Comrade Hero

I completely agree with WP and BS's sentiments.

[ QUOTE ]
So, with X-Mas round the corner, the probably most exciting thing I have on my list is a commission by someone. When getting a commission...like...What do you do? Is it polite to suggest a pose(s)/scene(s)? Pretty much all general and/or specific information is what I'm lookin' for... The basics or the more in depth stuff of what steps you take for a commission. Thank you kindly.

--BAS

[/ QUOTE ]

I think Bayani wrote a really good piece about commissions, hopefully he will post here.

Thor's Assassin, Rowrsie and Feral Kat are three people who can give you good advice on the commissioning process as well BAS.

Here's my 2 cents worth.

Know before hand the type of commission and image you want for your character(s)

Check List

Size: Full body, Bust (usually chest up), or Portrait (face)
Background: None, simple or complex
Medium: Poser or 3D, Photomanipulation, Traditional Painting, Graphite, Pencil and Ink, Digital Render etc.
Style: Realist, Animated, Manga, American Cartoon etc.

Cost: Sometimes you can negotiate the price, a lot of times you can't. Know how much you can afford to spend and stick by it.
Payment Method: All Upfront or Split Payments. Money Order, Cheque or PayPal?
Time Frame: Very important. Try to get an estimate on how long your commission will take. Days? Weeks? Months?

Contact the Artist

Send a friendly and polite email/PM to the artist you would like to commission a piece for you. I've always found it helpful to explain what it is I liked about their artwork and that I think it would look great immortalizing my City of Heroes/City of Villains character in their style.

Explain exactly what you done in the style/medium offered by the artist.

Ask for information on time frames, payment details and pricing options (if none are listed).

Don't be put off if you get no reply. I've had that happen.

If you do get a reply, make sure to thank the artist for getting back to you.

And do send back a reply to an artist if you cannot afford what they are charging, or something else doesn't meet your criteria. Artists do appreciate feedback, and who knows they may agree to know the price down for you.

Buying around the Holiday Season

This time of year you will find artists (especially on deviantArt) are slashing prices to build funds for the Holiday Season. You can find good bargains if you are willing to sift through the Job Services page on the dA Forums.

And check out the galleries of people like Bayani, Thor's Assassin, Rowrsie, and Feral Kat. If you see something you like in there, drop them a line. I'm sure they'll be more than happy to help you out.

And that was my 2 cents.

Nice to see you, to see you nice

Wow Scarf, I've been watching from your dA page and the progress you've made has been truly impressive.

Grats on another fine piece and here's hoping there's more to come.

Privyet Comrade Bayani,

Comrade Hero reporting for chance to be Guest spot.

Spasiba.

I'm afraid I'm not much of a writer but for the curious here is the background information on Rack.

Rack

I asked DunpealChild to do a piece on Rack based on his background and we delved into his only remorse. Killing his wife and not being able to bring her back.

This is what she came up with: "Between the Shadow and the Soul"

[ QUOTE ]
*blushes*

I discovered these things years ago, when CoH was still in the planning stages and superhero wannabes had to play Freedom Force.

Thanks for the compliments, it's certainly motivation to keep going =)

[/ QUOTE ]

Good old Freedom Force, how I miss that game. Loved the power customization in Freedom Force. Hopefully CoX gets that way one day. *fingers crossed*

I remember writing up hero bio's before CoH was live, everyone was guessing what sort of heroes they'd get. Was a fun time.

[ QUOTE ]
yay, thank you all for the donations, they will keep me supplied with sketchbooks and pencils and those kneaded erasers that I like!

um did I forget you Mardun, I looked and didn't see you throw in your character? First response I saw from you is after Queue Closed? If I'm wrong I'll squeeze you in!

[/ QUOTE ]

Donation made to very worthy cause! Keep up the good work.

These are really neat Gamma Girl. Glad you decided to share your talent with the peeps here

Happy day of deliverance from the womb Oni! Now do the dance of joy.

Gorgeous pieces! Grats on a nice score Hems.

[ QUOTE ]
lol, ok....

first up

Rack

let me know what you think

[/ QUOTE ]

Awww.. so cute. If he wasn't a rotting mass of decay and filth I'd hug him

Thanks for that!

I have no idea what a micro-hero is, but you have me intruigued. I humbly submit Rack for micronisation

[ QUOTE ]
Looks awesome!! My only critique on this one is that his suit looks a little flat. Especially compared to his boots and the statue. Just a little more shadow and highlights would do it justice! Anywayz, great work overall. I like the backwards R's in the name.......and what's the russian part mean?

[/ QUOTE ]

The Russian part says: "Hero of the Russian Federation"

[ QUOTE ]
This piece was a lot more challenging than I originally anticipated. I had started off posing Comrade Hero with his arms up, but then realized he was mirroring the statue behind him (which is a stylized version of the 'Mamayev Kurgan', a patriotic Russian monument). Once I moved his arms, I ran into an issue with the flow of the flag blocking the background... and the challenges continued from there. I have sketches of the statue from 20 different angles, and at one point even tried a completely different cityscape.

Apologies for the delay on this one, but I'm really happy with the results. Patriotic heroes seem to be a strong force, recently.

COMRADE HERO - Poster

COMRADE HERO - Detail

[/ QUOTE ]

Spasiba, Doug! Well worth the wait and minor corrections. I like this a lot!

For those who are mini history buffs (from Wikipedia):

After the war, the Soviet authorities planned the Mamayev Kurgan memorial complex. It was built between 1959 and 1967 and is crowned by a huge allegorical statue of the Motherland on the top of the hill. The monument, designed by Yevgeny Vuchetich, has the full name "The Motherland Calls!" (Rodina Mat' Zovyot!). It consists of a concrete sculpture, 52 meters tall, and 85 meters from the feet to the tip of the 27 meter sword, dominating the skyline of the city of Stalingrad (later renamed Volgograd). At the time of installation in 1967 it formed the largest free-standing sculpture in the world. The construction uses concrete, except for the stainless-steel blade of the sword. The statue is held on its plinth solely by its own weight. The statue is evocative of the classic Greek representations of Nike, in particular the flowing drapery, similar to that of the Nike of Samothrace.

The detail on the characters outfits is very, very nice. Well done on such a great piece

The detail on this piece is really good Rowr. Grats on a great piece

[ QUOTE ]
Oh and btw, from now on, please state your AT and powersets, it helps get a fitting pose. No biggie, but it helps. Or you can get straight out tell me your desired pose.

[/ QUOTE ]

Comrade Hero is a flying Energy Melee/Invulnerability Tank and very muscley

[ QUOTE ]
Taxibot Sara!
Static Thunder!
Doc Boy, hoo!
Green Regis!
Comrade Hero!

[/ QUOTE ]

Spasiba, Comrade Foo. Very much appreciated.

Comrade Hero reporting for modelling duty!

Thanking you muchly for consideration Sythias.

Gratefully submitting Comrade Hero for consideration. More images in My Scraps.

Spasiba comrade!

Comrade Hero, Energy Melee/Invulnerability Tanker

Very, very nice. Definitely one of my favourites

[ QUOTE ]
*mewls and whines!!!!*

I promised myself no more new commissions until 2007.....

[/ QUOTE ]

So did I, but the prices were so tempting