10||0|1565|0|yes
0|0|0|||||Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|CGWolfgang||03:41:55|04/06/2012|Hello all%21%0D%0A%0D%0AI had a quick question to boardmembers about getting artwork commissioned.  As I delve deeper into creating 3d models I find that my lack of 2d drawing ability will wind up hurting my efforts to create Original Characters.  While not being able to adequeately draw doesn%27t completely stop me from creating an OC  %28I%27m attempting to start my first OC at the moment%29 it is a critical step in fleshing out a character and would ultimately help me save time in the long run.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo I%27ve decided that if I want to create an Original Character that badly then I should seek out artists more talented than me to do reference sheets or character concept art by commission.  Which is a really long winded and roundabout way of saying I%27m willing to pay someone to help me flesh out characters but I don%27t know where-in-the-hell to look for someone who%27s legit.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo I wanted to see if any forum members knew where to look or know of artists that accept commission%2C how much to expect to pay%2C and the ins and outs of getting commisioned artwork done.%0D%0A%0D%0A  
1|1|0|||1||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|pjmoyer||10:29:02|04/06/2012|%3EI had a quick question to boardmembers about getting artwork %0D%0A%3Ecommissioned.  As I delve deeper into creating 3d models I find that %0D%0A%3Emy lack of 2d drawing ability will wind up hurting my efforts to %0D%0A%3Ecreate Original Characters.  While not being able to adequeately draw %0D%0A%3Edoesn%27t completely stop me from creating an OC  %28I%27m attempting to %0D%0A%3Estart my first OC at the moment%29 it is a critical step in fleshing out %0D%0A%3Ea character and would ultimately help me save time in the long run. %0D%0A%0D%0AHey%2C wanting to illustrate my first OC%2C Aerianne%2C provided me plenty of motivation to LEARN to draw%2C so don%27t knock it%21  Wanting to get something you%27re really invested in onto paper so others can see it is an EXECELLENT means of inspiring and motivating you to learn%2C because you%27ll always be pushing yourself to get it better.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3ESo I%27ve decided that if I want to create an Original Character that %0D%0A%3Ebadly then I should seek out artists more talented than me to do %0D%0A%3Ereference sheets or character concept art by commission.  Which is a %0D%0A%3Ereally long winded and roundabout way of saying I%27m willing to pay %0D%0A%3Esomeone to help me flesh out characters but I don%27t know %0D%0A%3Ewhere-in-the-hell to look for someone who%27s legit. %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3ESo I wanted to see if any forum members knew where to look or know of %0D%0A%3Eartists that accept commission%2C how much to expect to pay%2C and the ins %0D%0A%3Eand outs of getting commisioned artwork done. %0D%0A%0D%0A1%29 You%27re pretty much on your own for actually finding artists -- there%27s a lot of them out there%2C but you%27ll have to do the legwork to find ones whose styles match what you%27re looking for%2C and who are accessable and ameinable to work for you.  Good ways to find them are to look on DeviantArt and to attend conventions %28both Comic and Anime%29 that have Artist Alleys.  That way%2C you can see what their output is like%2C over a wide variety of subjects%2C and at least with the AA%27s%2C you can see first-hand what their pricing scales are like.  %28DA%2C of course%2C either the artist will state up front that they%27re doing commissions or not%2C or you%27ll have to pagemail them%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A2%29 Payment can range anywhere from %2420 for a single character inked on 8x10%2C to %24100%2B for super-refined pencils on 11x17%2C to higher%3B depending on the artist and their level of popularity and skill.  Personally%2C I feel spending about %2440-50 per character from a good artist that you like is a pretty reasonable exchange rate and that anything over that you can pretty much pass on unless that artist is REALLY good and you REALLY want his%2Fher work.  Don%27t expect to get anything from the major comics artists anytime soon%2C though. They charge a LOT%2C when they do commissions at all%2C and there%27s usually a horrendous backlog when they do. %5E_-%3B%0D%0A%0D%0A3%29 %22Be polite%2C be efficient%2C and always have a plan to kill everyone you meet.%22  Well%2C the first two apply more in this case than the third%2C but the sentiment%27s still there.  You want to be prepared going into this%3B the more information and guidelines you provide an artist%2C the more they%27ll have to work on.  But you don%27t want to overload them%2C either -- part of the reason you%27re going to them is to see -your- character in THEIR style.  You%27ve got a right to have some expectations%2C but you shouldn%27t hover over their shoulders micromanaging them either.  Which is where the descriptions %28text and image%29 come into play.%0D%0A%0D%0AA general reference guideline for text would be a couple of paragraphs on the character%2C both physically and mentally%2Fability.  It should be straightforward%2C easy%2C and quick to read -- divided into sections if need be%2C and definitely not longer than a page typed out.  Half-a-page is better.  If you think of it as a %22Tech-spec%22 for your character%2C you%27re not far off -- reading those short paragraphs on the back of the original transformers rather rapidly gave you an impression of what that character was like%2C yes%3F  A physical description %28includes build%2C hair%2C face%2C what they usually wear%2C any equiment%29 and what they do and like%2Fdislike is pretty good for giving an artist a solid foothold to work from.  It definitely doesn%27t have to be a life-story of the character - in fact%2C an artist would be more likely to ignore it if it runs too long.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs for images %28which are optional unless you%27re a real stickler for how characters look%29%2C at least 4-6 are minimally sufficent to provide an idea of how they look and what they wear.  Now%2C you%27re starting out with a character with no references at all%2C so in that case I%27d say look online for images of people who look -like- your character %28either via illustration or real life%29 and then include them as references %22like so-and-so%2C but with the description above%22.  Artists are visual people%2C and having a guide to look at really helps.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C hope this helps%21%0D%0A--- Philip%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%223%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D2 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%0D%0A%5Btr%5D%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie.org%2F%7Eaerianne%2Ffoth.img%2Fgaia_ser_philip_saber.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%0D%0A%5Btd%5D%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000dd%22%5DPhilip J. Moyer%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000aa%22 size%3D-2%5DContributing Writer%2C Editor and Artist %28and Moderator%29 -- Eyrie Productions%2C Unlimited%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230000aa%22 size%3D-2%5DCEO of MTS%2C High Poobah Of Artwork%2C and High Priest Of the Church Of Aerianne -- Magnetic Terrapin Studios%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5Bfont color%3D%22%230044aa%22 size%3D-1%5D%5Bi%5D%22Insert Pithy Comment Here%22%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd width%3D%2265%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie.org%2F%7Eaerianne%2Ffoth.img%2Fgaia_aeri_coat_sword.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%0D%0A%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%223%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D1 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D
2|2|1|||1||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|JeanneHedge||11:34:52|04/06/2012|I should note at this point that I have no talent for drawing characters%2C but I often hang around with the DevArt%2FAA types at cons and such.%0D%0A%0D%0AFrom my own experiences in commissioning artwork%2C I can confirm everything Phil wrote to be very true. Price generally goes up based on how far %22upscale%22 you get from a simple pencil sketch%2C and also with the number of characters. I know some artists charge more if they%27re not drawing a commonly%2Fwell-known character and acceptable reference material isn%27t provided %28%22acceptable%22 reference material varies with artist%29. Basically%2C it often boils down to a matter of time it takes to do the commission%2C not the materials needed.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Hovering%22 drives some artists nuts. Ask if%2Fwhen they%27d like you to check back with them about your commission - some artists like to get an ok before they move on from pencil to a more uncorrectable step such as inking.%0D%0A%0D%0AAt cons%2C some artists may have a limit on the number of commissions they%27ll take %28so they have a chance of actually finishing everything before the con is over%29%2C so get to the person you%27d like to take your commission early - or make arrangements with the artist before the con starts. %28it%27s not unknown for some commission lists to be full before the con starts%29%0D%0A%0D%0AHowever%2C sometimes you can get your commission in trade %28YMMV big time on this one%29. A few years ago I received a commissioned piece depicting a scene from one of my fics%2C which involved 3 well-known characters%2C penciled then inked then with color added%2C in exchange for sharing my room at the Hyatt at ACen. %28of course%2C I had known the artist for several years by that time%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AGood luck with your search%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AJeanne%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22 width%3D%2280%25%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd align%3D%22center%22 width%3D%2210%25%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%2Fmisc%2Foldowl.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bfont size%3D2%5D%5Bb%5DJeanne Hedge%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%5Blink%3Awww.jhedge.com%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bi%5D%5Bfont size%3D1%5D%22Believe me%2C if I have to go the rest of my life without companionship%2C knowing myself won%27t be a problem.%22%0D%0A     -- Gabrielle of Potadeia%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D
4|3|2|||1||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|The Traitor||02:31:24|04/07/2012|...%0D%0A%0D%0AShould Chad be informed%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0A%22Yeah%2C I%27m definitely going to hell%2FBut I%27ll have all the best stories to tell%22 -- Frank Turner%2C The Ballad of Me and My Friends
6|4|4|||1||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|JeanneHedge||11:27:35|04/07/2012|%3E... %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EShould Chad be informed%3F %0D%0A%0D%0AUmm%2C I think you%27ve mistaken me for someone else.  I don%27t know anyone named Chad.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AJeanne%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Btable border%3D%220%22 cellspacing%3D%220%22 cellpadding%3D%220%22 width%3D%2280%25%22%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd align%3D%22center%22 width%3D%2210%25%22%5Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%2Fmisc%2Foldowl.jpg%5B%2Ftd%5D%5Btd%5D%5Bfont size%3D2%5D%5Bb%5DJeanne Hedge%5B%2Fb%5D%0D%0A%5Blink%3Awww.jhedge.com%7Chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.jhedge.com%5D%5B%2Ffont%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bi%5D%5Bfont size%3D1%5D%22Believe me%2C if I have to go the rest of my life without companionship%2C knowing myself won%27t be a problem.%22%0D%0A     -- Gabrielle of Potadeia%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A%5B%2Fi%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5Btr%5D%5Btd colspan%3D%222%22%5D%5Bhr size%3D%221%22 noshade%5D%5B%2Ftd%5D%5B%2Ftr%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D
3|2|1|||||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|CGWolfgang||01:56:56|04/07/2012|Thanks guys for the advice it does help a lot%21%0D%0A%0D%0AYour right though I really have to start building a 2d skill set.  Even if it starts out as crap after a few years I should be good enough at it to add it to my production pipeline.
5|1|0|||||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|DocMui||09:51:15|04/07/2012|I do have one bit of advice that%2C as official Commission Wrangler%2C I follow%3A%0D%0A%0D%0AWhenever possible%2C make the commission fun or challenging for the artist.  %0D%0A%0D%0ASeriously%2C you will not believe how many pictures I%27ve seen that look like they were sheer%2C freaking torture for the artist.  A happy artist will be more likely to give you a more developed commission%2C and perhaps go the extra mile.  Happy artists also enjoy repeat customers.  I%27ve filled the wallets of the Moy brothers more often than I care to admit%2C but they do consistently good work--and I don%27t give them War and Peace in my commission requirements.%0D%0A%0D%0A--Doc
7|1|0|||||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|rwpikul||14:23:06|04/08/2012|I%27ll add another place to look for artists%3A%0D%0A%0D%0AFurAffinity %28www.furaffinity.net%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AYes%2C it%27s a furry site but many of the artists are quite willing and able to do humans.  Prices are generally on the cheap side%2C %28sub-minimum wage cheap%29%2C but it can be hard to get a specific artist because their slots fill very quickly.%0D%0A
8|1|0|||||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|Acyl||03:55:30|04/16/2012|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-16-12 AT 04:13 AM (EDT)]Considering your needs%2C I%27d recommend looking for someone who%27s not so polished a professional%2C but someone who%27s willing to spend a little more time talking to you about your characters. %0D%0A%0D%0ASee%2C your needs are different from most people - you seem to be looking at character design for projects%2C not just one-off illustrated scenes. That%27s not precisely a typical request. Most commissions work out to something like %27could you draw my girlfriend%27s Commander Shepherd omni-tooling a Geth%27%2C or %27could you draw our City of Heroes characters hanging out%27. %0D%0A%0D%0AHell%2C the fact is most people making requests already have extensive reference images for what they want you to draw. Game screenshots. Photographs of celebrities they want you to model faces after. Or at least extensive text notes about how their character looks. A few folks have simply sent me links to entire galleries of images for their character...other commissions they%27d solicited%2C or stuff they%27d drawn themselves.%0D%0A%0D%0AHowever%2C it seems that you%27re looking for artists to do some initial design work for you%2C or collaborate with you in a design process. That%27s somewhat different.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22So%2C these goggles he has - any particular design%3F No%3F Okay%2C what if we do something steampunky%2C in brass%3F So for hairstyle%2C any ideas%3F No%3F Right%2C hairstyle reflects personality%2C so I figure his would be kinda messy%2C because...%22%0D%0A%0D%0AActual example%2C there. I did that%2C in AIM - over the course of a few hours%2C as I worked out the sketch. I suspect that%27s the kind of real back and forth exchange you%27re looking for. But that%27s unusual%2C see. %0D%0A%0D%0ABasically%2C you%27re going to have to make a friend. Maybe a friend that you%27re paying %2410-20 a pop%2C but still a friend. Someone you have an actual rapport with. Otherwise%2C they%27re not gonna do this.
9|2|8|||||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|Berrik||14:44:59|04/22/2012|Forget Furaffinity. It is a site laden with drama and some of the worst humanity has to offer. Furthermore%2C the site is coded incredibly badly and thus is about as secure as an old shed with a rotted wood door.%0D%0A%0D%0AInstead I%27d suggest looking about on Deviantart. While the community there is also somewhat drama-laden%2C there are a significant number of artists there who are way more competent than anyone you will find on FA. %0D%0A
10|3|9|||||RE%3A Advice Needed on Commissioning artwork|rwpikul||01:42:05|04/26/2012|dA had already been suggested and it is clear you haven%27t done much looking around FA.  Does dA have more good artists than FA%3F  Of course%3A  It has more of everything%2C including %22the worst humanity has to offer%22.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AAs for drama%3A  My FA watch list is at %7E1000 artists%2C I rarely see drama spillovers.  Heck%2C I see as many of them at dA and I almost never read journals there%2C %28and watch far fewer artists%29.%0D%0A%0D%0ANow%2C you will see a lot of drama if you hang out in the FA forums.  This is why I would suggest that you only use the forums to check site status notices and TOS%2FAUP updates.