a9_ artistry

A9's Process

• ToS

Process and Pricing (Hourly)TL;DR (It is recommended to read the full breakdown of the commission process if you're new to this. Look below to access the full ToS under this TL;DR)I charge a base rate of £15-20 per hour for all work on a typical project. Before we start, I give you a time estimate and price rangee.g. “About 3–4 hours → roughly £45–£60.”If I think the piece will take more time than we first agreed, I'll inform you as early as possible so you can decide whether to simplify the idea or approve more time. You can request changes during the Concepting and Composition phases. Once I’m in the final Rendering phase, only small tweaks are included.If you cancel, you only pay for the hours I’ve actually worked; anything extra you’ve paid is refunded. And I keep copyright to the artwork as a default; you get permission to use it for the personal or commercial uses we agree on.

Commission Terms and Conditions

Definitions
“Artist” means me. “Client” means you. “Artwork” means the commissioned piece I create. “Working time” means time spent actively producing the Artwork from Concepting onward.Project phases and approvals
Discussion is the planning stage where we agree the idea, intended use, and budget. Discussion is free and no drawing happens during this stage. Concepting is where I produce rough sketches and design ideas. Composition is where I plan the final scene using small thumbnail sketches. Rendering is where I produce the final clean artwork (inking, shading, and colour where applicable). I will request simple confirmation before moving from Concepting to Composition, and again before moving from Composition to Rendering.Rate, estimates, what counts as hours, and rounding
My rate is £15-20 per hour. I provide an estimate as an hours range and price range before Concepting begins (for example, three to four hours equals £45 to £60). Working time includes only Concepting, Composition, and Rendering work such as drafting, developing, and producing the Artwork. Discussion, general updates, and back-and-forth messaging are not counted as working time. Total working time is rounded to the nearest 30 minutes, meaning billing moves in £7.50 steps. Rounding works like this: 0–14 minutes rounds down, 15–44 minutes rounds to the half hour, and 45–59 minutes rounds up.Soft cap and overruns
The top end of the estimate is treated as a soft cap. I will not exceed it without discussing it with you first. If I realise the project will likely take longer, I will tell you as soon as I realise, before the cap is exceeded. If I go slightly over the cap only to finish and tidy the piece, I usually will not charge beyond the cap. “Slightly over” means up to 30 minutes (0.5 hours).Complexity and scope
More complex or larger pieces take more hours and therefore cost more. Simpler or smaller pieces take fewer hours and cost less. High detail characters, complex armour, large environments, or frequent changes push the project toward the higher end of the estimate. During Concepting and Composition, you can choose to simplify or scale up based on your budget.Revisions and changes
The standard allowance includes one major revision round during Concepting and one major revision round during Composition. Small tweaks are fine, but additional major revision rounds may increase hours and cost. “Within reason” means no complete redesigns that change the core concept, for example changing the subject or theme into something fundamentally different. During Rendering, design and composition are locked. At Rendering stage, only small tweaks are allowed, such as minor details and slight value or contrast adjustments. Major changes at Rendering stage, such as a new pose, new design, or new scene, require additional hours and will only be done if you explicitly agree. If you request major changes after you have already confirmed moving into the next phase, I may compromise on a case-by-case basis; if the change is not reasonable, it will require additional paid hours or the project will move to cancellation terms.Timeline, queue, and responsiveness
After we agree the idea, I provide a rough delivery window. If I have ongoing commissions, I will tell you you are in a queue and give an approximate start date. I start counting working time only when Concepting begins. If anything unexpectedly delays your piece, I will update you. If you are unresponsive for an unreasonable amount of time during an active commission, the project may be paused or cancelled on a case-by-case basis.Payment and invoices
We first agree the Artwork brief, whether it is personal or commercial use, and the estimated hours and price range at £15 per hour. A 50% deposit is invoiced once Discussion is complete and you confirm you want me to begin Concepting. I do not begin Concepting until the deposit is paid. When the Artwork is completed, I send a low-resolution version as proof of completion. After the remaining 50% is paid, I send the high-resolution final file. Payment is made via PayPal invoice. Invoices must be paid within 48 hours. If the deposit invoice is not paid within 48 hours, your slot is released and I move to the next client. If the final invoice is not paid within 48 hours, the high-resolution file is not delivered yet; I will move to the next client and release the high-resolution file as soon as the remaining balance is paid.Cancellations, refunds, and work-in-progress delivery
Before Concepting begins, no payment is due and any payment already made is fully refunded. After Concepting has started but before completion, you pay only for the working time already completed, rounded to the nearest 30 minutes. Any money paid beyond the cost of those hours is refunded. If you cancel after work has started, you may request work-in-progress files such as sketches or thumbnails covering the hours you paid for. After the final artwork is completed, there is normally no refund. If I must cancel and cannot finish the project, I will refund any hours not yet worked, rounded to the nearest 30 minutes, and I will send what has been completed for the hours worked.Copyright, licensing, credit, and portfolio use
I retain the copyright to the Artwork. You receive a license to use it as agreed in advance, based on the intended use discussed during Discussion. Credit is required when sharing the Artwork online, meaning you must tag or name me as the artist. You may not claim you created the Artwork yourself. You may not resell the Artwork as a standalone product without a separate written agreement. I may show the Artwork in my portfolio or on social media unless you request privacy before work begins.Fanart and third-party intellectual property
I can draw characters or designs from existing series or brands for personal use only. Commercial use is only possible if you provide clear evidence you own the rights or have permission from the rights holder.Files and delivery
Final files are delivered by email. Default delivery is a high-quality JPEG. PNG can be provided on request. Because the work is traditional, layered or source files are not available and transparent backgrounds are not offered. Typical maximum capture size is approximately 50MP (roughly 8160 × 6120 px). As a print guide, that is about 27.2 × 20.4 inches at 300 DPI, or 13.6 × 10.2 inches at 600 DPI, though results vary by lighting, photo quality, and printer.