FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Below are the answers to some of my most frequently asked questions!

Please be aware that messages containing questions answered here will either be redirected here privately or ignored. Please read through before asking! I’ve labeled sections for your convenience.

Q: I SENT YOU A DIRECT MESSAGE! WHY DIDN’T YOU RESPOND?

A: Please make sure your message opens with a question! Messages like “hi” or “can i ask you a question” are a personal pet peeve - please just ask what you’d like to ask right away and save us both some time! Thanks <3

My direct messages are for business inquiries only. If you sent me a message that doesn’t read as a business-related question (i.e. commissions, patreon, etc) I probably won’t respond! Chatting with strangers privately is not comfortable for me. You are welcome to comment on my work or tweet at me publicly via @kihublue on twitter!

Q: Can we chat? I’d like to be friends!

A: Please see the previous answer. You are welcome to interact with me in public-facing areas, like Twitter’s timeline, Patreon comments, or my live streams, but I don’t chat 1-on-1 with folks I don’t know. I also don’t roleplay/RP/etc, or use sites like secondlife or vrchat.

ART FAQ:

Q: Do you take requests? Can I ask you to draw something for me?

A: TL;DR - No, I don’t take requests. Please don’t ask! You may commission me when I am open, though! 

Long Answer: Though I wish i had the time and resources to draw requests for all of my fans, I unfortunately cannot do this. Freelance illustration - or “furry porn” as most people see it - is my job! Please don’t ask me to work for no pay!

Q: Are you on any Gallery websites?

A: I use Twitter and FA exclusively. My tumblr (this page) is used for informational and archival purposes only. You can find some of my older work here.

Q: Can i use your work for my nft/crypto project?

A: Absolutely not. Any representation of my work in any field associated with cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the blockchain, et al, is not permitted under any circumstances. You may not use my work, crops of my work, (even commissions you have paid for) in any of the aforementioned circumstances. Go plant a tree, turn off the lights you’re not using, and think about your life choices.

Q: Can i use your work to train an ai?

A: No. You may not use my work, crops of my work, (even commissions you have paid for) as input for creating AI-generated images.

Q: Can i POST YOUR WORK ONLINE OR USE IT AS AN ICON OR CHARACTER?

A: Sometimes, here’s some general rules for different situations:

  • Posting work if you are a commissioner: If you are the commissioner of an image, of course. The images purchased are yours to use as you see fit, with the exception of public posting of full-resolution (full-rez) format images. The full-rez images are OK to share privately/with friends, but I ask commissioners not to share them publicly online as I usually create year-end full-rez image packs for purchase.

  • Posting work if you are NOT a commissioner: If the work is a commission, you need permission from the commissioner to post it, and you must credit me in the posting. If the work is NOT a commission, you must ask me first. Please don’t post my work without permission.

  • Using my work as an icon or for RP: Please don’t do this, especially with my characters. They’re very near and dear to my heart and not for public use. If the image is NOT of one of my characters, it’s likely a commission, and you should ask permission from the commission’s owner. If the image is neither, such as a picture of a character from pop culture (tony the tiger, robin hood, etc) I would still like it if you asked, but it’s okay to go ahead and use if you credit me.

Art Commission FAQ:

Q: ARE YOU OPEN FOR COMMISSIONS?

A1: Check first. I post my openings online. If you do not see a current opening posted anywhere, i am not open.

I am not open for commissions unless there is a post somewhere that is current (usually <24 hours old) that says otherwise. Those posts are available on several platforms as described in the answers to questions below.

This means that I AM open if i have a post saying that I’m open. If that post is up and the opening has not been claimed or taken, I am indeed currently open.

When do openings close? For streams, openings close as soon as I select a commissioner to work with and begin work on a piece. I will open again after the current piece is completed. While streaming and accepting commissions during stream, I only accept ONE piece at a time.

For other opening postings, such as a twitter post or Pateon opening, I am usually open for about 20 minutes to 1 hour. It is very unusual for an opening to stick around for longer than that before it is claimed.

A2: JOIN MY Discord server, TELEGRAM CHANNEL, AND CHECK MY TWITTER TIMELINE FIRST!

Join my Discord Server. You can join this server by becoming a supporter on my Patreon or Subscribestar. It is a community where commission openings, streams, discussion, etc are available to my innermost circle of clients.

THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE ONLINE WHERE I DO ‘SECRET’ COMMISSION OPENINGS. As a supporter of my Patreon, you get access to commission openings that nobody else gets access to! All other commission openings are open to the public.

Join my Telegram Channel. That’s first dibs on nearly all of my commission opportunities! This does not include patron-exclusive openings.

NOTE: TELEGRAM CHANNEL IS BLOCKED ON MOBILE. You must either use desktop telegram to view, or install/use third party workarounds such as nicegram to unlock NSFW telegram channels for your mobile device, due to app store content restrictions

For other locations, see next question. Look at my social media accounts - if you see a post saying that I’m open, and no posts saying that I’m closed, just follow the instructions! The post regarding the opening will either have a link to my stream, wherein you should follow the link and join the stream, or it will have further instructions. Most slots close within a few hours, if not within 24 hours. Streams (like sketch streams, etc) usually last several hours. If the stream is over, the slots are no longer available.

Q: WHERE ARE COMMISSION OPENINGS ANNOUNCED?

A: My Patreon, Telegram Channel, Twitter, and FA (in that order!)

  • My Discord Server. This server is accessible to supporters of my Patreon or Subscribestar only, and many of my commission openings are exclusive to this platform. First dibs on most commission opportunities, as well as private streams, are available here first and foremost.

    • Note: Often times, I open on Discord (Via Patreon or Subscribestar) and the slot sells, meaning I don’t need to post it to my telegram channel or twitter. If you would like a shot at that first opening, consider joining my Patreon.

  • Telegram Channel - I try to update here and Twitter at about the same time.

  • Twitter - @kihublue I do a lot of openings JUST on twitter as well, things that may be difficult in a closed community like discord, or that need a centralized post (i.e. auctions, etc) that are visible to everyone.

Why in that order? Patreon goes first because it’s a paid service. Secondly, I like to reward the people on my Telegram channel with first (free) dibs! Twitter is the easiest & fastest to communicate on, and FA is just clunky and difficult to use.

Some commissions (i.e. Frenzy Streams, some special commission events for holidays, etc) will be announced on all sources well before the event.

Q: When do you normally open up?

A: I do not have a schedule for commission openings. 

I open as-needed and as I am available. Since every commission takes a different amount of time and I avoid a queue as much as possible, most openings require you to keep an eye out for an opening and respond to that opening quickly, as slots sell very quickly.

Q: What are your prices?

A: I work on a quote system! Once you have a slot and tell me what you want, I’ll tell you how much it will cost.

Ballpark pricing (in USD):

  • Full Color: $700+ per character, minimum. I open for these rarely, as this involves painting and smooth shading, rather than flat color and hard-edged (cel) shading.

  • Cel-Shaded Color: $500+ per character, minimum. I almost always offer this as an upgrade to flat color.

  • Flat color: $400+ per character, minimum. This is the most common opening!

  • Sketches: $150+ per character, minimum. I do not open for sketches often. For new customers, I recommend saving for a flat color slot at minimum.

  • Backgrounds cost extra. Minimum $100, up to $300+ for hand-painted, depending on the detail. Backgrounds are only available upon request AND approval, and on certain openings are not available whatsoever.

  • Detailed costumes cost extra. This includes gear, fantasy clothing, armor, accessories like harnesses, clothing with words or patterns on it, like camo, plaid, or stripes, and shoes. All of these items have a lot more lines and detail in them than the body parts they cover up. That means it takes more time to draw, and therefore the price increases!

  • Extra work costs extra - i.e. spots/stripes, alternate versions, accessories, complex characters, anything that takes more time than the ‘basic version’ of the character.

    • ⭐️ Pricing UPDATE Note: As of early 2024, I have updated my pricing to “bake in” many of my old upcharges. The below rule still applies, but upcharges are reduced or omitted more often as a result of a higher base rate.

      • The “Tony the Tiger” rule: If you’re worried about what to expect, here’s a good rule of thumb: If your character is more complicated to draw than Tony the Tiger, you can expect some upcharge. Tony’s design has black, white, orange, a blue nose, a red kerchief, and some stripes, though the stripes have a simple shape. If your character has, for example, more complicated stripes, more colors, tattoos, clothing choices, etc, it’s fairly likely I’ll need to charge extra.

Example Pricing:

A cel-shaded commission with two nude characters, a basic background, and an alternate version with both of them in underwear.

$500 - cel shaded base rate, first character
+500 - cel shaded base rate, second character
+ 30 - second character is a zebra, full body stripes upcharge.
+100 - basic background base rate
+ 50 - cel shaded alternate version with and without underwear (First character)
+ 50 - cel shaded alternate version, same as above (second character)
$1230 - grand total, final price.

Once all the details of a commission have been provided to me, I will provide a price quote in the above format. The price of individual items and options is non-negotiable, but buyers are always welcome to add or remove optional upcharges.

For example: If, in this case, the customer decided to go with flat color instead of cel shading in order to make the alt versions and background more affordable, their revised quote would look something like this:

$400 - cel shaded base rate, first character
+400 - cel shaded base rate, second character
+ 30 - second character is a zebra, full body stripes upcharge.
+100 - basic background base rate
+ 40 - flat color alternate version with and without underwear (First character)
+ 40 - flat color alternate version, same as above (second character)
$1010 - grand total, final price.

Please note that I will not discuss specifics or provide a quote like the examples above until you secure a slot.

You may use this guide to ballpark a quote. The price you are given after you receive a slot is firm - although you may omit details to reduce pricing if needed. (i.e. if quoted extra for an alt or detail, you may remove that detail to avoid the cost, but I do not respond well to haggling or requests to simply ‘make it cheaper’.)

I will NOT provide a full price quote until after you have secured a slot. Looking at characters, references, discussing everything you want in a piece is a process that takes a significant amount of time. Until you become a customer and secure a slot, I cannot afford to invest that unpaid time into discussing your commission idea.

Q: So how do I get custom artwork from you?

A: Read this FAQ! It explains it all.

Q: Can I order a commission in advance?

A: No.

I might open up for commissions like this once in a while on social media, but I try to avoid having a waitlist or queue at all costs.

Q: How long does it take to get a commission from you? Is there a waitlist?

A: I HATE WAITLISTS!! I do my best to complete all commissions within a one week timeline. Most are day-of or next-day.

This is why I mostly do in-stream work, quick one-off openings, or small batches! I hate having a waiting list, and I hate making people wait. Should special circumstances dictate otherwise, you can be assured I will be in contact with you - and all commissioners have access to a special, commissioner-only business e-mail address in case you need to reach me.

Q: Does becoming a patron on Patreon or Subscribestar guarantee a commission slot?

A: No.

I cannot guarantee a commission slot to anyone, for any reason, at any time. While being a patron allows you access to otherwise inaccessible commission openings, opportunities, and streams, your patronage does not buy you a slot in advance in any way.

MERCH (Physical Goods) FAQ:

Q: Where do i get those paw socks?

A: Unfortunately, they are no longer in production and fully sold out.

The paw socks represented years of difficult work with overseas manufacturers and extraordinary capital investment on my end, and that is simply work and debt I no longer have the will to endure. They were fun while they lasted, but I currently have no plans to re-launch them as a product.

Q: Online shop? Where?!

A: See below answer regarding werewolf boyfriend. My bigcartel shop is no longer active.

Q: Where do I get a shirt? Werewolf Boyfriend?

A: Via teespring! https://teespring.com/stores/weasel

All my shirts are here or on my bigcartel store (see above). If you have questions about stock for teespring items, please contact teespring. They are a fully automated, autonomous company. I simply provide artwork, they do the rest (payment, printing, shipping, stocking, etc)

Q: Where can i get your stickers?

A: Stickers are no longer available.

They were a fun side-item when i sold items at tables at conventions, but I no longer do that!

Q: Can i find you as a dealer at a convention sometime?

A: No, sorry! If i’m at a convention, I’m just another attendee.

I ran tables at dealer’s dens for conventions for a very long time. It’s exhausting… I have the utmost respect for artists and creators who are able to do so, but I unfortunately can no longer handle the stress and investment (of both time and finances) necessary to work at conventions. If I attend cons, it’s for fun these days!

EXCEPTION: I may vend prints and other small trinkets at NSFW-only, single-night events such as FC’s Night Market or FWA’s Moonlight Party. I have no plans to otherwise return to full-time tabling anytime soon.

FAQ for Kihu:

(the artist running this site)

Q: How long have you been drawing?

Since I was a little kid! I first started taking it seriously when I bought a comic book kit when I was about 10 years old. I started taking commissions around age 16 on DeviantArt, and turned commissions into my full-time job in 2012, and have been going strong ever since!

Q: What got you into the furry fandom?

I was googling The Black Panther (comic book character) so I could draw him one day when I was about 13 or 14. Instead, I found VCL… The rest is history! Through artwork, comics, and community I was able to escape a restrictive household, explore my sexual identity, discover myself, my best friends, and my husband.

Q: What Software and equipment do you use?

A: I run a PC with Photoshop CC 2024, a Cintiq Pro 16, and use tools like Lazy Nezumi (line smoothing) and DesignDoll (3D model posing for reference) to assist with my work.

PC Specs: Ryzen 7 3700x 8core 3.6GHz, 32gb ram, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super, Wacom Cintiq 16 (Pro Touch).

Q: I need advice! Can you teach me to draw?

A: You’re welcome to ask me specific questions on twitter if you like (or in my discord if you are a patron.) Specific questions include things like “How do I draw this hand in perspective” or “I’m having trouble getting this expression to read correctly, how can I fix it?”. Those questions I’m happy to answer. Questions like “can you give me art advice” or “can you teach me to draw” or “what am I doing wrong” are far too open ended, and require a LOT more time than I have available, and require me to know you well enough to understand what level of honesty you are comfortable with me using while criticizing your work. Since chances are I do NOT know you well, I can’t be very honest without risking hurting your feelings, and it’s just a whole slew of reasons that I avoid doing that with strangers.