The Artist does not willingly or purposefully use generative AI in the creation of their artwork. If the Client wishes to supply generative AI content to help illustrate their vision, its use will be limited to secondary references, and will not be directly used by the Artist when creating the final Artwork.

The Artist will not license, sell or otherwise misuse the commissioned artwork, but may display them for portfolio or archiving purposes, and may show them to subscribers as an early access perk. The latter does not grant said subscribers any right to use the artwork(s) or its content. The Client has the right to request that their commissioned art not be included as early access content. The Artist may also stop displaying the artwork at any time; however, this will not void these terms and conditions.

The artist will not be accountable for lack of accuracy, or the presence of errors, if said errors are not caught and mentioned by the Client in the early stages of development.