Here you’ll find what I offer, prices, and what the process is like! Commissions are currently open!
(Prices are only guaranteed for 2024 and may be adjusted beginning of 2025)
My Strengths:
Fantasy. Whimsical. Enchanting. Mythical Creatures. Character Design. Fantasy Creature Character Design. Props.
So, before you DM and ask for a commission, be sure what I illustrate is what you’re looking for. I could nail a character bust of Mr. Darcy, a Starfleet captain, or Katniss because it’s character design. But a Sci-fi, dystopian, or historical fiction book covers wouldn’t fit my style since my niche is fantasy.
But if you have a fantasy historical fiction? Science fantasy? Let’s chat! I might be able to pull it off!
What I’m Offering:
(I don’t offer any other commissions other than these packages; no bookmark illustrations; no full pose character designs, etc.)
I’ve also tried very hard to keep my prices as fair as possible. I’m not trying to price gouge; I’ve agonised over these prices to the point of almost opting out of doing commissions at all.
•Prop Sketches:
Price, black & white: $50
Price, full colour: $85
•Sticker Design no background, full colour:
Price, including commercial rights: $60
This means you are free to order batches of stickers and sell them however you would like, for life.
•Chapter Header spot illustration*, black & white:
Price, including commercial rights: $60
*this is a single illustration; if you’d like multiples, please reach out so we can work out a bundle deal :)
•Social Media Banner w/background, full colour:
Price: $150
(At this time, I do not place fonts, texts, etc.)
•Black & White Illustration (a detailed, finished sketch), with background (8x10”):
Price: $150
•Character Design Illustration, as seen above (original characters; characters from franchises (i.e. Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Hilda, etc); Dungeons and Dragons characters (as long as it’s not gory or evil; I’ll do a “good” orc character but not a “demonic” Elf necromancer):
Price, black & white: $80
Price, full colour: $110
Note: I take creative liberty with the frame and decorative background elements after I found out details about the character/story; the character will also be stationed in a static pose with arms at sides); if you would like me to do a more dynamic pose, I can for an extra $30-50, depending on how many changes you ask for while I pose the character during the sketching process.
•Full Colour Illustration, with background (8x10”):
Price: $200
•Book Cover, full colour (front only; commercial rights INCLUDED):
(At this time, I do not place fonts, texts, etc.)
Price: $350
•Book Cover, full cover (dust jacket or front/back and spine; commercial rights INCLUDED):
(At this time, I do not place fonts, texts, etc.)
Price: $450
What I Will & Will NOT Illustrate:
•I retain the right to refuse a commission for any reason without explaining myself to a client; I don’t illustrate anything that violates my convictions.
•I have a sketchy, painterly style; I don’t over render my full colour illustrations (i.e. think the beautiful Dungeons & Dragons/Magic the Gathering pieces); you hire me for my style <3
•I don’t illustrate horror; torture; gore; anything celebrating evil (this isn’t the same as depicting good vs. evil which I am THRILLED to illustrate.)
•I don’t illustrate characters from some fandoms (i.e. Game of Thrones, The Witcher, etc.)
•A very minimal amount of blood might be acceptable if it’s depicting a wounded character.
•I do not illustrate costumes that are sexually objectifying.
Commission Turnaround:
•If you have any sort of deadline, book me in advance!
•Please allow for appropriate turnaround before the finished product is completed as I stay at home with our little, autistic girl and I have health issues. Life happens.
•Turnaround depends on level of detail: character designs (sketches/full colour) should take a one-two weeks per piece; stickers, a week per piece; sketches, one-two weeks; full colour illustrations, two-four weeks; book covers, four-six weeks.
Each commission will also depend on level of detail. A simple cover might take a week! But a very detailed sketch might take two and a half weeks.
•If you need a job done ASAP, let’s talk! I’ll try to squeeze you in; there might be an extra “expedited” fee. At the same time, I can’t promise fitting you in.
•If you’re hiring me for a book cover, please book me at least three months in advance… if not more! This allows me to work through any projects I might have lined up.
•During the commission process, I may work on a few of my own pieces as well (unless a very strict deadline is given, such as a cover).
This does not mean I won’t finish your piece in time. Sometimes I need a creative “breather” and going back to my own work helps keep my brain rejuvenated. I’m good at squeezing in a few sketches or spot illustrations while meeting my client deadlines.
A Few Basic Illustration Guidelines:
•I retain full creative rights to my pieces and the right to post them to my social media accounts. If I create a book cover for you or something special for a book launch/character reveal, I will wait to post until after you’ve first revealed the piece.
•I take payment via PayPal or Venmo only. First half of commission price is required before I begin as a nonrefundable (once I begin work) downpayment.
•If I finish half of the commission and you decide you no longer wish for me to finish the piece, I do not refund the downpayment.
•After we’ve agreed a commission is finished, final half of price (and any additional fees) is required before I email the final piece to you.
•My prices include only the basics of illustrating the piece, etc.
I don’t do endless adjustments.
Each commission package allows one or two major changes (or five minor changes). If more changes are requested, there will be additional charges.
•Please provide a detailed description of what you’d like along with a moodboard (whether a Pinterest board or a single graphic; please do not send ten separate images in my messages. This keeps my process a little more organised).
Several of my clients have provided rough thumbnails of what they’d like, and that is VERY helpful, too. You don’t have to be an artist for this to help me.
To chat about concepts, you can email me at ellie.r.tran@gmail.com or direct message me on Instagram at “thewriterlydragonslayer”.
•And while I ask you be as detailed as possible when describing what you’d like, please understand I cannot capture perfectly what you’ve imagined. I will try, but there will always be variance in what you imagine and how I translate it.
This doesn’t include misunderstanding. If I misunderstand what is requested, I will fix it!
•All of my pieces have a “cut off” date when it will need to be done. I cannot spend two weeks on a piece that costs $50. If we reach that cut off and you’d still like changes, I am happy to oblige; there will be an extra charge.
•Some clients give me “complete freedom” with a loose aesthetic inspiration direction. One of my repeat clients is like this! So, if you don’t have specs in mind and just want a piece from me, I can do that to!
•Please not erase my signature when posting to social media, and please credit me!
•Only stickers and book covers come with commercial rights included in the price. All other commissions may not be printed for profit, but you may print for personal use (i.e. to hang on your wall, share with friends, or hosting a giveaway). If you’d like to sell as prints, etc. there will be an extra fee to cover commercial rights.
The Illustration/Commission Process:
•My goal is to get you the illustration of your dreams! We’ll communicate what that is. I’ll send a few thumbnails (if an illustration or cover) to make sure we’re on the right track.
•At each stage of the process, I’ll send you progress updates for approval. Once approved, I’ll move on to the next stage (i.e. I’ll show you my thumbnail/send for approval; rough sketches/send for approval; final line art/send for approval; flat colours/send for approval, etc.)
After the flat colour stage is approved, there isn’t much left for you to request changes to. I don’t allow feedback for how I build up colours, lighting, etc. because this inhibits myself as an illustrator.
•If a stage is approved by you and I move on to the next stage, any changes to what is previously approved will require an additional fee .
I think I need to snag two more character portraits! I am loving your current style and........I think it would be dreamy to have them done by you!