Reference sheet for your commission references!
So, It can be stressful not knowing exactly what the artist wants from you as a commissioner, especially first timers, so I’ve whipped up a lil something!
(gotta say, this is what I want as an commissions artist, can’t speak for anyone else!)
- So first thing, I personally prefer having a PDF/word/page doc or a google doc for references, rather than loose images on an email. It’s much easier for me to find the information I need and not have to go from tab to tab!
If that’s something you can’t do, let me know when you email me and we can work something out!
- In that Document, written description and visual references are key, both are preferable! I’m happy to charge a little extra to work from written description only but Visuals (sketches, previous commissions, photos) give me something to base off, so I don’t spend the whole time researching for your piece! Colours, patterns, face claims are all helpful!
the following info is generally what I need (you’re welcome to copy paste this into your doc!) :
Age/Race/height/body type:
skin colour/ scars/ freckles/ skin conditions etc:
hair colour/style/decorations:
Any additional details (prosthetics limbs/no limbs!/tattoos/piercings/wings):
brief description of any clothing, their colours/pattern :
ITEMS:
(items such as weaponry, jewellery, bags, accessories and or animal companions!)
Brief personality description (are they suspicious, happy go lucky? What’s the general vibe?):
Background information that could be important in the design (their ancestry, where they come from, any inspirations?:
any preferences on posing/expressions:
If there is more than one character on your ref sheet, please separate your descriptions/images out by character for ease.
I’d also want to know the character’s relationship to each other; family, friends? enemies to lovers? are they physically affectionate to each other? How would they interact in this scene?
if your commission has a background/scene, visual and written references are brilliant along with the vibe you want for the scene and time of day!
Below is a badly sketched Ref of what all this could look like!:
Keep in mind, the sketch is only a guide, if you have more than one page of visual refs, that’s cool! As long as you can get the info above (and anything you think i’ll need) into a single pdf/google doc format, you are good!
This is just very helpful for me too, since i struggle with too much info at once while i work.
Any questions are welcome, hope this helps! Going to link this to my commission sheet too! Thanks and i appreciate you all! 💖💖💖
snowghoul
titsay
jbbartram-illu
blakekathryn
ellievsbear
