Comprehensive Commission FAQ
Rather than repeating the same answer over and over again via e-mail, I've created this Commission-exclusive FAQ to answer most of your questions in one fell swoop. This is to save both of us some hassle, so please do peruse the following information thoroughly!
| Q: [NEW!] Do I own the artwork after I pay you for a commission? A: You own the right to USE the image for whatever purpose we mutually agreed upon. You also own the right to resize or optimize the image so that it is ideal for your use. However, I still own the RIGHTS to the image, meaning that only I can edit and change the image in a way that changes its purpose or meaning. Furthermore, I reserve the right to show it here on lorelai.com (heavily watermarked and protected of course) unless the image is pending publication and distribution, or other similar situations. |
| Q: What sort of commission can I ask for? A: I'm very open to all sorts of commissions. I believe I have a strength in versatility, and so if you believe I have the artistic skills you need for your project, I'd be more than happy to work with any type of commission. |
| Q: Do you accept commissions with controversial subjects? A: I'm not squeamish about shonen-ai or yaoi; I don't mind blood, tasteful nudity, and a certain degree of related subjects. This doesn't cover everything though, so if you aren't sure, please feel free to ask. |
| Q: Will you discount/work for free for a non-profit purpose/organization? A: Work for free? unlikely...I'm a recent grad who's poor and busy and strained. Discount? Perhaps. I'll need to hear out special cases specifically. |
| Q: I'm new to this, I'm not quite sure what kind of commission I want... A: No problem! I have plenty of ideas up my sleeves..if you know what type of artwork you want, i.e. a specific RPG or Anime, I can help you think up of cool layouts and formats for a commission that respects your budget! |
| Q: Do you do non-anime and/or non-cartoon based commissions? A: Cripes, yes! I don't believe in limiting myself to a single genre. Being a UC Berkley grad, not only am I familiar with all different types of art...I am very, very liberal *wicked grin* That's what you get for going to Berzerkeley! |
| Q: What mediums can you use? A: I believe one of my strengths to be versatility. The mediums I have formally trained in are conte crayon, charcoal/chalk combination, pencil sketch, pen and ink, oil and acrylic painting, pastel and oil pastel, watercolor. The mediums that I have self-taught myself are Copic/Prismacolor Markers, color pencils, graphite stick. The softwares I have experience with are Adobe Photoshop, Imageready, Painter, Corel Xara (vector-based), and Quicktime Pro. For HTML work, I use Homesite5 - I don't believe in WYSIWYG (meaning I code primarily by hand). I use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) as much as I can, because they RULE. |
| Q: How long does a commission take you? A: I treat commissions as a part-time job. Therefore, the duration of a commission depends on how many hours your commission takes; however, I usually make it a rule that I must have something to show for my commission come every weekend. |
| Q: How much do you generally charge for a commission? A: My typical hourly charge for art commissions is $15 - 20 per hour. My general hourly rate for website commissions is $20 - 30 an hour. HOWEVER, if you look at my pricing table you'll notice that I mostly go by estimated flat rates. To be honest though, whether I work by flat rate or by hourly charge, I usually end up charging the same amount. I'm pretty good at time management. |
| Q: How fast do you work? A: I sketch extremely quickly. I usually have completed sketches done in about 1-3 hours depending on complexity. It's finalizing sketches, inking, and coloring that take a little longer. As I said, expect a week for project results, but if you need a rush job done...well, just ask!! |
| Q: You don't live close to me at all. Is it possible to work a large project entirely over the web? A: Yes. I have a high-speed internet connection, a nice, fast computer workstation equipped with all the software I need, and a cellphone that can call anywhere in the continental US, free of long distance charges. I'm ready to work! |
| Q: How do I pay for a commission? A: If you are in the area, I'd be glad to meet up with you. Otherwise, I take money orders and cashier's checks by mail. I also take personal checks, but I must wait for them to clear. I also have a PayPal account (www.paypal.com). |
| Q: Can I cancel my commission contract with you once the project's underway? A: If I show you my first concept sketches and you are not satisfied, you can cancel the commission and receive a refund of any fees paid. If you wait until I've shown you a partially colored proof of the final product, you can cancel the commission, but the 50% payment works as a 'cancellation fee' and can't be refunded. |
