Sheep Floof’s Terms of Service

Version of 11-10-2016

        I’d like to start by thanking you very much for your consideration.  I know you wouldn’t be here looking over this if you weren’t considering purchasing a piece of artwork from me, via regular commission, sketch stream, etc, and I feel honored to be your choice.  I know you have many of them out there, and it warms me to know I’m one of yours.

        Starting out, I’d like to promise you, my client, a few things.  I strive to the best of my ability to give an experience that is head and shoulders above the quality and working relationship that so many artists offer within our community.  I do this through being completely honest about my ideas and concerns, communicating as promptly and competently as is possible, and doing my utmost best to deliver a product that is the best I can offer in the fastest time as I possibly am able.

        Only with total transparency and understanding can any business relationship work to the benefit of both parties.  This is something I believe, and is something that I practice.

        With that said, let me get through a few things you have the right to know about me and how I operate;

Sheep Floof's Will Not Draw List

        I try my best to not limit myself too much with content I will not draw, but there have been a few things in the past that I find uninteresting, limiting, or even distasteful that I’ve had to take a stand on.  

However, unlike some, I believe you should understand why I will not draw these things, so below the items on this list, will be a short explanation of why I won’t work with them.

1. Mecha/Robotics - Neat looking, but not my best subject.
2. Cub - Cute and all, but a real grey area with some folks.
3. Vehicles - Cars are pretty complicated.
4. Babyfurs/AB - Come on, guys...
5. Vore - Ouch
6. Inflation - But, what?
7. Scat - Ew, messy.
8. Watersports - Don’t want anyone to slip on it.
9. Corporate Copyrighted Characters -  If you’d like to get a third party’s character drawn, you would need to get them to e-mail me their permission for you to use their character.

        This list is as complete as I can make it at the time, but it not whole.  I reserve the right to deny a commission because of something that is not listed that I disagree with.

Terms Of Service

 1.  I reserve the right to refuse a commission at anytime for any reason.  Money may buy a lot of things, but once I put my foot down, it won’t buy me.

 2. I reserve commercial copyright and creative control over any artwork created.  This simply means that no one, other than myself, is allowed to benefit financially from the display or use of my artwork, and all modifications of my artwork must be done with my approval.

• You, and the owners of characters appearing in a commissioned piece, may upload and display the artwork created wherever you like, provided I am credited as the artist and no one is benefitting financially from the artwork’s display.
• You, and the owners of characters appearing in a commissioned piece, may modify the artwork by inking, coloring, and/or shading.  I only ask that I be informed that you’re doing so, so that I can keep an eye out for it to be finished.  A link to the completed image would be greatly appreciated.
• Other artists are not allowed to modify my work in any way without my expressed, written consent.  The original commissioner must contact me at -ENTER EMAIL ADDRESS HERE- to seek this permission.  I must be linked to the artist in question in this request.
• You may make prints, banners, t-shirts, etc for your own personal use and artwork must appear in its complete, unaltered form.  I’d love to see this, so a picture would be nice.  Who knows, I might want one if you have a spare.
• You may not make prints, banners, t-shirts, etc for advertising purposes, or any other purpose that is for financial gain.

 3. If you wish to get a commission for the purposes of advertising for a convention, event, business, etc., or for sale/promotional uses for those purposes, please let me know via e-mail when you order the commission.  Rights to do so are available, but at an increased price.  I do not license images, instead opting to sell the full copyright to do as you like with an image.  I just find it easier that way.

 4. All payments for artwork are upfront and complete.  I do not take partial payments, as I work very quickly.

 5. All reference materials for characters, props, and backgrounds must be obtained and supplied by the commissioner at the time of order.  If there is a specific character, prop, background, etc, then you must find all of the references for these things.  

 6. For use of characters not belonging to the commissioner, please contact and obtain the permission of the character owner(s) before you place your order.  This helps to make sure that the proper references for that character(s) are given to you, and that the owner is not offended by their character being used without permission.

• If the image is meant as a gift, you must make sure that your order abides by all condition the character owner(s) have for their character being depicted.  If there is an issue arising because of the commission, the image will be removed from my gallery out of respect, I will request you remove it from yours (going so far as to have it forcibly removed if this request is refused), and you will not receive a refund because you have violated my terms of service.
• If the character owner(s) issue “blanket permission” for the use of their characters, please link me to where this is given.
• If the character owner(s) allow their character used, but with certain conditions, please link me to where these conditions are, so that I may read them.

 7. All characters created in the process of creation of work, with the exclusion of character concept commissions, are property of the artist.  All claims to the characters by the client, unless negotiated before the commission is accepted, is void.

What this means to you

        That was a lot of verbiage for a couple of simple ideas, but these ideas come with promises to you, my client.  While I don’t allow my clients to create prints, CDs, banners, t-shirts, etc., for profit, I promise I will not do anything like that myself with the work that was created.

        I’ve always found it a bit distasteful to use commissioned works as materials for prints, CDs, banners, t-shirts, etc.  I mean, the artwork may be mine, but the character itself is not, and that just doesn’t work for me in my head.

        I pride myself on three things above all; Professionalism, Transparency, and Honesty.  I will not forsake these things under any circumstances.

        So, these are things I can promise you.

• I will never use images you commissioned for prints, banners, t-shirts, animations, etc., without your direct approval.  I will not solicit this approval from you, because I do not like asking for these things.  If you would like me to add something to my print collection at conventions, for example, please let me know you’d like me to add your piece.  
• I will not use your artwork directly for promotional materials.  Of course, someone can look through my gallery and see the type of artwork I offer, but I will not butcher your commission to create a “Commission Page” or something like you regularly see.  This is just disrespectful to you, and I refuse to do that.
• I will strive at all times to be as professional as I can be.  All delays will be communicated as promptly as is humanly possible, my communications will be organized and as easy to understand as I can make them, and my artwork will be the very best I can give to you.
• I will push myself to provide your commission in the shortest time absolutely possible.  No more than two weeks for a regular commission, no more than two months for a reference sheet ever.  This has been something that has happened to me in the past, and it brings me shame that I feel I’ve made people wait far too long for something.  I will not repeat this.
• Sometimes life may get in the way, but I will not abandon my responsibilities because of it.  

Refund Policy

        I am a bit more rigid than most artists when it comes to my refund policy.  This is to be as fair as I possibly can be to my clients, while also not leaving myself out in the rain.  Some people will not like my refund policy, and I understand this.  However, you must agree with it if you’re to commission me.

        Refunds originating from me will be 100%, regardless of the work already completed.  This is because, for whatever reason, I am the one that cancelled the work, and am choosing to return your money.  This does come with certain conditions.

• At no time does this entitle you to credits, discounts, or upgrades for future commissions.
• No work in progress images already sent to you may be posted online.  I’ve not kept your money for work already completed, so you do not get to post what has been done.

        Refunds originating from the client are on a sliding scale depending on the amount of work done, and are without malice.  Sometimes, things happen and you have to recall work you’ve commissioned.  This happens sometimes, and I can not fault anyone for having to make a tough decision like asking for a refund..

        The sliding scale is detailed below.

• No work begun:  I will notify you when work is beginning on your commission.  If you must have a piece refunded before this notification is sent, then you will be refunded the full price, less transaction fees.  These transaction fees typically amount to a few USD, and I will happily tell you exactly what they were upon request.
• Sketch Phase:  Once I have notified you that work has begun, I can not offer you a full refund as I have completed some work for you already.  At this stage, I can only offer 75% of the original price, less transaction fees, in order to compensate myself for work already finished.
• Ink Phase:  Once you have approved of the sketch, we are now in the ink phase of my work.  If you must cancel the commission at this point, I can only offer you 50% of the original price, less transaction fees, in order to compensate myself for work already finished.
• Color/Shading Phase: Once the inks have been approved, we are now in the color/shading phase of my work.  At this point, no refunds may be issued as work is almost completely finished.

Afterward

        I’d like to thank you all for reading this long document.  I only felt it should be this long to cover all bases and questions that may come up, and be as informative as possible.  If you do have any questions, please address them to micropupcomms@gmail.com

        I look forward to creating something you’ll really enjoy.

Previous Versions

        To maintain my commitment to transparency, I’ll be posting below the links to all previous versions of the ToS as well as their effective dates.  You should know that a ToS statement such as the above does NOT apply for works created before the revision date at the top, but all works created after it.

Current Version - 11-10-2016

Document written and © to Skylor Forscythe

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/skylorforscythe