#just a quick sketch between commission work

[b1ttersweet-dreams]

heard my beloved had been reconstructed

[terrified-spider]

An Azalin Rex sketch (:

[shemeiart]

2024 summary of art!

And it's special, because I made two separate summaries and want to talk about that - long text incoming!

Despite this year being really hostile towards creatives - I thrived - how so?

This year was the year of finally trying to do more for myself - OC's I love so dearly but always had problems with justifying putting time into that because art is my only income at this point and I always felt I'm wasting my time while drawing my OC's and people don't really care about them.

But how people would care if I wasn't showing them in the first place? How people WILL know about my blorbos, my stupid idiot Xan (affectionate) or others I RP and brainrot about on daily basis if I wont post them? If I won't do anthing about that? It was the time to just change it. And I did. Every little doodle I was doing for years now was only for me and my friend I RP with. No one else was seeing them, no one else was included in our little world and I never understood why would anyone be interested in such "bad" artwork - who would like quick sketches with OC sitiuations? And then I looked at myself and what kind of works I enjoy - the works that people share - those little doodles that make me smile, that make me relate or just point finger at and show to my friend and be like "this OC is so cool, I love this artist" - why was I so harsh on myself then? I realized I was just in the neverending spiral of trying to be "perfect", putting "finished" works, rendered illustrations as the best of art - everything else I did? Not worthy to share. It's stupid, I know, but this is how I was for past 10 years now and oh boy, it was hard to unlearn. That's when I started to do more OC doodles in between commissions and design work - and then I understood the appeal of meme redraws, silly interactions or just sketching OC's in "situations" - those gave me ✨ JOY ✨, joy that I forgot I could feel again after so many years of burnout. And when I started doing that I couldn't stop. Sketches just started piling up, I fixated on Sivo @indusfera OC and he is still one of my main subjects. I feel like I'm alive again just drawing what I want, what I really wanted for longer time. It's like a fresh start. So many years denying myself those little joys of creating, when I started to create SPECIFICALLY for that joy - drawing my OC's as a kid and interacting with others with them. I'm free of guilt or as we say "I'm cringe and I'm free", I just want to do what I want and do it unapologetically. And despite 2024 being shitty year for all artists with rampant AIgen being forced into mainstream - I'm happy. I know we CAN and we WILL outlive it, true passion and joy of creating in any medium is something that no system nor machine will ever reproduce. No one will do it as we do. So 2025? Here I come with my biggest brainrot about Sivo (which will only grow I suppose), with no plans, just being happy and doing my thing. I have my "wants" if it comes to art - I want to try working with gore and other NSFW topics, but I'm unsure how or when I start. Maybe this upcoming year, maybe 2026, who knows where my art will take me. All I know I'm happy with how things are. And this is all that matters to me at this point.

Thank you all for sticking with me whem I'm active here or not - I appreciate all the reblogs, all the tags and comments in them that make me happy - stay being cool and support your artists, we all appreciate you.

[bluesunsdusk]

--// Had to do it again.

--// Also, I did the obligatory human version of non-human thing with Najma and Set real quick too.

[koboldfactory]

I’m starting to wonder if maybe my only sustainable style of commission work is like the quick sketchy stuff. I don’t make enough off of the bigger more refined pieces for them to be worth the time I put in. But I also don’t want to just raise the prices either. I think maybe just having an in between price from my rough sketch and smooth illustration comms will be best for like “refined sketch” style commissions. Which will become my new baseline.

[willoillo]

(Mild spoilers for Wings of Fire book 14: A Dangerous Gift) More dragons!! Just a quick warmup sketch I decided to finish up. I had a lot of fun with the dynamic between Snowfall & Lynx in book 14, they're dorks but in a cute way~

If you like my work and want to support me, my commissions are open!! For prices and examples you can check out my website, or DM me for more specifics~

Posted using PostyBirb

[doraambrose]

What is the difference between Copic markers with microns and posca markers? Do they look different on paper, do you have to use them differently, do different kinds of paper influence how it looks when finished? What do you prefer using? I have zero experience with these things.

Hello friend!

So posca markers are basically like markers filled with acrylic paint. So it's painting. Copic markers and basically really nice markers that you can blend. Copic is better on illustrator board and thinner paper like Bristol or acrylic or whatever. Posca seems to only work for me on canvas panels and illustrator board.

Because posca is paint, you have to remember that it has to dry. There have been many times where I forget it's paint and I put my arm on it or I try to put another color on top and it mixes lol. Also, it might ruin the markers, but you can mix the colors. That's how I do my dog portraits and shading and stuff.

With copic, I find it easier to do my comic art. It's lighter and better for more of that kind of detail. It's less vibrant and idk how to describe it, it's just easier for that kind of stuff.

I like to use posca for my more vibrant artwork, my dog portraits where I can mix and shade and have it look more natural, and any commission done on canvas (which is bumpier than paper). I like to use my copics for my comic style artwork and quick and easy sketches on illustrator board.

Here are some posca paintings I've made recently

Here are some copic stuff I've done recently

Thanks for the ask!

[art-by-reed]

Completely unsolicited art advice :3

Draw what you see, not what you think is there

This means when you're drawing from life, be aware that your brain is telling you different information to your eyes. And what you wanna draw is what your *eyes* see.

You see this table? Can you see all four of it's legs? No. Make sure your brain doesn't trick you into drawing the fourth leg - you know it's there, but you *can't see it* right now. If you draw the fourth leg, you'll be distorting the perspective of your image, and it won't look as natural as the camera does.

You see this still life? When you draw or paint your still lifes, make sure you only draw what you see. If you get the curve of the underside of that pear wrong, you might end up giving the viewer a glimpse of the wall, the gap between pear and jug. That's not what you see. Don't draw it. Rub it out and re-draw the curve of the pear til you've *drawn what you see*.

Draw what makes you happy

For me that meant fanart. You won't practise enough if you only have a passing interest in drawing. Drawing for the sake of improving your skills can be a weak motivator, and depressing cause it's really hard to see your own progress and you'll be drawing inspiration from more experienced artists. You should draw your otp, draw your crush, draw anything that makes you feel something.

You don't need to make finished pieces

Doodle in the margains of your schoolbooks. Draw eyes. Draw anime boys. Get yourself a sketchbook that you don't show people, where you can just draw freely without worrying about it being good. Just draw. Don't apply pressure to be perfect.

Does Usain Bolt get out of bed, step onto his private running track, and sprint at full speed immediately? No, he needs a warmup. He won't even be able to *reach* full speed every day. Your art might sometimes feel like it's worse than before. Individual pieces might be worse than previous pieces, but you yourself will not be a worse artist than before. You just need a warmup.

I've gone months without drawing and then drawn absolute crap lmao. Don't let it get you down

Don't fiddle with a finished piece

Every single piece I've posted to social media, I've found a flaw with, even if it took me months to notice. Remember you're always getting better, so when you look back at a piece you will be looking with a sharper artistic eye than when you finished it. Resist the temptation to take down your art and edit it; you'll be doing that every 6 months for the rest of your life. Let it stand as part of your journey, and make a note to do better in your next piece.

No-one sees your art like you do

No-one sees the mistakes until they spend as much time staring at it as you have. What they see is the initial impact of the piece, whatever that is. The striking colour, the movement, the emotion, whatever the focus is. You often become blind to the most striking element of your work after working on it so long.

Bonus tips:

Practise gesture drawing. Just lightning quick sketches of the human body. Draw and move on. Do it today, do it now. Get off tumblr and find a pencil. Here's a website that'll help you:

https://quickposes.com/en

Adjust your screen settings so what you're seeing is what a normal screen would see; often digital tablets have brighter colours than a laptop or phone.

Get outside your comfort zone. It sucks, but just do it. You'll find you have transferable skills; it won't be as bad as you think.

Don't underprice your commissions. Figure out how long you spend on each kind of drawing, and give yourself at *least* minimum wage for the time spent. You're not only doing yourself a disservice; you're undercutting prices for the rest of the community. You're an artist now. Act like one.

And finally, if you love art, don't worry if you'll make it. There is no "talent" to art. The reason some people make it and some don't is because those people love what they do. No baby is born able to draw. Each and every one of your favourite artists used to be so goddamn bad at drawing. They're good now cause they loved it enough to persevere.

Love you. Keep going. I can't wait to see what you'll make!

Go do gesture drawing

[hwangintakswifey]

#1

Tags: @deusfoundry

Go easy on me, I am not the best writer in the world. Sorry for the short chapter, but I didn't really know what to add next. I'll try to make chapters longer, but it'll take time bc I'm already a bit stuck on what to add next so bare with me.

Also, not the best at titling the things I write so it'll only be labeled by the chapters. Enjoy this terrible writing lol.

Rafayel had been a well known artist in Linkon City for a few years now. Spending days, weeks even, in his studio. Working on his personal paintings or artwork people had requested. He denies payment and wasn't bothered when one of his pieces is seen in small shops selling for way-too-low of prices.

One of his well known friends had even pointed out his paintings in the pawn shops, but he only shrugged it off and continued walking in his desired direction.

When he wasn't home, he'd be found at the beach; relaxing in the sand and admiring the beautiful sea he was way to familiar with. He missed it; where he lived before too many years ago.

On a Tuesday afternoon, he was requested to visit the hospital. Why? He didn't know. He didn't have any reason to go.

Upon arriving at Akso Hospital, he was greeted by the nurse who had contacted him. She pulled her mask down and under her chin before greeting him with a friendly smile.

"Thanks so much for coming, Rafayel." She was the kindest nurse Rafayel has met, the other nurses were always fed up with his dramatic emergency visits; twisting his ankle after tripping on one of his paintbrushes. But the nurse who stood before him just found him silly and didn't mind his childish behaviors.

"Right this way, sir." She turned and lead him deeper into the hospital. Rafayel glanced around as he followed her. When they stopped, she gestured towards the plain, white wall between two stairways.

He could already guess what she was going to ask. Looking back to her, she nervously asked, "patients, parents, and kids spend lots of time here at the hospital. We would like something...unique, colorful to entertain them; lift their spirits."

"Could you fill this entire wall with you're amazing artwork for the patients and staff here?"

Rafayel walked closer to the wall and gently ran his fingertips along the white paint, looking up to see just how high the painting will be. This would be a big project that could take months to finish, ideas were already forming in his head the longer he looked at the large space.

He hummed, crossing his arms over his chest, "yeah I'll do it." The nurse clapped gently, "thank you so much, we all appreciate it!"

When the nurse walked away, he took a moment to collect his thoughts and plan what he would be painting. It had been quite some time since Rafayel found himself doing a big project such as this one. The last time he indulged himself in a large painting was nearly 3 years ago; for one of his old friends he had known back in high school. He was still new in creating art back then so it took him a few months to perfect it to his satisfaction. Despite his worries, his friend loved the end result regardless.

Here he was, hundreds of commissions later, sold to various people or displayed in art museums. He made a quick trip home to grab the things he needed to brainstorm. Usually, he would've stayed home and returned once he had an entire design sketched out, but he felt being at Akso Hospital and seeing the area the painting will be, he'd gain more ideas and the vision would be easier to see.

He got settled against the wall and placed everything around him, he was in his own little world once he zoned out and focused on his profession. He bothered no one and no one bothered him.

Before Rafayel knew it, hours had passed and despite his exhausted body and constant yawning, he was still focused on his drawings. He flipped through the multiple pages of ideas as he colored in what he had drawn quickly.

"He's still here?" A mans voice was muffled in Rafayels' ears, dead focused on his art.

"He's a very determined artist, I'm sure he can stay just a tad bit longer." A females voice followed.

"Well, it's getting late. If he's here too long, it won't be good for his health. You deal with it." The clacking of the mans shoes and shuffle of his pants rubbing together as he walked passed Rafayel was all the artist saw in the corner of his eye.

He glanced up and saw the back of the mans head as he walked into an operating room.

"Mr. Rafayel?" The same nurse from earlier grabbed his attention. "It's been a long day, and I'm sure you're tired. Get home and rest well, alright?"

At her words, Rafayel couldn't suppress the loud yawn that escaped his mouth. "You're right, I'm exhausted." He stood up and stretched him arms.

"Have a good night." He grabbed his things and made his way out, looking up at the darkened sky. Shit, was I really here that long?

[undeadvinyls]

Eyeing you with my one singular eye

Cookie’s body? Hello? Looking? Staring? Observing?

IM SO SORRY IT TOO SO LONG TO ANSWER at first i wanted to answer with a drawing/couple of sketches but then i procrastinated which made me feel bad, because i RLLY wanted to share this lore.

okay so, let's just start with saying this off chest,

calamari cookie is the secret, land identity of Kraken Cookie, a legendary kraken-like sea creature which has roamed the seas around the Creme Republic.

I've been working on a story for it for a while now, so i'll share a quick timeline. Calamari/Kraken uses she/he/they pronouns in both identities.

The story happens somewhere after the events of A Mermaid's Tale, but in a different part of the sea. With the ongoing hunt for sea creature cookies, great kraken cookie was one of the main targets for hunting season, being called a "threat" to all the cookies of the republic, but because of Abalone's demise events prior, another crew of cookies was assigned with hunting her. These cookies were the family of Macadamia Cookie, the Macadamia Clan. It wasn't a powerful house like House Oyster, hell it was a simple Cookie Clan. But the republic knew these cookies were the creme de la creme of sailors, hardened by their bond and experiences.

The at the time head of the clan, which was macadamia's maternal ancestor, was assigned with hunting kraken cookie for good.

instead, what she saw was not a monster, not a dangerous sea creature, but a hurt cookie drowned in grief from all the pain that cookies like abalone has caused them and their friends. forming a friendship between the two, macadamia's ancestor came with an offer, that they will protect great kraken at any cost and will hide the truth, but he will have to dissappear from the public eye. and so, using magic, kraken cookie has taken the land identity of calamari cookie, as macadamia's family sworn protection of her.

it is now a family secret that the family clan has hidden the truth, saving the sea cookie instead of slaying it, like they were commissioned with. everyone believes that "the kraken is dead", yet no one knows the truth. that is the reason why macadamia cookie is calamari's cookie first mate and most trusted crew member, just as his ancestors were her most trusted cookies too.

after all these years, calamari is still grateful for the help, and thank to them, she learned that not all land cookies are evil, but was still hurt by the ones who were rotten inside, that is why, calamari never takes evil cookies lightly, especially those who dare threaten her found family - the kraken fortune crew.

EDIT 22/05/2024: forgot about one small thing, so i'm copying this off a reblog of this post, so people who generally read original posts instead of reblogs, could also see it.

original text:

"i unfortunely forgot abt this nuance but calamari cookie has not entirely given up on her original identity!! she still, often even, transforms into kraken cookie to see how are underwater cookies doing. she sometimes spends a few days in her old form too, you could say that overtime, he found a balance between his life of piracy and his life of a sea cookie. they just do not emerge out of water too much, in fear of the truth coming out to light. she doesn't want her "return" to be marked as a point for "a new era of monster hunting".

the crew also knows abt this secret, and they've promised to never tell anyone. but sometimes you can see kraken cookie hugging the crew members near a deserted island and they love their sea monster captain so much. recently she also met sorbet shark and they are his baby"

[ichigoli]

Yumi and The Nightmare Painter Shadowbox Master Post 1:

The Yoki-Hijo

I am head over heels for making these Cosmere Shadow Boxes. I would love to find a better mold than the 4" coasters but for now they are so pretty! I don't even know what I'll do with them but for now I'm happy the exist.

To begin, I once again sketched out a design trying to focus on strong silhouettes, and cut out each layer on a different piece of card stock. I decided to go with warm colors to push the heat of Yumi's environment and give some good contrast to the Painter Box coming soon.

Learning from the Mistborn Shadow Box, I was worried about such delicate shapes floating in the resin and messing with the depth. So I tried something that worked out ok with a fabric backing I did for a commission for a friend. I painted the paper cut outs with resin and let them cure on a silicone mat to hopefully give them some more rigidity and less buoyancy in the resin.

I wanted to lean in to the "traditional" vibe that Yumi's side of the story has, so I included real natural elements as part of the resin inclusions.

Real pressed flowers and gravel give the work a more grounded (sorry) element which will contrast nicely with what I have planned for Painter. I also decided to have some fun with it and "stacked" some rocks up the sides. The flowers floating in the sky are such an iconic part of her world that I had to include them.

I didn't take pictures of the individual layers going in this time around because, thanks to the resin painted over each piece, the long curing time between each layer became unnecessary so the process was a lot faster this time around (yay, we're learning!) But you can see the added flowers and some of the gems acting as stand ins for the Hijo floating around the stacks. I know they aren't "book accurate" but I wanted just the tiniest bits of Cyan and Magenta in Yumi's piece. (Keep an eye out for their parallels in Painter's piece)

I'm really fond of the way the resin soaks into the light card stock like water. It creates a very specific kind of translucency that lends itself to the "atmospheric fade" that creates a light illusion of distance and depth.

A quick check through the bottom to preview how it all looks before we add the resin on to the final backing paper layer...

The pale lemon yellow paper pics up a lot of depth from the resin soaking in. I also swirled in the littlest bit of gold luster-dust and a drip of orange ink to the corners for a little depth of color before putting the paper down and more resin over top.

And the final reveal:

A little flat with the simple background, but that's expected. The contrast is exactly what I was hoping for. I mixed a little bit of the glow powder seen beneath the Shadow Box there to help boost the reflectivity of light which can be seen bleeding up around her knees a little bit which I hope helps evoke that heat her land is known for.

When backlit, the rein soaked into the card stock gives the whole scene an almost dreamy quality as the stone stacks fade but Yumi remains stark and crisply focused.

A few close ups of details and how lovely the layering looks peeking through the open spaces.

<3

No preview of Painter yet, I am still trying to puzzle out a good silhouette for him that will show what he's actually doing when he's hunched over a canvas without being able to use internal contours... but I can share that I bought some EL wire and hope to line his piece with real hion lines!... once I figure out how to make the wire Cyan and Magenta along the places I want it to go.

Once Painter is done, I don't plan to stop. Maybe Warbreaker next... or Stormlight, though I have other plans for that behemoth.

Real talk: Anyone who wants to float an idea, I wanna hear it. These are too fun to stop. (I could maybe even be talked into parting with one if the situation arises)

[misc-obeyme]

CC I'M SO EXCITED, I FINALLY GOT ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO COMMISSION THINGS FROM PEOPLE (it's like three different people AJDJWJF)

but the prices are good, two of the people needed it for emergency money so it was a good push to bite the bullet and message them. I'm so happy, I'm gonna have art of me and Mammon (and one is gonna be a sketch page of me, mammon, and a friend who also likes obey me). Also i lost my drawing streak, but I just drew a bunch of random poses today for fun, so it makes up lmaoo.

anyway I am here to ramble about the job my mc/I would have in the Devildom! definitely got roped into working at the bunny cafe for one (1) shift with Mammon (the daily chat is what gave me this idea).

Not sure how the cafe works, but in the anime, Beel is working the bar lolol. So I always imagined it as a bar with some food, and you could request certain servers by paying extra, and obviously give them carrots or tips. Like a mix between a maid cafe and a club I suppose is what I'm thinking?? (...Hooters? I've never been)

anyway I totally got coerced bullied into working a shift (I am always caving when it comes to Mammon </3). And my anxiety is terrible, I CANNOT talk to people (it's a wonder how I'm a manager), so I'd definitely stick to bussing tables and helping run super big orders with one of the guys. Maybe even have Beel teach me to make some drinks, because that seems really fun. Basically completely avoiding any kind of one on one service.

And I think there's been chats or devilgrams about mc gaining popularity and having a fan club, so imagine all these patrons requesting me, and the owner has to be like "unfortunately - no." And then someone is like, "I'll pay an extra $100 just to have her" and that's when the owner decides to ask if I'd be willing. Because it doesn't hurt to ask, right?

And I'm like, "Ha! I'd do it for $250", and like, I say it as a joke, but imagine Mammon overhears everything. He'd drag me to the table and say my price, and to everyone's surprise, the demon agrees to pay. Now everyone is like 👁️👁️ interesting.

and now I'm suddenly serving a random demon, and I'm nervous as hell (HA), and I'd honestly spill their drink or something on them. The bill comes, come to find they tipped way over 20%, and wrote a note about hoping to have me again. Now I've singlehandedly paid back a big chunk of Mammon's debt.

now THAT would change my mind real quick. I would do anything for money, I'm so easily convinced 💀 like imagine how much cash I could make in one shift. Anxiety who ??

It ends up becoming a part time gig, and I become the owner's favorite. I learn the bar for fun, and can be requested as a server for a big fee. I'd like to imagine Mammon works extra hard to earn the owner's favor and begs to work the same shifts as me (little does he know I request to work with him bc he makes me feel safe, especially if people get way too drunk)

I've literally brainstormed about this so much, and I've still got more ideas rattling in my brain, SORRY IT GOT SO LONG AAA

- ✨ anon

WOOO!! Congrats, ✨ anon! You are braver than I lol! I've been trying to work up the courage for months, but I keep talking myself out of it. Mostly because I want to commission art of my OCs and I feel absolutely ridiculous asking someone to please spend hours drawing this silly guy from my head lol. It's a me problem, I'll get over it one day. Anyway, I'm sure your commissions will turn out amazing! I hope you enjoy them!

OMG what but I love this idea!! Listen, I have the social anxiety, too (it's so bad wow), so I get it. But I looove that you've got things that help you work this job despite that! Mammon and Beel to count on when you need support and of course the motivation of just... making money!

And it's so sweet that you're making the money to help cover Mammon's debts. And I love that both of you are like... requesting to work together and the other person is unaware of it. That's adorable!

I'm always going to recommend writing your ideas down! It doesn't have to be story-style, sometimes just getting them out of your head in some form really makes a big difference! Especially if it's something you've never told anyone or written down before. Forcing yourself to articulate ideas in a way that would make sense to someone else (even if no one else ever sees it) really helps to make ideas more solid. Then you can expound on them even more! It's a never ending cycle for me lol.

Anyway, I love all of this, I think it's fantastic.

For my part, I'd absolutely be bunny-ing it up at the bar with Beel. I like the idea of him making Devildom drinks and MC making human world ones. The demons that are willing to pay top dollar for MC to wait on them are also willing to pay top dollar for MC's authentic human world drinks! Now you're really rolling in the Grimm!

[monsieuroverlord]

Could someone who has either commissioned artists and/or is an artist who has done commissions let me know if I'm being a complete tool or not?

Personal vent (warning -- very long):

I know it's a minor thing, but I feel like I'm going insane and I'm not sure if I'm being an asshole.

So, I like commissioning artists when I have a bit of extra money, right? It's fun! It's supposed to be fun! I like doing my own art and also paying artists for their art!

And in most cases, I have had wonderful results -- prompt and easy communication, relatively fair and/or quick delivery with amazing results. It's always so cool to see how people I commission interpret my requests/references.

But there's this one artist that is absolutely driving me insane. It all started back in May 2023, for my birthday, as a goofy indulgence for myself, I paid for a commission. The timing was perfect, as they had opened commissions a couple weeks before my birthday. It's digital art, which I know is generally quicker than traditional art. So I figure, I'll probably get this commission by my birthday if they're not too busy or sometime after. That's cool, I can wait. So, I paid upfront with a little tip included because a) it's my birthday, saving money is not for birthdays lol, b) their art is pretty and at the time, I felt they deserved a little tip for their hard work regardless, and c) I felt part of my request might be a bit challenging and/require a general bit of extra detail, so I was overeager to add a bit extra upfront. Why not, you know? (loop back to reason a)

So I paid. And a few weeks go by. So I'm like, "Okay, they probably have a few more in the queue in front of me" and at this time I'm seeing commissions for others being completed and publicly posted in the weeks between me paying and when the commissions were posted, so clearly they're working away even though they haven't confirmed with me directly, right? And I was very detailed in my initial request, so perhaps they'll reach out once they have a rough sketch for me!

I finally got a message 4 weeks later. They said they'll have a rough sketch for "sometime in the next week." I say, "no worries, take your time!" because shit happens, life comes up, you know?

6 weeks go by.

I send a message.

Ten days go by.

I get a message with rough line art. It looks great! I'm thinking "Wonderful, they finally got to work! New profile pic for me soon!"

Two months go by -- no update. I send a message -- "Hello, just checking in. I hope things are going well for you!" No response.

One month later (It's now December 2023) -- I send another message (similar to previous one). No response.

One month later (January 2024) -- I wrote "Hello, just checking in again! Its been five months since your last message, so any update (even just to say things will be very delayed) would be greatly appreciated! Thank you"

No response.

And I mean, they don't seem to be too active on this particular social media site, so I consider the possibility that maybe they're just not checking? Maybe! Not the most professional thing in my opinion, but I also recognize that not everyone works a busy office job where you are expected to respond within 48 hours on business days, you know?

So, I give it a week, then I try the social media site they appear to be more active on -- they consistently repost stuff and have been pretty active in posting sketches of personal art. No response.

I also try the site I paid for my commission on. No response.

The week after that, I send another message on the original social media site, admittedly much harsher --"Hey, I'm a little disappointed in the lack of communication. I understand that things come up and I'm more than happy to work with you, but I would appreciate some kind of regular update (even if just to say things are delayed). I'd also understand if you no longer want to do the commission or anything like that, but I'd prefer not to be left in the dark. Thank you"

At this point, I am puzzled. I understand MAYBE not getting notifications, but as a commission artist, isn't it more professional to at least update your client once a month or so? Like I said, maybe my last message was a bit harsh, but it's been around five months at this point.

Another month goes by (February 2024) -- i send one last final message, because I FINALLY caught them at a time they were actively posting and reposting things! Surely they'll see it!

Sure enough, I get a response by that same day, six hours later, with a colored update of my commission! They let me know that family stuff came up, they had a hospital trip, etc. and they're not sure when they'll actually finish it, so they offer a refund.

Again, I'm probably being cold, but I was frustrated, so I say:

"Hello, I very much understand that things come up, but it has been six months since your last response. I’ve sent four messages via Tumblr and one via Ko-fi in addition to these two twitter messages. I would’ve very much appreciated a quick message at some point just to say things are delayed/things came up. My apologies for being harsh, but I do not think the lack of communication is acceptable.

"And yes, I think a refund would be beneficial. Thank you."

And to my surprise, they agreed that it was unprofessional, stated that they'll make a bigger effort in the future, and we got my refund sorted.

AND THIS IS WHERE I KNOW I'M AN IDIOT! (a.k.a. part 2 of commission frustration).

Fast forward to end of September 2024.

They open commissions again -- I won't specify the situation for privacy's sake, but they stated they were going through a tough situation and needed money ASAP.

And I internally debate this for a week or so. I recognize I'm in a very lucky situation -- live solo in my own apartment, bills all paid, fulltime job with solid enough benefits, two adorable fluffy cats. I got a bit of extra money, why not? (I always budget a portion as "fun money") Surely, based on their last message to me, they probably learned at least a bit more professionalism, right? At least, just enough to update me once a month or so, right? (Spoiler alert: I was incorrect)

They respond a week later and accept my request. Great! I pay upfront and I think all is well!

About three days later, they send me the lineart sketch! Wonderful! It looks decent so far (good placement, features I wanted, etc). Great!

About a week later, they let me know that they're still working on it, but things are busy in their personal life. cool. I thank them for the update.

In the meantime, they're still posting personal art -- mostly their fav characters, things like that. I do art for fun, so I understand working on multiple things at once (sometimes ya need to take a break on a specific pose or gesture if for whatever reason, no matter what you do, it doesn't look right, ya know? Or, more personally, I'm currently working on a big piece with a lot of details, but I love warming up with some gesture practice in general.)

Just under 4 weeks later, another message, letting me know, they're still working on it, but personal life is busy. They'll get flat colors to be soon. I thank them for the update again.

That was 2 months ago. I sent a message the other day, as they had been reblogging things pretty consistently for the past week or so (so I know they had been online, on that particular social media site).

Then this morning I just gave up and blocked them. I can't do it anymore. It's not even about what I paid at this point! It's just not healthy to be checking every single day, sending message after message, to no avail. I recognize I didn't even wait that long before blocking them, but I am just so fed up at this point! And if history is any indicator, I'm clearly going to have to wait another 6 months for any sort of response and I just can't do it.

I have fair reason to believe it's not a scam in the traditional sense, but I just cannot take being strung along like this anymore. I know for damn sure it's not anybody else's responsibilities to manage my triggers for me, but I cannot tolerate any sort of silent treatment/things that really feel like silent treatment, you know? And this really feels like silent treatment. (long story -- childhood trauma-based, not the worst thing in the grand scheme of things, but not great.) I swear I tried really hard to be patient, but I'm at the point I don't care anymore. And I know I didn't provide any hard deadline (I like to think I'm flexible in most cases), but I don't think at least a quick message every month or so is an unreasonable expectation, is it? Especially since I usually message them?

And I didn't mention it was my birthday on the first attempt because I didn't want them to feel pressured, so I 100% did not expect it to be done by said birthday at all (Like I said, it was only a couple weeks before my birthday, and I didn't 100% know my place in the queue, so that's just unreasonable) but 8-ish months after the fact, with ZERO response for 6 of those months, just seems too long to me.

And now, it's been 3-ish months with zero updates for 2 months.

I dunno. I just keep flopping back and forth between "You clearly need to learn to be more patient!" and "This is completely aggravating. You are clearly not getting this commission. Stop trying." and either way, I feel like I'm somehow acting unreasonably in this situation. Maybe blocking them was too much, but honestly, I'm so sick of seeing their art and it doesn't feel like I was ever getting that commission anyway.

At the minimum, it's just feels like a severe lack of respect for me as a client, regardless of my own personal idiosyncrasies. I don't know. I'm just frustrated. Mentally, it just feels like spinning wheels in my head -- lot of effort, with zero to no results or conclusion. Commissioning artists is supposed to be fun. This isn't fun anymore. But I don't know if I am being totally and utterly unreasonable or not.

[sparkwithinme]

Commissions open with a new commission sheet. ^.^ For more examples, my work can be found mainly be found on my Tumblr all under this tag, but some ancient work is kicking around on Deviantart. Also post things on my main twitter.

Prices are in USD.

I now have a Commission Form to make getting the ball rolling easier!

For a quick run down, keep reading! :D

1. My own style is sorta a mix between Disney-anime, but as I'm trained in animation, I enjoy dabbling with many styles. More anime? More disney? More realistic? Not a problem. :) For OC characters, visual examples or a detailed description is a must! Pose references are fantastic too! Basically the more visual reference you can give me, the better I can capture what you have in mind. :)

2. The above examples are just estimates as complexity of the request can affect the price. I am, however, also super flexible! My sheet is just some examples. Like if you'd be happy with a rougher sketch, pricing can be adjusted. I do also make physical artwork, working in marker, coloured pencil and watercolour--again, contact me to discuss this.

3. What won’t I do? Mecha/technical things I’m hopeless at. Heavily detailed things, like armour (looking at YOU FFXIV) makes my brain melt, thus can affect my quote. And, sorry, I can't do detailed backgrounds. (Don’t ask about my animation layout class grades! Cry XD) Simplified spaces and more natural landscapes I'm much better at. And, lastly, mature content just isn't my cuppa tea.

4. Paypal is my preferred method of payment! (But if you’re a fellow Canadian we might have another option... contact me and we’ll talk! :) )

5. The finished piece is yours to use for any personal uses. (Wallpapers, icons, etc.) However, copyright over the work is retained by me. If you’re interested in work to be used for commercial use, this is something that would need further discussion. See the google form for more thorough explanation of my terms.

6. Finally... I also make stuff! I love making crafty things! And more crafty things! Also MORE! XD (And some older things!) Here is a lot of the things I currently have available and also do custom work. Currently only able to mail things to Canada and US. (Things have been getting complicated lately. :( ) My apologies. Please get in touch if interested! =D

(P.S. I also stream a bunch on Twitch! Games (particularly a LOT of XIV right now) mainly! But also art sometimes too. ^.^ Come hang out with me!

[stoshasaurus]

Do you have commission prices? :]

I will make a price sheet, i promise.

but yes, i do! let me just give a quick run-down right here because I've left this ask unanswered for longer than i would like ^^;

I'll talk about prices first, then there will be a short list of do's and dont's at the bottom.

keep in mind that all of these prices are approximate and are subject to change. i don't get commissions that often, so i tend to negotiate my prices with my clients after they contact me.

i'll add onto this later with examples of everything discussed

sketches - an uncolored sketch

headshot - prolly like $15 USD

*half body - $30? USD???

full body - $45 USD

sketches can be colored for an additional 10-20 bucks. i will also gladly make a sketch page. idk what i would price those; it depends on how many sketches the client wants and whatnot, those require greater negotiation with the client

lined - an uncolored, lined drawing

headshot - $30 USD

*half body - $50 USD

full body - $65 USD

lined flat color - a colored, lined drawing with no shading

headshot - $40 USD

*half body - $65 USD

full body - $80 USD

full render - a colored, line drawing with added shading and lighting

headshot - $60 USD

*half body - $85 USD

full body - $100 USD

painting - a fully rendered and shaded drawing, with less lineart

headshot - $120 USD

*half body - $150 USD

full body - $200 USD

*half bodies can either be drawn from the waist up or the mid-thighs up. the client can choose between these two options with NO CHANGE to the asking price.

Backgrounds are NOT INCLUDED in these options! I can draw simple backgrounds for an additional 10-30 bucks, at the request of the client. Complicated backgrounds are not my thing.

These prices are subject to change depending on the design of the subject. Extra characters can be added for 50% of the original price. For example if the original price is $50, that would be another $25 if you want to add another character.

sometimes i will make sketch pages of a character to familiarize myself with them. IT IS NOT GUARANTEED THAT I WILL MAKE ONE, and I don't make them often, but if I do, i can offer it for like 10 bucks extra.

I am fine with drawing NSFW content. if you want greater info on that, please dm me.

I am NOT okay with drawing pedophilic material, incestuous relationships, or bestiality (anthropomorphic/furry characters are fine). I will block you on sight.

PAYMENT COMES FIRST! refunds are offered as long as I am not too far into the drawing process.

I will always ask before I do so, but I WILL POST my commission work! especially if it is fanart! If you as the client would prefer I not post it, that is perfectly fine. I can tag you, as the commissioner, as well.

I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ANY REQUEST AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON!

uhhhhh that's all i can come up with right now. even outside of commission inquiries, please ask if you have any questions and I will add to this post as i see fit.

thank you for asking!

[spartalabouche]

spartas guide to ordering a commission

as a preface, this is all stuff that i personally appreciate when being commissioned, other artists may or may not also appreciate these things!

i personally find commissioning people a little intimidating, and to me it seems like people who commission me feel a little intimidated or unsure of what is or isnt helpful, so i thought i would make a 'small', non exhaustive guide of tips and things that i appreciate in a customer :3

pre commission information i need:

size (bust/half body/full body/reference sheet/etc) level of completion (sketch/lined/flat/full shade) references for the character (more on this below!) a pose idea, reference, or a quick rundown on the characters personality (if you dont have a pose in mind, knowing their personality will help me pose them in a way that fits them!) background, if applicable (if you dont specify a background i will assume you dont want one)

regarding references:

i LOVE references. please please please do not feel like you have too many references, this includes photos of clothing, poses, tattoos, accessories, facial features, hair styles, anything that you feel like would be communicated easier with an image, please feel free to find one and include it as a reference drawn reference sheets or other art of fictional characters are preferred, but not mandatory. reference sheets make it easier for drawing pre existing fictional characters, but again, a good collection of photos will do the trick i will not copy another artists work 1:1, but i can take inspiration if theres a drawing that you think captures the idea/vibe youre looking for please be responsive with feedback, especially if im drawing a character from scratch based off of a collection of photos! i want to be sure im drawing what youre looking for! (more on this below!)

regarding feedback:

typically i try to send an update for feedback after every step of the commission, which means i will send you the sketch for approval, then i send you the lineart, then the flats, then the shading, before sending a link to a high quality version of the commission. please let me know if you would rather i dont wait for your approval between each step, otherwise i WILL wait for you to give me the go ahead before continuing any further. please please do not be afraid to ask me to change something. the sooner you tell me you want something changed, the easier it is for me to change it! i wont be offended or annoyed, YOU are paying me, so i want the commission to be what youre looking for! that being said, please be reasonable with changes. this just means, please dont ask me to change the entire pose around once im halfway through coloring it, any alterations to the pose or large additions like entire props or huge outfit changes ideally should be made during the lineart stage at the latest. past the lineart stage i am still happy to make smaller edits, like changing the expression or altering clothes in small ways, but i will not redraw entire portions of the character, thats the reason i send updates between steps. if you really want something large changed later in the commission, i can change it for an additional fee

and finally post commission:

please feel free to repost your commission anywhere you want and use it for any purpose! crop it for icons, use it on a blog theme, post it to every social media known to man, all i ask is that you dont remove my watermark and link back to my tumblr if youre reposting it! if you commissioned me for a sketch or lineart, feel free to line it and/or color it yourself like a coloring book! i can do this for reference sheets as well, with blank turn arounds that i can send over transparents of for you to color in! just make sure to credit me for the original sketch/lineart i can also remove any backgrounds or crop your commission for an icon free of charge! i can also put a flag or flat color in the background of a cropped icon if you so desire! and finally, you are totally welcome to edit and draw over any commission i do for you as well, or contact me again and i might still have the original files to do some edits for you for free or, depending on complexity, a low price! this could be anything such as adding accessories, tattoos, outfit changes, or removing/editing things like cutting hair shorter, removing piercings, or alterations to expressions.

i may edit this to add things as i remember them, but this generally has the information i feel like will be most helpful.

.......so check out my commissions if youre interested!