Guide

How to commission art

A first-timer's guide to getting custom art made: find an artist, write a great brief, pay safely, and avoid scams.

To commission art: decide what you want and your budget, find an artist whose style fits, send a clear brief with references, agree on price and timeline, pay safely with protected payments, then review previews and receive your files. On commissions.gg this is built in, with 0% platform fees and payment protection.

Step by step

Decide what you want

Pick the type (icon, illustration, emote, VTuber model, ref sheet), the style, and a budget range.

Find an artist

Browse artists whose style fits and check their recent work and open slots.

Write a clear brief

Describe the piece, attach references, note pose and mood, and share your budget.

Agree on terms

Confirm price, what's included, revisions, and the delivery date before work starts.

Pay safely

Use payment protection. PayPal pays the artist instantly; card payments are safely held through Commissions.gg until approval or resolution.

Review & receive

Give feedback on WIP previews, approve the final, and get your high-res files.

How to write a brief that gets what you want

The clearer your request, the closer the result. Include:

The type & finish

e.g. "full-body illustration, fully rendered, with a simple background."

References

Images of your character, the style you like, and any pose or outfit ideas.

Pose & mood

What the character is doing and the feeling you want it to convey.

Intended use

Personal, profile picture, stream asset, or commercial, this affects rights and price.

Deadline

When you need it, so the artist can fit it into their queue.

Budget

A range helps the artist propose the right scope.

How to commission safely

Protect yourself and your payment.

Use payment protection

Your payment is protected through approval or resolution, so you're never out money for nothing.

Check the portfolio

Make sure recent, consistent work matches what you're asking for.

Get it in writing

Scope, price, revisions, and deadline agreed before work begins.

Avoid AI fakes

commissions.gg uses anti-AI monitoring so you're hiring a real human artist.

What you can commission

Popular places to start.

How to commission art FAQ

How do I commission art for the first time?

Decide what you want and your budget, find an artist whose style fits, send a clear brief with references, agree on price and timeline, pay safely with protected payments, then review work-in-progress previews and receive your final files. On commissions.gg this is built in, with 0% platform fees and payment protection.

What should I include in a commission request?

Include the type of commission, your character references, the pose or mood you want, the finish level, the intended use, your deadline, and your budget. The clearer your brief, the closer the result.

How do I avoid commission scams?

Use a platform with payment protection, check the artist's portfolio and reviews, get the scope and price in writing, and avoid off-platform payments with no protection. commissions.gg adds protected payments and evidence-backed dispute support.

How long does a commission take?

Anywhere from a few days for a simple icon to several weeks for a rigged VTuber model or detailed illustration. Agree on a timeline up front, since many artists work through a queue.

Ready to get started?

Browse human artists taking commissions right now.

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