Ordering Process

Portrait Refs | Full-Body Refs | Background/Prop Refs | Pre-production | Production | Change Definition

Finished reading through Commission page and ready to place an order? Or already placed an order and wondering what’s next? Here are the different stages of my workflow.

Initial Process & Gathering References

  • Order review through email. If you don’t already have my email, please fill this form to send a request and I will contact you as soon as possible.
  • After we discuss the order, I will open a commission slot through Ko-fi
  • Once payment is received, I will contact you through email and give you a form to fill with some questions regarding extra information and reference pictures.

For reference pictures, please provide clear visual references, in good lighting.

  • For colored portrait commission (each character):
    • Half body views : front, back, sides, 3/4 views. I like to have reference of the arms and hands too, in case I want to include them in the painting. If you don’t have all them them, it’s okay.
    • Close up head views: front, back, sides, 3/4 views
    • Optional – clothing/accessories/prop details
    • Additional reference for poses, mood, lighting is welcomed.
    • You can download my reference template as a guide. Please rename the file with your information (your name, character name, page number).
    • If you order more than one character, please send reference for each character.

Examples of reference pictures for Bust/Portrait commission:

go to top

  • For full body commission
    • Full body views : front, back, sides, 3/4 views.
    • Close up head views: front, back, sides, 3/4 views.
    • Optional – clothing/accessories/prop details.
    • Additional reference for expressions, poses, mood, lighting is welcomed.
    • You can download my reference template as a guide. Please rename the file with your information (your name, character name, page number).
    • If you order more than one character, please send reference for each character.
    • Optional – clothing/accessories/prop details.
    • Additional reference for expressions, poses, mood, lighting is welcomed.
    • You can download my reference template as a guide. Please rename the file with your information (your name, character name, page number).
    • If you order more than one character, please send reference for each character.

Examples of reference pictures for Full Body commission:

go to top

  • For additional detailed background or props: (currently not part of commission)
    • architecture
    • landscape
    • time of day
    • detailed props

Examples of reference pictures for Detailed Background or Props:

  • As part of the questionnaire form, you have the option to describe the mood/feeling/expression for your character(s). This will greatly help me coming up with composition, colors and lighting.
  • Once you submit the form and the reference pictures, I will review the documents and give response for time estimate, and if needed, additional references. Once I have the necessary reference, I will start working on the order.

go to top

Pre-Production Phase:

  • Planning & thumbnails – We will go back and forth regarding the design, composition and necessary details.
    • I will create mood board and several thumbnails at this point. They generally look really messy.
    • Your feedback is needed, and I’ll make necessary changes based on your thoughts.
    • Too many changes will delay the process. If the change happens more than 3 times at this stage, I will bump your order to the back of the queue and work on other orders.

Thumbnail examples:

  • Clean up sketch
    • I use some colors to identify various shapes. Since I don’t do line art, this is more for blocking out and may not reflect the final colors.
    • Feedback is encouraged.
    • A few (2-3) minor changes are fine
    • I will allow one major change at this stage

Clean up sketch examples:

go to top

Production Phase:

  • Line-Art & Flat colors – refining the sketch shape
    • I’m getting ready for rendering at this stage
    • Will allow 1-2 minor changes, but no more major change

Flat examples:

  • Rendering
    • This takes the longest time. I will periodically keep you updated on the status.
    • No change at this point

Partial render examples:

  • Final painting
    • I will send a flat copy in 300dpi PNG, with and without a signature, and a flat PSD file.

go to top

What are considered Minor or Major changes?

  • Minor changes: small details that takes a short time to revise. For example:
    • small accessory with less details
    • eye color
    • simple facial details
    • anatomy correction
    • small pose correction

  • Major changes: large details that takes a very long time to revise. For example:
    • clothing design
    • big prop change
    • overall pose change
    • change of character
    • background change
    • time of day change (this affect lighting and colors)

go to top