#reference reference

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!)

REFERENCE GUIDE 💖

-  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!) :

VISUALS

Age/Race/height/body type:

skin colour/ scars/ freckles/ skin conditions etc:

eye colour/shape:

hair colour/style/decorations:

Any additional details (prosthetics limbs/no limbs!/tattoos/piercings/wings):

CLOTHING

brief description of any clothing, their colours/pattern :

ITEMS:  (items such as weaponry, jewellery, bags, accessories and or animal companions!)

PERSONALITY

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:

EXTRAS

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!: