How to Hire an Illustrator! – Verity's Visions

First, Contact Me and let me know what sort of project you have in mind! We can set up a call, chat over texting or do it all via email.

Things to consider for this discussion:

What is the main subject?
For portraits, decide on full body, upper body, face & shoulders or just face?
How detailed should it be?
Do you have preferred colors?
Do you want a detailed background? (costs extra)
What size and shape should the finished piece be?
Do you want it printed?
When do you want it completed?

Once we have come to an understanding of the project, I will send you a Work Agreement via email that outlines what we discussed, lays out the licensing agreement and gives a quote. This quote is good for 30 days from the date on it.

If you decide you are ready for my services, you will pay the Draft Fee listed in the Work Agreement, either by PayPal or via my shop and I will let you know when I can start working on it!

Starting Prices

Custom Illustration begins at $150. This is for a single subject with a basic background.

Detailed backgrounds start at $100.

Portraits start at $500.

Graphic Design is $35/hr or as quoted.

Work Stages

Stage	Fee to Start	Summary
Scope of work discussion	Free!	Consultation discussing the project you have in mind and how I can meet your needs. Afterwards, I will send you an email with a Work Agreement that outlines what we discussed and a quote. You will need to make an account and pay the draft fee to get things started!
Draft	30% of quote	The draft stage involves doing idea brainstorming, layouts, defining elements to be used and working with the client to help them understand the process. Often this stage results in 1 or several very rough layout sketches that will be refined in the next stage.
Refining	20% of quote	The refining stage is used to refine the extremely rough layout sketches that have been approved from the previous stage. This means: – The subject will be recognizable. – Any design elements will be worked out and examples shown. – Backgrounds, especially more abstract ones will be roughed in. – Color swatches might be produced and need approval. There might be some very rough colors applied on the refined sketch to give an idea of where they will be and how they will look.
Finishing	Remaining amount of quote	The finishing stage is where the inking and/or painting happens. When the Finishing Fee is paid I will give an approximate completion time for this stage after I evaluate my other work load.

Here’s a convenient link to the shop where the fee can be paid!

Each stage will begin once the last stage is approved and the next payment is made.

You will have 1 full week to reply to any communication from me. If you don’t reply, your project will be moved behind the next in line and I will continue working on it when that one is finished.

Reference Pictures

I use reference pictures to work. The more pictures from different angles you have, the better. Ideally they would be well lighted and not blurry.

For portraits, I use a primary reference photo that must be well lighted, in focus and of a reasonable resolution so I can see the details that define the individual.

If you are within a reasonable distance of my local area, I can come and take suitable reference photos for an additional fee.

Revisions

Sometimes things don’t come out exactly how we imagined, or seeing the project in work will give ideas for small changes. 2 minor (about an hour) revisions are available as part of the quoted amount.

Further revisions are available at $50/hr, paid up front with a minimum of 1 hour charged.

Deliverables

This describes what you receive! Prints, high resolution digital files, certain aspect ratios (like for a desktop background or a phone screen background).

Kill Fee

Sometimes life changes, I very much understand that. At each stage, you have the opportunity to back out of the project with no further obligation.

If you back out during the Finishing stage, I will evaluate how much time I’ve spent on this stage and refund you what I determine is reasonable.

If you back out, you do not possess a license of any sort to any of the work already completed. You may not post, share, edit, hire someone else to complete it, use ‘AI’ on it or anything else.

Licensing & Copyright

I retain copyright to all of my work unless negotiated otherwise.

Licensing (your right to use my work) is a deep and complicated subject, but I’ve tried to make it easy!

Unless otherwise negotiated, all assets created during the process, like layouts, sketches, rough drafts, color swatches, design elements, etc, are not licensed for client use.

Only completed, paid-in-full artworks will be licensed.

‘You’ refers to the client who has hired me to make this artwork.

Alterations to Artwork

Unless otherwise negotiated, I DO NOT grant license for you or anyone else to alter the artwork in any way, EXCEPT to crop it to a size that serves the space available better.

No aspect ratio change (squishing), color modifications, drawing or tracing over, adding to or removing from or any other form of alteration is allowed.

Non-commercial license

This license allows you to use the artwork non-commercially. This means you or anyone else may not make money on my artwork in any way.

Examples of what you can do:

Use it as a profile picture.
Set it as your phone or desktop wallpaper.
Display a print somewhere, either one you’ve purchased from me or one that was printed elsewhere.
Use it to decorate items like cups, t-shirts, etc.
Share it with friends and family on social media or via email and text as long as proper credit is given. ‘Artwork by Verity Cantare, VeritysVisions.com’ is simple and easy!

Examples of what you may not do:

You may not remove my signature or claim the artwork as your own or someone else’s.
You may not modify the artwork in any way (see above)
You may not utilize any part of the artwork or assets for NFTs.
You may not utilize any part of the artwork or assets for training generative ‘Artificial Intelligence’ models.
You may not use it in any way that generates income for you or anyone else.

Commercial License

Commercial licensing is very complicated with many factors that need to be considered. If you want a commercial license, contact me to discuss your needs!