Making a ToS

[starrywolfpaws.livejournal.com]

I'm working out a very basic TOS for my art. I'm not a commission artist but I do trades and requests so I thought I should do one of these. And would appreciate it if it could be looked over.

<lj-cut="It's under here">All artwork on this blog unless otherwise stated it copyright to Lucy Hollingbery/starrypawz
All characters drawn are copyright to me or their respective owners

You may not edit my artwork without my permission
Do not remove my watermark
Do not directly copy or trace my work, referencing is fine
If the artwork contains another persons character please do not repost it without their permission
Do not post my artwork on sites that advocate hate or abuse of any kind or are 18+ rated sites
If you do decide to post my art on another site please do credit me

My Drawing Policies
I wish to keep my art to a PG-13 rating. I will not draw images that involve/advocate the use of drugs or other illegal substances, excessive gore or violence, graphic sexual content/nudity, fetish work or any work that advocates hate or abuse.

If you are asking me to draw another persons character please ensure that you do in fact have their permission to let me draw them

On the case of nudity and sexual content, I will draw cheesecake style pinup, 'nothing showing' nudity in the case of anthros, tasteful nudity and romantic scenes
When it comes to Yaoi/Yuri ect I will draw this type of art as long as it abides by the above guidelines
When it comes to 'slash' art. I will judge this on a case by case basis
If you are wanting more risque art, I will not draw it if I can not verify the characters are over the age of 18
I have the right to refuse your request if I feel it is inappropriate or beyond my ablities

Specifics are extremely helpful, if there's a particular pose, scene, clothing style etc  you wish to have in your work do tell me and I'll do my best to accommodate you. Please do provide references or well detailed descriptions.</lj-cut>

Comments

[mrst4nkr.livejournal.com]

Your ToS has a "what I will and won't draw" section, but not too much else.

Have you considered adding a segment for types of payments you accept, when you accept the payments, when you can refuse commissions, what your turn around tends to be for commissions, shipping information for traditional artwork, what happens when you cancel commissions, what happens when a commission is cancelled by the commissioner and artwork is already done (or partially done), if you accept deadlines, how many revisions you offer if a commissioner doesn't like a sketch (and at what point you charge for more), or what changes can be made after a commissioner has already approved the sketch?

[kerstin-orion.livejournal.com]

I think some of this doesn't apply, since they only do trades and requests, but some is appropriate, such as "do you show the other person a sketch before completion or just the finished product?" and if so, like mrst4nkr said, how many revisions? And indeed, do you ship the art?

[starrywolfpaws.livejournal.com]

I'll think over this. I admit I haven't really thought about it as I've never had to at this point in time revise anything I've drawn for another person. I would ship artwork out but most of my work is digitial so I tend to send them a larger version of the image since I save my work small for web use.

[jesskat.livejournal.com]

Just a small note, but I would clarify what exactly you mean by "slash" art. I've always been under the impression that male/male (yaoi) and female/female (yuri) is what people generally mean with slash. Yet in your policy you say you will draw yaoi/yuri, but will consider slash art on a case-by-case basis. It's a little confusing.

Considering you're only doing trades and requests at the moment, I'd say detailing your policies regarding refunds and revision policies aren't necessary. It would still be a good idea to add something about possible cancellations and general turnaround time.

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

I used to know what the difference between slash and yaoi/yuri was, but I don't remember anymore... I was to say that slash is any non-cannon pairing, but it definitely should be clarified.

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

I always consider slash to be the romance and yaoi/yuri to be the hardcore X rated stuff.

[jesskat.livejournal.com]

If I recall correctly, the Japanese terms yaoi and yuri are indeed referring to more hardcore porn. Their terms for romance are shonen-ai and shoujo-ai. In the west (at least on the internet), at least yaoi seems to have become merely synonymous with "gay" and most people don't directly connect it with porn. I think the only difference may be that some people consider 'slash' to be exclusively fan art whereas yaoi/yuri can refer to original characters. (Although personally I've seen both terms applied equally to fan art and original stories, with no distinction between straight up porn vs. romance, which is why I think they're so confusing.)

[starrywolfpaws.livejournal.com]

I believe that's pretty much it. I think I may reword that section and remove the Yaoi and Yuri bit and word it something like 'I will draw couples of any orientation' which I think may be easier to understand.

[feropup.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that slash art was gay non-canon fan art.

Essentially, while she might draw two original female charries going at it, Hermione and Ginger going at it would be a different story altogether.

[starrywolfpaws.livejournal.com]

That's what I wanted to get across. If it is the persons original characters or the characters are together in the source material I will most likley draw them.

If it is slash, which can apply to any non canon pairing I may not draw it. It'd all depend on the pairing in question.

[kerstin-orion.livejournal.com]

Since the term "slash" seems to have a rather varied definition for folks, perhaps it would be good to put your interpretation/definition in the TOS.

[starrywolfpaws.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think I may do that.

[conigliomannaro.livejournal.com]

As someone who's been stood up on a trade and ignored on a few requests I've taken, I would put on some kind of deadline for when it comes to deliver the goods and put a small note about feedback. It's crazily unnerving when you deliver a piece in May and the next July the other party still hasn't started theirs, and it's straight out insulting when you take a request and the recipient doesn't bother leaving a comment. I take requests and do trades with friends but I don't have any TOS, but since you're doing them, you probably should protect yourself from dishonest and disrespectful behavior.

[starrywolfpaws.livejournal.com]

Thanks,
I do need to sort that out too, I admit sometimes I've been kind of slow on my end of trades and requests but I always try to keep the person I'm working with posted.