Commissions/ Trades / Requests.

Requests:

Sorry, I don't do free requests for anyone but close friends. They know who they are. Chances are, it's not you. (Sorry if it sounds harsh, but people - stop asking!) I will NOT reply to emails that ask for free artwork, I find it rude. :P

Trades:

Please contact me about this, I may be swamped. But, as a general rule, I do still do trades with other artists (no matter what their skill level).

My only requirement is that you actually *try* when you draw. Just a note, it's generally considered polite to actually try in trades. If your regular work (especially pictures you do for other artists) is better than the picture you send me, I probably won't jump at the chance to return a picture. And when I do return it, I probably won't go all-out either. I'm not saying do a super-snazzy background, with an action pose, all in color, 5 characters or anything. But a scribble that is not even half as good as you normally draw doesn't make me all warm and fuzzy either. ;p The rule is "expect to get as good as you give". If you just want a little doodle, then draw me a little doodle. ;p

You're welcome to do any character of mine you wish to (I'd actually rather you decided which character you wanted to draw). If you ask, I'll give you a choice between two characters, generally a guy and a girl, so I'd still be making you choose. :D I don't mind if you pick the character you'd like me to draw, but please note that I do not consider myself 'obligated' to do you another picture if I get confused and accidentally draw you a different character than you requested. I've actually heard of people saying something along the lines of, "I got your picture of Character A, but I wanted you to draw Character B, so I'll consider this one a gift picture! Looking forward to your picture of Character B!" Dude, how rude is that? Anyway.. rambling.

Oh. And I rather prefer you don't just send me a finished picture and request the trade. I don't like being 'forced' into art trades. ;p I consider any picture you send me before we agree on a trade as a free gift and I probably won't ever return the favor. ;P

Commissions:

Please note that I DO NOT DO HENTAI / ADULT ART. Don't ask. Thank-you.

I'm going to say this up-front, because it's somewhat important: I don't particularly enjoy doing commissions. However, I will do them, provided there is enough incentive. What, exactly, is my incentive? Why, money of course. :) These prices may seem a little high, but that's to discourage people who are not serious about commissioning me, and also to make me feel it's worth the effort.
If you're looking for a 'break' (price-wise), you might find me auctioning a commission on Furbid, in which case you can likely get a commission for much less than the prices listed here. So check out my Furbid auction list (you might even prefer a finished picture! They're cheaper than a commission!)

PRICING ->

• OpenCanvas drawing - $15
  You get the finished OpenCanvas sketch/drawing (one character; minimal background - no extra characters, sorry) as a .jpg or .gif, as well as the .wpe file so you can 'watch' me draw (using the OpenCanvas program). Both will be emailed to you, and you are free to post them on your homepage (provided you at least give me credit) or distribute them to friends (but not 'sell' them on a CD).
  Unless you ask me, specifically, the .wpe file will be uploaded to my mailing list and the .jpg/.gif will be uploaded to possibly any of my internet accounts (though very likely VCL).
  A commission in OpenCanvas will take about a week, but most likely less. I will not even start it until I recieve the money.
  Examples: my VCL OpenCanvas directory.

• Black & White, single character drawing (no background) - $30
  You get emailed a scan of the original sketch. If it meets your approval, I will ink it. The drawing will be done on high quality 'photo' paper or cardstock, depending on if you have a preference and what I have in stock. The original, inked drawing will be snail-mailed to you.
  Unless you ask me, specifically, the sketch and final inked drawing will be uploaded to possibly any of my internet accounts (though very likely VCL).
  A black and white, single character commission can take anywhere from a week to three weeks, depending on my schedule. I won't guarantee that it won't take longer, though. I won't start the commission until I recieve the money.
  Examples: my VCL B&W directory, VCL B&W "cake" (beef or cheese cake) directory, and my VCL B&W 'other people's characters directory.

• Black & White, multiple charas/background
  For more characters (up to 5, total), add $5 each. If you want more than five characters, start adding $10 for each new one. (Ex: Six characters = $0 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $10; Seven characters = $0 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $10 + $10, etc.)
  Backgrounds cost $5 for simple background (a shape or a prop for the character(s) to interact with), $10 for an intermediate background (ex: some hills, a tree and grass, simple room, etc) and $15+ for an advanced background. If you describe the setting to me, I can tell you exactly how much.
  Again, you'll have to ask me specifically not to upload this commission anywhere, otherwise I'll upload it wherever I feel it fits best.
  A black and white, multiple character and/or backgrounded picture will take anywhere from one week to one month to finish, depending on my schedule and how complex the image turns out to be. I will not promise it will be done within the one month, but I will certainly try.

• Color, single character drawing (no background) - $40-50
  Same process as B&W, single character. $40 dollars for computer coloring; $50 for markers and/or colored pencil hand-coloring.
  Please note that I do impose a $3 dollar "skunk tax". This applies to any character where more than 50% of their colors are black. (Ex: A black cat with black hair who wears a black leather jacket, black shirt, black leather jeans and black leather boots.) If you're curious if your character falls under the "skunk tax", please ask. Why the skunk tax? Because black is hard to work with, and black-on-black-on-black is even harder. It also may cause me to run out of black marker/colored pencil. If your commission is to be done with computer coloring, I'll drop the "skunk tax" to only $1, but you'll have to remind me. :)
  Examples: This link contains many of my best colorings, and indeed, some of the best examples of my artwork.

• Color, multiple charas/background
  For more characters (up to 5, total), add $5 each. If you want more than five characters, start adding $10 for each new one. (Ex: Six characters = $0 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $10; Seven characters = $0 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $5 + $10 + $10, etc.)
  Backgrounds cost $5 for simple background (a shape or a prop for the character(s) to interact with), $15 for an intermediate background (ex: some hills, a tree and grass, simple room, etc) and $20+ for an advanced background. If you describe the setting to me, I can tell you exactly how much.
  Again, you'll have to ask me specifically not to upload this commission anywhere, otherwise I'll upload it wherever I feel it fits best.
  *Important: If I do a computer color picture, I will burn the full-size .psd file to a CD, along with .jpg copies of any and all sketches, the B&W, etc and a "regular" sized .jpg of the image. You are allowed to make -personal- prints of the image, but not to sell (please).
  A color, multiple character and/or backgrounded picture will take anywhere from one week to three months to finish, depending on my schedule and how complex the image turns out to be. I will not promise it will be done within the three months, but I will certainly try.
  Examples: This link contains many of my best colorings, and indeed, some of the best examples of my artwork
  

Backgrounds-------> If a picture has a background, I'll do at least two different 'concept' sketches. These will be done on printer paper, either in pencil or pen (whichever I have at hand), and will be fairly different approaches to the same general image. You may choose between them, or suggest a third possible approach. If you don't like my third approach (which would generally be the one inked), then I will add $10 for each additional concept sketch. These sketches will be snail-mailed along with the original artwork I send you. If I do more than two (original) concept sketches on my own, you will not be charged for them - I may simply have several ideas for how to approach the picture. Also, if I make a mistake and damage your original, I will start again and the damaged image will be also given to you.

Shipping & Handling-------> I will pay S&H, unless you live somewhere other than the USA or unless you want it shipped in some other way than a manilla envelope with some sort of cardboard backing. If you want it shipped in a tube or whatnot, you'll have to pay for S&H.

Payment-------> I will accept personal checks (but will wait for them to clear before I start a commission), money orders, and even cash, as long as you hide it well (I'd prefer you didn't put it in a greeting card, since postal workers like to check those first, but a thick/padded/manilla envelope will do). My most prefered method is a money order, however. If you positively, absolutely cannot pay me in any other way than a credit card, we can discuss you buying me things off my Amazon wish list, but please contact me about it so I can revamp the darned thing. :)

If your commission is $40+, I'll let you pay half up front and half at completion, provided you tell me this is what you want to do first. I will not start a commission until I get the first payment. You will not have to send me the second half until you recieve your originals in the mail.

What will I draw?

- I will draw humans, elves, fairies, drow, aliens, etc. Humanoids = gud. :)
- I will draw furries with either style of leg (plantigrade [human feet] or digigrade [animal type legs]).
- I will draw furries with a muzzle, but please note that I'm not as good with "animal"-ish faces as I am with my more human faces.
- I will draw mythological monsters/creatures (centaurs, dragons, etc), but please note that I don't draw them often and they'd likely take longer to get 'right'.
- I will draw machinery (cars, space ships, etc), but please note that I need references for them, and I don't draw them often and they'll likely take longer to get 'right'.
- I will draw 'cheesecake' or 'beefcake' (pin-ups). This means that the least amount of clothing I'll draw them in is a bikini or boxers (or similar). There are limits to how far with "fan service" I will go, so the more suggestive your picture idea is, the more uncomfortable I will be with drawing it, so I may decide to turn down your commission. I may do nudity, provided that all you see is (for females) their back or (for males) from the waist up and mid-thigh down. That means you can have a guy with a blanket over his crotch, or a girl facing away from the viewer putting on clothing. It depends on how suggestive the picture idea is.
- I will draw same-sex pairings, provided they're in the G/PG range. This means fully clothed hugging/cuddling. I have nothing personally wrong with it, but I am living with my parents until I graduate college, and they're not quite as cool with it. And, yes, they do look at my artwork.
- I will draw other people's characters, provided that they are either anime/manga characters (since the Japanese actually encourage fanart) or you have permission from the original creator of the character(s). So if you know Mr. Disney, I'll draw Beauty and the Beast for you, but I'd better have some hefty proof that Mr. Disney okayed this. :) This also goes for non-commercial characters. If you want a commission of, say, Bara-Chan's Visha and your character, I'd better get an email from Bara-Chan herself saying it's alright with her. :)

I reserve the right to turn away any commission for any reason, especially if I'm busy! If I am busy, I will put you on a waiting list, if you want to be added, and I will contact you when I am free. If you decline, you are removed from the list. That means if later you want to be re-added to the list, you'll be added to the bottom.

Keeping in contact:
I am very bad with this. However, if you ask me for updates on how your commission is going I will provide you with them. Please note that I may be very busy with an IRL job/on vacation/busy with school work, no matter how actively I post to my archives (I often sketch and ink in class). I'd prefer that you asked for a weekly update rather than asking every day or something.
If there is a time limit on how soon you "need" my commission finished (say, if it's a gift), please let me know before hand! Also let me know if there's some other deadline you had in mind. Ie: "I'd like to see at least the sketches by the end of the month." I'm a heavy procrastinator unless I'm instantly inspired or given a deadline. (Frequent visitors to my homepage will note that my page has often gone an entire year without a visible update.)

If anything you have a question about is not covered by this page and/or you have a commission, please e-mail me!

Hope this helps you make a more informed decision on whether not to commission me. I'd of course, appreciate your business. :D Thanks for your interest!

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