Right, so... Has anyone out there ever done packaging artwork for toys? And if so, what's typically an appropriate rate to charge for that sort of illustration? Doing some research, so to speak, and any wisdom on this topic would be greatly appreciated! Feel free to contact me via note instead if you're more comfortable discussing this sorta' thing privately. Thanks!

-- Matt

Howdy, valued customer! And thank you for your interest! So, I am most regularly accepting of commissions (as I am most regularly in need of money). The gist of this commissioning thing is pretty simple: You pay money, I draw stuff for you. The COST of your commission can vary dramatically depending on the work (time, complexity, etc) – and your commission may be something simple, like a character personal to you you’d like to see in my style; OR something complex, like a mascot design for your convention or artwork for your website. Whatever the case, if you’re interested please shoot me a line (herms85@gmail.com).

And for a full run-down on my typical commission-rates – as well as ALL the services I provide – please keep reading!

///-Commissions-Illustration (OPEN)
Usually a character pin-up (YOUR personal character, or fan-art). These are full-Photoshop-color commissions – you will receive the original artwork, all sketch-work, as well as an 8.5x11 inch glossy print of the finished product. For a character pin-up with minimal background, the base price starts at $50.00 USD - prices vary on the complexity of the commission. (Ie, fuller illustration with full background, etc, will cost more.) Turn-around time is typically 1 to 2 weeks – you are kept in touch with progress updates on your commish via e-Mail.

Contact: herms85@gmail.com

///-Commissions-Con Sketches (OPEN)
Once an exclusive to conventions-only, now you can get them any-time of the year! A much simpler character pin-up (YOUR personal character, or fan-art), these are 100% traditional media sketches illustrated on glossy cardstock. Black-and-white and grayscale marker sketches run $25.00 to $35.00 USD, while full-color marker sketches can run up to $40.00 USD. Turn-around time is typically 1 to 2 weeks – you are kept in touch with progress updates on your commish via e-mail.

Contact: herms85@gmail.com

///-Commissions-Coloring (OPEN)
Interested in getting that artwork o’ yours done up in full, vibrant color? I also offer coloring services exclusively by itself, too! Coloring rates sit comfortably at $50.00 USD per simple pin-up to $60.00 to $80.00 USD per comic book page. Turn-around time is typically 2 to 3 days. (Those interested in my comic book coloring, my page speed is 1-to-2 pages per-day, depending on the complexity.)

Contact: bumblekolor@gmail.com

///-Commissions-OTHER (OPEN)
Had something else in mind? Gimme’ a holler! We’ll talk.

Contact: herms85@gmail.com

///-HOW IT WORKS
So, you’ve decided what sort of commission you’re interested in… Now it’s time to get the ball rolling! Here’s the run-down of how this all works.

1. e-Mail me a detailed description of the commission as you picture it in your head – don’t spare any details. Specifics are GOOD. I’ll then e-Mail you an approximate quote on price, my current schedule (and where you fit in), as well as details on how to send the money.

2. SEND PAYMENT. Yes, I only accept payment in advance – nothing against you, respected customer. It’s just safer. My professional reputation requires me to be timely and fair and to deliver what you pay for. But if accidentally forget to send the money along post-picture (It’s happened.), then I’ve lost time and money and I’ve no one to complain to. (Whereas you’ll have my home address and phone number – more than enough to ask me “Where’s my picture!?”)

3. Once payment is received, I begin work on your commission according to the time-table I gave you previously. I will e-Mail you every step of the way as time permits, updating you on progress made.

(NOTE: Corrections are okay… But they up the amount of work that goes into the piece. If I have to make many drastic changes, or re-do steps entirely, the price will go up. At which time I’ll expect the difference between the original quote and the new one to be sent before further work will be done.)

4. Once the picture is complete, I will snail-mail you the original artwork itself, all sketches done pre-production and reference materials you may have given me, as well as a high-quality glossy print of the complete, finished art. And voila, commission complete!

Okay, so yesterday the last Deviant comment on this page - my page here - was from August 22, 2006. Today I wake up, and I got stuff from the rest o' August and all of September suddenly. And... Well, dayumn. That's a slow-ass load time right there, yo.

Anyway. But aside from that. I figured I'd update this journal with something new being it's been a few months again... Though there really isn't much to update on. Oh, except....

Sticky Floors is back and on Snafu-Comics! I think we've been online... six weeks now? It's a blast doing the comic again, and we're keeping up the pace. It updates every Wednesday and Saturday.

Oh, I'll be at Oni-Con in Houston, TX, October 20 to 22nd, by the way. So if you're in the area - and I know some of ya' are, 'cause we've done alotta' TX cons together now - totally come and hang out and all that.

And, ah! A-Kon's Artist Alley director Steven Heinrich, con-Buddha ~hightower67, and comic artist ~junobean have been putting together a sorta' ”Con Artist Community (con as in convention, yo). It's designed as a sorta' meet-'n'-greet for artists, a resource on what conventions are coming up (and the inside scoop - how are they for artists?), and helpful hints for those that are just starting doing Artist Alley or want to step up their game. It's something they just started putting together, and want to grow it. So if conning is you're thing, it may be worth a peek.

Updating every six months… ish… Ain’t so bad… Is it? XD

Oh… Balls. Who’m’I kiddin’? I’m fuckin’ lazy about the whole Deviant Art deal. I’m trying to catch up – answer notes and questions ‘n’ comments and otherwise. (I’ve gotten as far back as the end of 2005, finally…) Part o’ me always saw this strictly as a sort o’ free gallery-space, but even I gotta’ admit I feel bad that I’m not more DA-active. ‘Cause I do ready every comment and note and I appreciate every one, and there are so many awesome and talented people here that I admire and I never really tell them that often enough if at all ‘cause I’m really, really fucking lazy about DA.

So. My New Year’s Resolution is to be more Deviant-active! (Yes. I know it’s six months past the new year. Again: Really lazy. )

Not much going on, otherwise. Things are crazy and busy, and I’ve been living on 24 to 30 hour days for most of May. (Ugh. This can’t be healthy…) It’s getting toward summer-time, so there’s a li’l bit of the usual “graduation blues” – the typical retrospective. As I get closer to achieving the goals I set for myself two years ago, I’m discovering a very different interest in art – an almost academic interest. Which is a li’l difficult. The head tells me it’s the wrong move – that it’d be just another handicap to the things I’ve set out to do. (And really – I’ve pro’lly over-extended myself enough as is.) But the heart… Oy. You know how it goes.

…I really need to go to the beach or something. Fuck. I do live in Florida.

I’ll be at A-Kon 17 in Dallas, TX – June 9-11. A-Kon last year was… Awesome cannot begin to describe the awesomeness. And from the looks of things – I’d have to do a head-count of all the crazy fun folks that’ll be around – this year is gonna’ be spankin’. So, you know, if you’re in Dallas... Drop by. I’m in Section A, last I checked. I think, uh… We’re across from the shitters.

Anyway, hope you peeps have had a groovy 2006! See ya’ in 2007!

Holy handbaskets! It's almost December??

I've lost time before, sure, but I could usually tell you what I was so preoccupied with that I'd miss sleep over or whatever. This time though? It's like the first day of November, and before I know it - BAM! - it's Thanksgiving and just about December. And I have no idea where the time went. I mean, there was important stuff I needed to do this month, but it feels like I slept through November entirely. A little disheartening, after being so in the zone during October. Near as I can figure, I just got sick and didn't even realize it - just breezed through the month, exhausted and sleepy, maybe actually up (and awake) at my desk a couple hours per day. Which is nothing. I'm not the sort to get sick very often - we're talking coming down with a cold or flu every five years or so. So I guess I just didn't realize how out of it I was until realizing I needed to cross out nearly the whole damn calendar.

Updates since August: Computers STILL suck. Haven't touched Photoshop in two months - consequently because of the computer difficulties, also because... I've been falling out of love with my Photoshop mistress. Been doing alot of pencilling and other kinds of stuff recently that I otherwise don't get to do as often as I used to, since I'd switch from traditional to digital mode and back and forth several times in any given day. I'm just enjoying the time spent with a pencil more than I am with a tablet pen, I guess.

Done three conventions since August, too. My first since A-Kon last June and all the stuff that went down last summer, and also my last of the year: Anime Fest in Dallas in September (slow but steady, lots of fun), Oni-Con, October, in Houston (successful and entertaining, yet the hotel was hell), and Anime South (tiny and slow, with the usual first year con bloopers - but we did get to sing Broadway showtunes, and go us for finally getting a con in NorthWest Florida! ) Not doing anything in December, save the usual holiday travels (and catching up on what I SHOULD have been doing in November). Next convention is Ushicon ([link]) in January in Austin, where I'll be hamming it up in Artist Alley with the usual Texas Con Crew.

Otherwise, not too much else to talk about right now. Got some things I need to sit down and take care of in this last week of November. Working on some things for 2006, seeing if some other things come together for 2006, too. ^^ And maybe I'll even get back into the swing of Deviancy if time allows, since I certainly haven't been doing so - or doing anything else - these last handful of weeks. Keep it easy! Laters!

...Oh. And happy turkey day. Ma-a-an, after today, I could hibernate for a whole 'nother month, I'm so stuffed.