Basic Information
When commissioning me there are three things you should keep in mind: one, I'm open-minded; two, even I have my limits; and three, I'm not a mind-reader. While I delight in being able to take artistic license with things I would ask clients to be as specific as possible¹. When determining what you want me to draw/paint it would be a good idea to have a specific subject matter and/or theme in mind already, something you'd like to see rendered in my style², and be ready to bury me in reference material. If it's a specific character you're wanting, send me personality profiles, history overviews, text descriptions, images, anything and everything you think would help out. I like to be as accurate as possible.

Note that the prices, listed below, are a rough estimate. Feel free to negotiate if you think it's something that should warrant a lower price. It would be a VERY GOOD IDEA for us to negotiate a deadline so as to get my ass in gear and keep it there. Y'see I have no sense of time, in a very literal fashion, and it just tends to slip away from me while I'm not looking. Depending on the subject, media, and complexity [not to mention the intervention of "real life"], a commission could take as little as a week or as long as a few months.

The first thing I'll do after negotiations have been finalised is mock up a concept sketch or three and send them to you via e-mail to get your approval. From that point on things work on a three-strike system. That is, I will show you works-in-progress with the opportunity to change/correct things [within the parametres of the initial agreement!] three times. From there you can either take it flaws-and-all and pay the remaining balance, at which time you'll receive the finished product as agreed upon; or halt the process and receive the unfinished product³.

NOTA BENE! Just because you have the original artwork does NOT give you copyright over it — artist reserves all rights. That means that I retain sole legal right to use the artwork commercially. However, if the commission price meets or exceeds the $50 mark, we can draught up a limited-reproduction agreement in which I'll agree to, well, only make a limited number of reproductions [prints, t-shirts, anthologies, etc] featuring that work. If you want to buy full rights to the work we'll be talking triple digits.

¹Don't be a Canis Claxis. Yes, I can explain if needs be.
²Not someone else's. Always pay attention to who you're commissioning.
³If you've paid more than half the original price I'll refund everything in excess of that 50% for traditional materials, or 50% of your total expenditure for digital media. Like just about everything else this is open to negotiation based on how much work has been done already.

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Subject Matter
As stated, I'd like to think I'm an open-minded artist, and do enjoy a challenge; however, everyone has their own personal "comfort zones," areas of expertise, and things that they just really will not draw. I specialise in canids [particularly wolves], humans, and anthropomorphic animals [both "werebeast" and "furry"], and am passable at dragons, but recognise that it would do me much good to reach outside the box once in a while. Most of the time I try to make my work either dynamic or chock-full of symbolism; otherwise it would probably be boring. That's not to say I won't do simple character portraits or calm scenes, just that I prefer to actually depict something going on.

As for the inevitable question of naughtiness, I consider "adult content" to be anything with excessive violence, gore, or blatant sexuality. Mind you I've got no beef with these things — love 'em, actually, but they require not only a mature outlook on the part of the artist but a surprising amount of research to make sure it doesn't suck. It's mostly because of this complexity that images with a rating higher than "R" cost more than tamer fare. NB: You must be of legal age [21+ in most countries] to commission adult-rated artwork.

I reserve the right to refuse any commission whose subject matter does not sit well with me. I'll tell you right off the bat a few of the things I will NOT draw: hyper of any kind [that includes macro/micro, disgusting steroid junkies, inflation, and "fatfur"], vore [with the exception of purely non-sexual rip/chew], kiddie porn, scat/water sports, obscenely saccharine-cute fluffy crap, or...orrrr...uhm...well that's all I can think of right now but I'm sure there's other things as well. Usually having to do with extreme excesses getting sexualised. I will NOT accept commissions for characters copyrighted or trademarked to someone other than the commissioner without written consent of the copyright/trademark holder.

Bottom line: when in doubt, ASK. Don't be shy about what you want. It'll be easier on us all that way.

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Payment and Payment Method
At least 50% of the total price is due up front, and the remainder due once the final draught is complete prior to shipment. My preferred method of payment is PayPal [NB: I can't take credit cards paments, sorry!], but I also accept well-concealed cash via post [sent at buyer's own risk], money orders, and personal cheques [allow one business week to clear] Buyer pays all shipping costs; generally it's around $3 or so. All prices are in USD.

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Traditional Media
Base price: $25
This price covers an image of detailed sketch of a single character rendered in pencil on 9x12” smooth Bristol paper that can be physically shipped to you. Note that shipping charges are not included, as they will vary depending on paper size and where the art needs to be sent. I will gladly give you an estimate from the post office, however. Additional charges are listed below if you want something more complex. these prices are flexible depending on the exact nature of what you want drawn; something that is especially easy for me to draw may warrant a lower price, while greater levels of difficulty, complexity, and detail may push the price higher than listed.
NB! Examples marked with an asterisk [*] contain explicit violence and/or sexual content.

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Digital Media
Base Price: $20
This price covers a detailed digital sketch of a single character, no background, to be e-mailed to you in high-quality format (a flattened .psd or low-compression .jpg in 72dpi resolution). As with traditional media, additional charges are listed below, and the prices are not set in stone. Digital media is less expensive because it doesn’t actually consume materials.
NB! Examples marked with an asterisk [*] contain explicit violence and/or sexual content.

Sketch Special — Offer Good 'til 30 September 2006
From now 'til the end of September you can commission a full-colour digital portrait-sketch of a single character at 500x500px size for $15. Ratings are not restricted. Examples: [1][2][3][*]

Trade Special
I will trade one full-colour, single-character commission for any of the following items:
Cuttlefish
Octopus
White Squirrel
Yes, that's right, the Wyrm is a sucker for exotic plushies. Bite me.

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More of My Work
My artwork can be found primarily on three places on the internet: my LiveJournal artblog, the VCL Archive, y!Gallery Hosting, and FurAffinity. No I am no longer displaying my work at deviantART.
The Pretanic Keys, my artblog, displays works of all media, genres, and ratings, as well as current updates; it is friends-only, meaning you will have to have an LJ account (they're free), add me to your "friends list," and comment on the application page for me to add you back. If you want to be added to the adult filtre be sure to let me know in your comment, otherwise you won't be able to see my R+ rated work!
The VCL showcases anthropomorphic work, both finished pieces and sketches, of all ratings.
Y!Gallery hosting allows only male humanoid subjects, excluding anthropomorphics. You won't be able to view mature content without an account of your own (again, they're free).
FurAffinity displays primarily select anthropomorphic art, both finished pieces and sketches, various animal and fantasy art, and a small sprinkling of humans. As with y!Gallery, you must have an account to view adult content.
Please note that I do NOT authorise use or redistribution of my work without express written permission. Respect the artist's wishes and legal rights: don't repost!

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All content © 2006 C "Defilerwyrm" Sims/Lost Souls Productions™.
This page was last updated on 20 September 2006.