terms and conditions
Just letting you know, there's a lot of text on this page. It's essentially to cover every possible scenario.
I've done my best to make it as readable as possible.
The basics:
- As a client, you understand that you are purchasing my services as an artist. You are not purchasing an image that you have full rights to, unless specified.
- As a client, you have full control over what I draw. You understand I will do my best as an artist to complete your request. You understand that the end result will likely be similar in ability to work I have completed previously.
- In other words, if your request requires a level of ability or style that you cannot see displayed on my website gallery, I can’t guarantee I will be able to complete it. Please take a good look at my previous work to make sure my services are the right fit for you!
- You are encouraged to send references. The end goal is to create something you are going to like, dear commissioner. I wont know what you like if you don’t tell me.
- Half payment up front, half upon completion. There will be opportunities during the process to suggest adjustments.
- At the completion of the commission, you will receive your choice of a .png, .jpg .gif, or similar unlayered file, at the highest possible quality, with an artist’s signature.
- So long as you do not remove or hide the signature, you can post the final image wherever you like on social media. If you do, a link to my website (or any artist credit in general) would be appreciated.
I'm bad with deadlines.
- I cannot guarantee completion by a specific date. However, I can offer general estimations of how long each stage will take. I will also offer frequent updates, and feel free to send a gentle reminder from time to time.
- Life gets busy, and sometimes a particular commission may take me longer than usual. If this does happen, I will do my best to let you know as soon as possible.
- If you’ve commissioned me before, you are welcome to contact me via discord, or on any other social media we have in common. For first-time commissioners, I only accept correspondence via email.
- Please be respectful and understanding. If you are rude or abusive, your commission will be cancelled.
- Questions and suggestions on the other hand, are welcome, encouraged – you are contributing to the creative arts! Rudeness is completely beneath you, dear commissioner.
Your copyright permissions:
- As the artist, I retain full rights to the finished product.
- You retain the right to use your commission under a non-commercial licence, provided that credit is given wherever the commission is used.
- A non-commercial licence is essentially an agreement to only use the work for personal or educational purposes, not for commercial gain. So school projects, personal blogs, social media – all good, provided you credit the artist (me!) by name.
- The use of the finished product for commercial purposes (including but not limited to: advertisement, merchandising, promotion, and publishing), is strictly forbidden without the additional purchase of a commercial licence.
- If you would like to purchase a commercial licence for a specific commission, let me know ahead of time, so it can be incorporated into the final price.
How to order: Step 1 - the commission form.
- Please fill out the questions on this Commission Form, and email it to swbones@outlook.com.
- Please include any references, descriptions, or specific details of your request. Insufficient references may make the design more expensive - but filling out the form is free, I promise.
- Even if it’s just for a quote and a conversation, I appreciate you taking the time to fill out the form. It has room to write all the notes and details of what you might want, as well as all the questions I would ask you anyway.
- For first-time commissioners, I will only respond to commission requests that have filled out the form, and that contact me via email. Once I've recieved your request, I will discuss the details of your commission with you.
How to order: Step 2 - the sketch stage.
- After I receive your commission request - including a description of what you want with attached references - I will assess how much it will cost.
- I will then contact you to discuss your request, and to let you know the price. I won’t start work until I’m sure what it is you want drawn. I also won’t start until you’ve let me know you’re okay with payment.
- As I begin the sketch stage, I will send you a Paypal invoice for half payment up front. If I do not receive payment, I will not continue the commission.
- The sketch stage is the longest stage, so I appreciate your patience. I will send regular updates to let you know of my progress.
- To make sure you are happy with the final product, whenever I update you, I will not continue without your express permission and approval.
- This is so you will always have an oppurtunity to suggest an adjustment, or point out a mistake. Don't be afraid to ask for what you want - corrections are easy, refunds are hard.
How to order: Step 3 - the final stage.
- If you approve the sketch, I will proceed with the lineart, colours, and the final details of the commission.
- Once again, after every update during this process I will not continue without your approval.
- If you approve the lineart, colours, and other details, I can polish and finalise the commission. Once it’s done, I will send you a screenshot, as well as a Paypal invoice for the remaining payment.
- Upon completion of the payment, I will send you the full file in high quality.
How to order: payment.
- The full amount will be paid over two separate transactions. Half up front, and half upon completion.
- At both stages of payment, I will send you a Paypal invoice via email for the required amount.
- I do not accept other forms of payment for commissions. If you transfer me money without my approval, I will consider it a generous donation, and there will be no refunds. (This policy exists because of scammers. If you are not a scammer, please follow this rule anyway so that I don't get confused.)
- If you would like to support me without commissioning me, I have a tip jar here.
Cancellations & refunds.
- If I am unable to complete the sketch stage of your commission after taking the initial payment, I can offer a full refund.
- This is for the situation where 'I do absolutely nothing on it', or 'I can't figure out how to draw what you want'. However, if I've already sent through reasonable sketches and screenshots, it's assumed refunds will no longer be possible.
- You have every opportunity during the process to let me know you are not happy with the work, and I will never proceed without your approval.
- If, during the final stage, you feel that my services are falling short of your desires, you are encouraged to cancel the commission as soon as possible. In other words, if it’s not good enough, you can cancel halfway.
- If you would like to cancel the commission halfway, I can send you the completed sketch file in high quality. Even if more work was completed on it, however, I can only send through the sketch.
- In this situation, the initial payment is non-refundable, and represents the time and work I spend designing and sketching out the details of your commission.
- I do not offer refunds once all stages of the service have been completed.
Lastly, thank you for reading these terms and conditions. Your desire to support small artists is a generous and wonderful thing! Because of you, people like me can keep doing what we love.
