Commission Info
Hello everyone - so I’m going to give this another go now that I’ve finished my Master’s program 
I'm now opening up for commissions - you'll find all the information below. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message and I'll do my best to answer them! You can see some examples of the different types I'm offering below, and you can check out my gallery for a further look at my work
Slots-
1)
2)
3)
Character Commissions -
Portrait/bust -
Line - $25
Color - $35
Full Body-
Line - $30
Color - $40
Please note that extra characters and scenic background will incur a fee - I’ll discuss this with you, should you request one
The Details -
What I Need From You -
Reference Material - Something to let me know what you’re looking for. This can be poses, facial reference, color palettes, etc. Things you want me to see to help me to understand your commission. As such, this is something I need to be able to access (Drive, Dropbox, Pinterest, etc) just so long as I can see it.
Character descriptions are helpful, as are pose references if you’re looking for something specific. Facial reference, color schemes, etc are all welcomed. Again, anything you think is useful to explain what you’re looking for.
Universe Reference: If the character is an OC for a specific universe, I’ll need references of that as well to fit the feel of it as much as possible.
What You’ll Get From Me -
After the character/design, etc is all talked out and we’re on the same page, and the first ½ payment clears, I’ll start sketching. Once the sketch is finished, I will do a ‘critique’ to see if anything needs to be fixed/changed. Once those changes are made, I’ll move on to line, and then color. (If applicable)
After the final image is shown to you, I can make minor changes and adjustments. Anything major will require additional payment, as it’s more time that needs to be spent.
Most of my pieces go Sketch - Line - Color.
I’m super open about questions, concerns, etc, so if at any point something pops up, send me a message and we can talk about it. Once the sketch is approved I won’t be able to make any major changes, but I’m willing to work with you. I want you to be happy with the final result, so don’t be afraid to send me a PM if something comes up in the character design.
The Nitty-Gritty:
Payments will be taken using PayPal. Sorry, but no points commissions at this time.
½ of the payment is due up front, and the rest after the piece is finished. This is to protect me as much as anything, as it ensures that I don’t spend a bunch of time creating something that then doesn’t get paid for. Also, it lets you know at the beginning what you’re going to be paying so you’re not startled by the end number.
I’m not offering refunds, but I will do my best to make sure you, the commissioner, are happy with the piece. I’ll show you a low-res, watermarked version of the image so you can see it before you send the full payment through.
Once I get the payment in full, you’ll get the Full Res version in .PNG format at 300 dpi unless other size/format is requested, without the watermark. This means that, if you choose, you’ll be able to print the piece as well.
The works are for personal use only, not commercial work. If you’re wanting a piece to use for a commercial purpose, get in touch with me and we can discuss prices.
I also keep the right to put the piece on my own personal websites and DA profile. This helps me to improve and expand my opportunities. I will credit you for the character depicted, of course.
In terms of a timeline, I have up to three weeks to complete the final image from the time I start sketching. Please note, this assumes a smooth process, but can change if I have difficulty getting in touch with you for approval of the sketch, or if there are adjustments being made after the image is finished, etc.
Crediting: I know a lot of people use commissioned work for characters on RP sites, etc, so I have no issue with you using the work outside DA. If you do put it on DA, please credit me. As for outside sites, I know it's a pain to credit a lot of times, so I'm not going to ask that you have a link back. I do ask that you not claim the work as your own and leave my signature on the piece, and that if anyone asks you about it, you point them back to me. Again, simple, but you're helping me out with that.
Some stuff I won’t accept commissions for-
Anime/Furries
Gore
NSFW
OC slash canon character pieces
Yaoi/Yuri
I do reserve the right to turn down a commission - If I’m not comfortable creating it, you won’t want me to be the one drawing it.
I’ll have three slots open at a time, so keep an eye out for when new spaces open up!
New Year, New Update
I do, however, have a few concept sketches, etc that I will be uploading that were a part of the semester for one of my classes - the other class is one that is working for a client, so those pieces won't be going up on my DA. I am hoping to get more personal work done this coming semester, as well as being able to update my portfolio, etc. I'm beginning to learn how to balance work and life - something I am terrible at, as work tends to absorb my life, but that's one thing changing with this program. Bit by bit
I've also begun a new writing project to try to help myself step back, and so pieces of that will be making their way onto here, as well as me hopefully being able to pick back up on Smuggler of Shadows and Hunter of Shadows. Those two have been sitting dormant for far, far too long.
That all said, I'll be travelling back to Scotland over New Years', so I hope everyone has an amazing New Year, and that your Christmas and other holidays were lovely.
Oya, vode!
Some updates
).So after about a year out of Undergrad, I've decided to go back to get my Master's Degree, in hopes that it will help me not only to break into the industry, but also help me to learn and be better prepared to tackle some of the challenges I'm wanting to take on.
I've been actively trying to find a direction, and have started feeling like I've gotten really stuck in where I am and that I'm in desperate need of something new and different.
So I'm going to be leaving in August to attend University in Scotland. Which is about as different as it can get for a girl from the desert
That being said, I hope to keep going with the stories I'm writing - I've been actively trying to figure out what's been blocking me and trying to move past those challenges or find ways around them. I'm also going to continue drawing, doing character designs, and keeping up with those skills as well.
I'm going to be going for a Master's in Digital Game Design, so needless to say I'm excited about what the future is going to hold
Smuggler of Shadows, Year 2 :)
So I was working on Chapter 5 of the current Smuggler of Shadows book today when I realized that the second anniversary of the story had passed without my even noticing. I have a piece I’ve been working on that I meant to post as a celebration, but unfortunately I lagged behind and am still at work on it. Since I am always up for some procrastination, I decided to remedy my silence and post a note.
More specifically, I wanted to say thank you to everyone. When I started out, I assumed that my stories would remain unread. I was doing it just to do it, never really thinking that anyone would care about the Mandalorian smuggler Kadira Sal and her crew. I’m glad to say I was proved wrong. The reviews and notes I’ve gotten have made me smile without fail, and I am so glad the people are enjoying the adventures of my little group of Mandos Thanks for putting up with all my delays, and thank you for taking the time to read
Also, as a celebration bit (instead of my still-in-progress art piece ) I decided I should share some news - I am currently at work on starting a new series, that will most likely be written alongside the Smuggler of Shadows series. It will take place a bit later and will have a new cast of characters (as well as some recurring ones ). And, of course, there will be more Mandos. You can never have too many of them.
-Kad
) So, as a 'celebration' I decided to do an Author interview. I figured if I put my characters through it, it was my turn. So, without further ado...First off, what can we call you, and what do you write?
Online I usually go by Kad. I write the Smuggler of Shadows series, which is a Mandalorian FanFiction.
Why did you make the choices you did for your characters' occupations?
I chose a Smuggler for Kadira because I always liked the idea of a character who went against the norm. I knew I wanted to write Mandalorians, but I had seen so many well-done pieces about Bounty Hunters that I admit I was too afraid to give it a shot. Hence the idea of a Smuggler. Someone who wasn't a 'classic' Mandalorian but who wasn't exactly a law-abiding citizen either. I also didn't want to go the Force-Sensitive route because, again, so many people had done it so well.
Why did you choose the timeframe you did for your writing?
I chose to write in between Episodes 3&4 because I knew I would have some leeway in what was happening in the galaxy, and wouldn't have to keep researching the ever-changing canon of, say, the Clone Wars. Also, I knew I could put Kadira and her crew into situations that were canon, without having to say 'pretend you saw them in the movie' kind of thing.
Who are your favorite characters to write?
I actually have two favorites- Kadira and Laniff. Kadira because she's strong, decisive, but still has weaknesses and needs her vode. She messes up, and she's hard on herself for it, but she's open about it too. Laniff because he always has a comeback ready and waiting to lighten up the situation. He's the jester of the group, and yet he has a darker streak beneath all that humor.
Your least favorites?
Ran and, at times, Iam. Ran because he's so darn secretive, even to me. It's taken me ages to try to perfect his voice and his story, and right when I think I have it set, the chakaar changes it again
. Iam because he's such a complex character. He's a father, but both of his 'children' are grown and off fighting battles. He's protective, but also willing to let them find their own path. He's got a lot of conflicting qualities that somehow balance out.Who, in your opinion, is the character that drives your story?
I would say Kadira. Everything centers around her and her actions, even in Book 5. Without her, there isn't a team, there's just a bunch of random Mandos, a clone, and a jerk with a mission running around the galaxy
What characteristics do you wish you had from you characters?
I wish I had Kadira's bravery, Laniff's wit, Jett's loyalty, and Iam's strength. And, in some ways, I wish I had Ran's drive. He can be a jerk at times, but he does everything he does to get closer to his goals.
What characteristics do you think your characters got from you?
I wish I could say things like bravery, courage, etc… But the first thing that comes to mind is Laniff's love for fire, Kadira's recklessness, and Ran's impatience…
If you could choose one of your character's possessions for yourself, what would you pick?
The Vanguard, hands down. I am incredibly jealous of Kadira's ship. It was actually one of the first defining characteristics I decided on about her character.
If you could choose any of your characters to watch your back, who would it be and why?
I'd choose Kadira or Iam. Both of them have that drive and determination to get their charges out alive. Knowing my luck, Laniff and I would both would get distracted by something that blows up, Jett wouldn't like me, and Ran would decide I was expendable.
What do you think your characters' weaknesses are?
I think Kadira's weakness is also her strength- how stubborn/reckless she is. She sets her mind to something and does it, even when it's dangerous. Laniff's is his temper – he can be consumed by it if he isn't careful. For Jett it's the loss of his vode and the vulnerability that lost connection has left. Ran's is his single-mindedness about his mission and his willingness to sacrifice anything for it. Iam's is like Kadira's, it's also his strength. His weakness is his children – he'd do absolutely anything for them.
What originally made you build your supporting characters the way you did?
I built Ran as a bit ruthless in order to highlight Kadira's kindness. Iam I built as solid because I knew Kadira needed an anchor. Jett I made the way he is more out of Jett's choices, not mine. Jett became a character that has a mind of his own. As for Laniff… Laniff was originally going to be stern, serious, and killed off in the first book he appeared in. Instead, he became humorous, loves explosions, and lives on. I guess, in short, all my characters sort of defined themselves…
Did you start out with a back story for each character, or have they developed along the way?
Um… Both, to be honest. Kadira started out with a basic backstory that has grown. Jett's backstory was fairly set just because of who and what he is. Iam's backstory was completely unplanned and has basically taken on a life of its own. Ran's backstory is constantly getting more complex, the chakaar
. Laniff's backstory was mostly planned, but details came about as the story continued.Which character would you say is the most complex?
That has multiple answers. In terms of story and character, Kadira is. If it's in personality, Iam. In terms of their background, the answer is Ran. If you're looking at emotions, then it's Laniff. For how they fit into the story, it's Jett… The list goes on
What's your favorite part about writing your stories?
I personally love watching my characters grow and change, becoming more three-dimensional as their stories continue. I start by making a character, and soon that character gets a mind of their own. I love it. I also love throwing twists into the plot, just to see how my characters and my readers will react to them.
How do you build your stories? Any advice?
I used to kind of build on a whim, but now I have a system to how I plan the stories - Beginning, End, Plot Point 1, and Plot Point 2. In that order. Read Screenplay by Syd Field, he explains it better than I ever could…
Thanks for your time!
Anytime!