Commission info
Please note: I’ll only consider Tolkien commissions at the moment!
Here’s some general info about my commission rates and workflow. Please check with me first whether I’m actually accepting commissions at any given time!
All my prices are in Euros. Check xe.com for conversion into your currency.
The following should give you an idea of my rates. Just tell me what you’d like and we can work it out! Of course, when you commission art from me, you will always get the final, original piece.
If you’re used to deviantArt type pricing ($5 for a single character, $80 for a full 20+ hour painting; or worse, points instead of $) – those kinds of prices are unrealistic and self-destructive for professional artists making a living from their art. Please read this if you’re unaware of how pricing in the art business works.
Payment:
- in advance, please (sorry, had too much trouble with anything else!). If we’re talking larger sums, we can always work out a different payment plan. But I like to be fully paid before I start colouring.
- PayPal preferred (to: jenny(at)goldseven.de)
- if you live in Germany, Überweisung is fine.
How to:
Workflow:
- (Original characters) Send me a description of the character(s) – appearance, character traits, attitudes – in your first mail. No page-long biographies or novel excerpts, please. I know you’re attached to your character(s), but I don’t need novelizations of their tragic childhood in order to portray them. I much prefer a short character description, and information on character traits.
- Once the payment has arrived at my account, I’ll send you a sketch of the character, which, of course, can still be changed if you want me to.
- When you’re happy with the sketch, I get to work on the lineart. I show you that as well, at which time you can still ask for changes (none too big by this time). If you’ve commissioned a coloured piece, I’ll then do a quick digital colour mockup so you can see roughly what the finished image will look like. Please note that I can make practically no changes in a finished watercolour image (apart from digital changes).
- I finish it, post it to my online galleries, AND send the finished original painting to you by snail mail (I should have your address through PayPal; if you pay by Überweisung, you’d have to let me know in your mail).
Fandom characters: Please note that, for commissions, I will stick to my own vision of characters (the ones you’ll find in my gallery). I may be open to small concessions (Legolas with lighter hair, Ginny Weasley with very long hair etc), but I will not draw actors. And I’m very strictly canon, but you probably knew that if you’ve read this far. XD
Rights: This has come up several times in the past, and generally. it shouldn’t be a problem. I retain my rights for the image I created for you. If it’s a well-known character – like from Tolkien or similar – I may still offer prints. I’ll add the work to my portfolios, online and otherwise, and may put it into artbooks and calendars promoting my own work. For anything else, I’ll ask your permission. I’ll never use a picture I did of your RPG character out of context, for example.
Likewise, you’re allowed to post the pic (with crediting and linking me, of course) and use it for non-commercial purposes. You do not have permission to make money with it without asking me first. For example, if I drew a pic of your character, and at some point you write a novel about that character and publish it, you may not use the pic as cover without my express permission. (The main reason for this is that I plan a novel cover very differently from a character commission.) If you commissioned me to do a novel cover for you, of course, then it’s a novel cover. If you’re unsure about any sort of use, just ask. Usually, we should be able to sort anything out.
Another request:
If we’re going to work together, I’d like to know your name. You know mine after all. So if you could just sign your note or email to me with your real name, I’d be very grateful. It feels silly to discuss business with people if I have to start my mails with “Hello MarvelFan0815!”
