Commission FAQ
How
do I commission artwork? - What's in your contract?
- What if I don't/can't pay?
Who can and can't commission you? - How
long does it take?
How
do I commission artwork from you?
E-mail me at ek (at) big-big-truck.com with a DETAILED description of the work you are hoping to obtain. If you can give me exact
size specifications and a budget, please do. Be as specific as you can about what you want. I will respond with an estimate as soon as I can.
Where do
we go from there?
I respond to your initial email with an estimate. If you agree to this
estimate, I draft a contract. I send you two copies of this contract.
One is for you to keep; the other you mail back to me in the stamped envelope
that I provide. After I receive the copy with your signature, I send you
samples of any progress that has been made since the concepts.
Remember, I will need feedback and/or approval to proceed with most projects.
If I send out concept work and get no feedback, the project goes on hold
until I hear from you!
I usually request full or half payment upon approval of concept, depending
on the size and duration of the job.
I then start finishing up the work. I provide a low-resolution, low-quality
JPEGs of the work in progress for proofing. Once the proofs are fully
approved, I make final touch-ups.
When the
complete payment is received, the finished product is delivered via mail,
e-mail, FTP/HTTP, or on disk or CD, according to your needs.
All clients MUST CLEARLY
STATE the EXACT TYPE AND NUMBER of works they are commissioning; if changes
are made or more work is added (e.g. needing three character designs instead
of one) the contract will have to be rewritten.
What's
in the contract?
When we sign the contract, you and I agree to the following:
1. I retain portfolio display rights for the piece commissioned. (i.e.
I can exhibit it on my website and as part of my resume/portfolio)
2. The client agrees to use the artwork only for purposes stated in the
contract, and that the artwork may not be sold to any third parties without
my written permission.
3. I agree not to sell the artwork to any third parties once the client
has accepted and paid.
4. Deadlines are set for delivery of artwork and payment.
5. Possession of copyrights and reproduction rights are set according
to the situation.
Deadlines may NOT be advanced
without additional compensation for labor.
What
if I can't meet your estimated cost?
We can negotiate. For example, if you can't afford a CG, perhaps an
inked piece would work.
I'm
an individual under 18. Can I still commission you?
Yes, but your parent or guardian must sign the contract forms. Also, I'd
prefer that, if you are paying by personal check, that the checks come
from your parent or guardian's account. I will not do "adult" drawings for people under 18.
Are there any
clients you will not work for?
I will not take commissions
for:
* Freelance work that conflicts with my full time job
* Clients that have previously refused to pay or provided invalid payment,
or for any individuals or organizations known to be delinquent in payment
* Individuals or organizations with which my personal ethics are not
compatible, or which I find exceedingly distasteful (e.g. hate groups)
* Clients who cannot communicate their needs clearly
* Comic book / RPG publishers without ironclad publishing contracts
What about
cancellation of contracts?
I may cancel a contract at any time AS LONG AS my client receives
the artwork promised up until that point. For example, if I have gotten
paid for my concept sketches and decide I want to cancel the contract,
I still am obligated to send the client those concept sketches and any
other work covered by payment until that point.
A client may cancel a contract at any time AS LONG AS I have been
paid for services rendered. For example, if I have received payment for
and sent out concept sketches, the client may decide to cancel the contract.
It is in both of our best interests that I be notified of cancellation
as soon as the decision is made.
How
long does a commission usually take?
That depends on several factors:
The size and complexity of the work affects both the production
time and the price. Sketches usually have a turnaround of a week or two,
and large multi-part color projects can take up to several months.
The amount of time that I have to work on the commission is another
factor. Even so, I make time in my schedule to work on a commission, since
I consider it "work" just as much as a full time job. If all
goes smoothly and communication is quick, a basic CG, for example, takes
about 2 to 4 weeks.
How quickly a client gives me feedback determines how soon I can
finish each stage of the job. If I show a concept sketch and get no feedback,
I don't work on it any further. I need to know that you like the work
before I will finalize it.
How quickly a client delivers payment at each stage of the commission
also affects the speed. I generally like to get a head start on each new
section of a job, but I do NOT deliver those sections until I've been
paid for them. Your work might be sitting finished on my hard drive, but
I won't send it until I am paid. This also applies to how quickly a client
delivers the signed copy of the contract.
Computer/equipment trouble has held me back before. Fortunately,
everything looks stable these days. Computer problems on my end do not
affect the price of the work, and clients are notified of possible delays
as soon as trouble is detected.
Printing, especially color prints will delay a commission as well
as add to the price. Since I do not have a high quality color printer
at my disposal, I take such jobs to an outside press. The added cost of
the work covers printing expenses and labor. Clients requiring print proofs
MUST notify me in advance so that I may include printing costs in the
estimate.
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