User blog:SsVivid/SsPortraits

I am currently accepting commissions.

'''For the time being, I'm not going to accept any more requests. I'll probably reopen when I finish up all the ones on the list, but for now, hold off. Gotta focus on the people who already commissioned.'''

Examples of other SsPortraits are on my home page with links to the characters. Check 'em out and see if you're interested.

Requesting a Portrait
I guess it would work just as well if I asked for stuff outright. If you would like to get in line for a portrait, fill out this form:
 * Character: At least give me a name. Who am I working with, here? Is it a human? Have a wiki page?
 * Hair: Style and Color, especially if anything deviates from your avatar's costume.
 * Eyes: Color, anything remarkable about the irises or pupils, etc.
 * Distinguishing Features: Any unique markings or details about the face, like scars, pocks, freckles, tattoos, or piercings or miscellaneous jewelry. This is a good place to mention any make-up, too.
 * Model: I want a clear photo of a NON-CELEBRITY model's face who you think most closely resembles the features you imagined for your character. See the sections below for more information about this.
 * Skin Texture: Do you want me to use a skin texture brush on your portrait? This usually darkens the skin a shade and is a pinch more realistic, but is less glossy and idealized. Good for grungy characters, not so good for beautiful Aphrodites. Yes or no. If no answer, I assume no.


 * Screenshots: Nothing to write here, but know that, before I can start, I may need to meet up with you dressed as your character in-game to take a screenshot for eyedropping hair/skin colors and whatnot. If you would rather just give one to me yourself, I generally take them zoomed up close with the Orb of Occulus from either a front-on or 3/4 perspective, depending on the model I've been given.
 * Price: Do you here acknowledge that you understand these are not done free?
 * Other: Anything else? For example, specify here if you want the portrait done for on-screen display or for print (difference is if I paint in 72dpi or 300dpi; I will default to on-screen), or anything else relevant at all.

Price
400k GP + Donation

My portraits are not free. However, the price is flexible. These portraits usually take me a minimum of five hours of work, so I would hope that you be willing to pay me however much you think is worth five straight hours of intensive production (intensive meaning that I pay so much focus I sometimes I forget to eat).

As it stands, the typical cost is in runescape gold. I ask for a minimum of 400k, and then the addition of a donation of your choice. The donation can be 5gp or 3.6bil, it's completely up to you. This is in place not only to protect you from getting less than you paid for, but also as a sympathy system for those who admire my work and but don't have as many resources available to them for purchase. That said, I would hope that more complicated commissions with intricate tattoos and lots of special details would invite more generous offers.

In a nutshell, the idea is that I won't do the work for less than 400k, but if I please or thrill you, you can thank me with a significantly larger amount. Payment will be accepted at any point before, during, or after the production process and isn't expected until delivery. Those who want to decide on their offer immediately are fine, as are those who would like to see the finished product before they decide how much they want to pay for it. If you prefer to keep the amount you paid private, that's fine. If you want to shout it to the heavens, also fine.

If anyone finds this too close to RWT for comfort, I would also happily set up a paypal account and accept actual money via an e-mailed invoice. Trust me, I would rather earn $5 or $10 than 400k. It'll buy me dinner.

''In the event that you see someone using a proof-marked portrait for regular display after it was delivered to them and edited, please give them the stink eye, because they stiffed me. I remove all proofs upon payment.''

Process
So, I decided that, for all of your benefits, I would explain what the model's headshot is for. Here is my process:

Finalized Requests
These are the people who have asked for (and not yet recieved) commissions. I'm only counting those who have given me most, if not all, of the information for the character's portrait. They're listed in first-come first-serve order, which should be close to the order in which I'll be doing them, depending on how timing works out for payment and in-game meet ups for screen shots.
 * 1) Alfa - Marius Enzo

Tentative Requests
These people have tentatively mentioned wanting portraits but haven't really gotten into giving me any of the details. Nobody moves onto the list above until I know exactly what you want. Remember, avoid celebrities, folks.
 * 1) Thane Krios0 - Thane Nol

All About Your Model
I prefer require that models not be recognizable celebrities on the principle that your character is not George Clooney or Megan Fox. The most outstanding issue with this is that, if people could recognize the celebrity you've modeled after, it would take away from the individuality of your own character and defeat the purpose of the portrait. I started creating these to help myself and my roleplaying peers effectively communicate the unique characteristics of their own creations in ways that couldn't otherwise be done. If you just want your character to look like Angelina Jolie or Ezio Auditore, don't waste your money. Just put up a picture of Angelina. I'm not going to help you pretend that's not what you're doing.

Who to Avoid

 * Avoid big-name stars like Will Smith, whose name you would expect people to recognize if you dropped them in casual conversation


 * Faces from cult media like Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Pulp Fiction, Star Wars/Trek, any video game ever, and similar characters who not everyone knows, but have a cult following of people who would know the face in a second. This also includes Lord of the Rings, Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, X-men, Spiderman, etc.


 * The same goes for supermodels people probably know about, even if they couldn't spout off the name. For example, a lot of people know Miranda Kerr's face, because she is both a supermodel and Orlando Bloom's wife. She would not be a good selection. Spokespeople and spokesmodels also fall into this category (think Flo of Progressive insurance or Lars of the Aqua di Gio cologue).
 * Avoid celebrity musicians. I may not know what the lead singer of Panic! At the Disco looks like, but I bet someone in our community does know, and would recognize him.
 * Stay away from IMDB.com or any website of that nature where just about everyone shown has a professional career in television or film. You're doomed to find someone off-limits there.

What to Look For
These are pointers for selecting a good picture of a model once you know what you're looking for.
 * The ideal model is completely bald, because the shape, facial structure, and subtle shadows are easy to see. Beards in particular, but also long hair over the model's face, make this difficult. I can usually work around this inconvenience, but if you have a good option with less visible hair, that would be nice.
 * Remember that you're not looking for a model with the right hairdo and eye color or skin tone, all of these things can easily be changed in the drawing process. The most important part of your selection is that this model has the facial structure (girl, bone shape, size, features) that you imagined for your character.
 * I don't have much trouble making small "surgical" changes to a model's face. If you find a model who's absolutely perfect except you want, for example, a more boyish jawline or a more severe brow, that's something I can deliver without much extra trouble.
 * The facial expression in the photo is what you're going to get in the finished picture. If your character is known for being stoic and serious, that shot of your model grinning and giggling is probably not the best choice. I can attempt to slightly alter this, but it doesn't come with a guarantee that it will come out the way you expect.
 * If you have a celebrity in mind because you like his/her bone structure, but aren't allowed to use him, keep in mind that you're more than welcome to pick out a model who has similar features. Even lookalikes are acceptable, just not the original celebrity.
 * If at all possible, try to find a good-quality photo that is a close up of your model's face. The clearer an image I have of the model's facial structure, the easier it will be to properly reproduce. Normally, with mid-quality photos, I still don't have any trouble managing, but if I'm given a small photo of the model's entire body such that the face is severely pixilated when I zoom in, the assumptions I have to make about the structure may come out differently than you anticipated.

Help! I Can't Find A Model!
This is your only warning: some of these sites accept artistic nudity in the model portfolios.
 * http://www.modelmayhem.com
 * http://models.com/
 * http://www.primemodeling.com/
 * http://www.modelingshoot.com/
 * http://www.top-models.com/
 * http://www.google.com/

Don't Know Where to Start?
I also offer a certain service (for free, unless you're feeling philanthropic) for those of you who aren't really sure what you're looking for. I can help kick off your search by personally browsing for some models, picking out a few with varying facial features, and pointing out those features while explaining the different looks they lend themselves to. From there, you can pick out the features you feel best fit your character and will know what to look for going into your model search.

Contact

 * Commenting here works well
 * In-Game Username: SsVivid
 * E-mail: SsPortraits@ymail.com (Please tell me if you're going to e-mail this account, I don't check it otherwise.)
 * Skype: VividCamouflage (When adding contacts, specify it's about portraits.)