Hello, I'm Melon!
I'm an art fiend from Portugal who enjoys creating things with my hands, most of which come out in the form of drawings, 3D shenanigans, sculpting and more rarely, words and video game music. I go by they/them (EN) and ile/dile (PT) pronouns.I've been working as a freelance artist for nearly a decade now, taking on private commissions and odd jobs here & there, but I'm looking to become a professional Character Designer / Illustrator;Thank you for being here! If you're looking for other places to find me, check out the links next to this text or in the homepage!
I do not support, create or use NFTS / AI "art" / crypto technologies. If you see anyone using my art for these purposes please let me know via e-mail.
I've been drawing since I can remember, but I've only started taking art "seriously" at 9-10. Growing up in the middle of nowhere means you have to find ways to entertain yourself, so drawing and making my own toys with clay and other materials have just always been a thing;
All of my work is done on my trusty 18 year old 4x5 Wacom Intuos 3, but sometimes I also sketch on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S7;
I mainly work on Photoshop CC17, sometimes on Clip Studio Paint. For 3D I use Blender and ZBrush.I got all my brushes from other artists, my main one is simply named "nice..." and I unfortunately cannot remember who I got it from;Some other brush packs & tools: LejebokaTools, devinsSparklies, Salander Brushes INK, jensbrushes, houstonsharp, johnsilva, JJcanvas, Webang111, Frank's Inkes, Frank's Real Pencils, lorandesore;For CSP I simply have too many but you'll likely find 'em as the most popular ones or shared through twitter.
I use plugins for Photoshop, namely BrushBox, Coolorus and Lazy Nezumi. The little timer window you see in the corner sometimes is not a PS plugin, but I still highly recommend it - Tomighty is the name.
I'm okay with folks taking from my Terms of Service page, just remember to adapt it to your needs and preferences!
Short answer: No.I've had people do this not once, not twice, but three times now and it honestly sucks, especially when done without even asking.I spend literal days and a lot of effort working on my sites, so it sucks major ass when someone comes and steals the layout & design work I do. You wouldn't steal art or claim others' work as your own, so why do it with web design?I CAN and would be hype to help you design your site though!! Seriously I love playing around with layouts, just ask if you need help.I'm also considering creating free & paid carrd templates in the future, so keep an eye out & lmk if that interests you!
Art & Updates Server
In an age where we have to throw hands with algorithms to be seen, the server is a way for me to connect with people, as well as a great way to deliver my art and news directly to your metaphorical doorstep.I understand people are - like me - tired of the mass-discordization of the internet, I will one day figure out a better alternative, but for now, if you only want news & updates from me without the social part of the server, there is a read only role available.
Anyone who falls within these categories:— Monthly Patron (old and new);
— Commissioner (old and new);
— Kofi and/or Twich supporters (old and new);
— Wants to keep up with my work;
— Wants a chill art server with a resources library & responsive art critique and help.
Patreon — If you're a patron, it /should/ give you the option to join the server when you pledge;Just ask! — You can either DM me on twitter/tumblr @melonkind or directly send an email to me.
You might consider joining if you're someone who enjoys spaces where you can talk to other folks involved in art;Perhaps you're not so interested in talking, but you'd still like somewhere to share your art and get feedback and critique & also want to find cool resources on the library channel;Maybe you want none of the previous things and just want to keep up with whatever I'm doing, there is a Read-Only Role in the server that allows you to see ONLY the supporter channels where I deliver the content, news, and commission status updates (hiding all else to declutter your view)With all this said, whichever reason you fall into, you're not obligated to participate in its social aspect and you're free to come and go whenever you like 💕
❓ COMMISSIONER CARDS
This card serves as a visual tracker for both me and the commissioner, keeping tabs on the amount of stickers a client has, as well as if they currently hold a discount or not.If you plan on being a returning customer I strongly recommend you get a commissioner card, it'll give you access to a 20% discount every time you fill the card with Tino stickers and, if you are a higher tier on my Patreon, you are able to stack both discounts together.Note: Commissioner Cards are private and not shared with anyone.Use the form below to get a card — Note that you don't need to be currently commissioning me to ask for one!
Commissions
The standard way to earn them. Each commissioned piece above 40€ earns you 1x Tino Sticker.Patreon Tier — 🧅Root
A limited-slot tier available on my Patreon. This 40€ tier counts as 1x Tino Sticker per month.
On Patreon, my 🍑Fruit, 🍂Leaf and 🧅Root tiers reward you with a 15% Discount on a commission each month. You can stack the Commissioner Card's 20% Discount with Patreon's 15% Discount, up to a total of 35% Discount!
1. Earn a Tino Sticker, via commission / patreon;
2. Fill the card with 5x stickers to get the 20% discount;
3. Use discount on current or next commission;
4. Card is cleared once it reaches 5x Stickers, receive a new card & start again!I will always deliver you an updated version of your card every time you receive your commissioned piece, so you don't need to save old images of your card;✳Please note that if you choose to hold onto a card discount, you cannot receive the next 20% Discount until you use up your old one!✳✳You also cannot stack the card discount with another card discount.
📚 Terms of Service
Last Updated: 20 JANUARY 2024
This page should answer many common questions regarding my process and give you a clear view of what to expect before, during and after the process of commissioning me;I know this might look intimidating to a lot of people, but please try your best to give it a read whenever you are able to. I have created a clickable table of contents in hopes that it helps folks get to the information they really want to see quickly.
🐌🔎 Table of Contents
✳Click to navigate!
By ordering a commission from me you are agreeing to the following terms:1. The client has read all of and agrees to my Terms of Service. Please note the Terms of Service are this entire page, and not just this list;2. The client is at least 18+ years of age;3. The client confirms that they are paying for digital goods and thus shipping is not required (except for custom merchandise commission options);4. All payments are to be made in Euros (€) and through Paypal;5. I retain the right to accept or reject commission requests as I see fit;6. I reserve the right to post your commissioned artwork to my social media and websites (you can however request to remain anonymous when I post your commission);7. I reserve the right to modify your artwork for promotional purposes (Commission samples, my website banners etc.);8. I reserve the right to claim and be given proper credit for all my artworks.9. Nothing made by me may be used in any blockchain-related technology, including but not limited to NFTs, cryptocurrency, or future inventions in the space. I also do NOT consent to my art being used for AI technology.10. The client acknowledges that the prices on this website are meant for private customers, which means that unless we agreed on something else beforehand, any drawings that you purchase from me are for PERSONAL USE only.11. I reserve the right to modify these terms at any time.
❓ Acceptance Policy
I accept a wide range of subjects and themes, though I do have my limitations and stress my right to turn down or back out of a request for any reason. The following list is not conclusive and may have subjects I have forgotten to include — if you're not sure and it is not listed here, I recommend asking me!✳My definition of Hardcore may differ from what you consider as such, as with before please contact me if you have questions.
⭕ Can do | ❌ Won't Do |
---|---|
Original Characters | Fully Mechanical |
Anthro & Furry | Cultural Appropriation |
Creatures, Monsters | Minors in Sexual / Abusive situations |
Gore & Horror | Hateful / Offensive / Illegal |
Self-Insert & Self-Ship friendly | Hardcore NSFW✳ |
OC x Canon | NFTs & other Crypto Technology |
Fan Art | |
Artistic Nudity & NSFW | |
Complex Designs | |
Weapons, Props, Outfits | |
Simple Backgrounds | |
Group Art |
📚 Commission Process Guide
To claim a commission slot please contact me through the provided form on this site.Jobs that involve character designing (from figuring out a character's look and outfit to color palettes) will have an extra cost from now on. I will NOT re-purpose someone else's character as your own;.
ANY FORMS RECEIVED WITHOUT REFERENCES WILL BE CONSIDERED INVALID IF REFERENCES ARE NOT SENT WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE FORM IS RECEIVED;.
❓ If there are questions that are not answered anywhere in this site, feel free to send me a message either through social media or directly to my email at melonkind[at]hotmail.com
1. REFERENCES
Please include at least ONE visual reference of the subject(s) (even a small scribble will do). Don't be shy about the number of references, but make sure they are relevant for the piece. Nudity and NSFW art references are okay, just give me a heads up before sending them.While text descriptions are accepted, they are a case-by-case basis and may be subjected to additional pricing.
1.1. PREPARING YOUR REFERENCES
Visual References
(Images)
You can quickly make a folder in Google Drive/Google Docs, Imgur, Photobucket, Pinterest, etc. and upload the relevant images to these free services.If there are multiple folders for different outfits/objects/forms and such, please make sure to point out the one(s) relevant to your commission!Please avoid sending me scattered references, such as sending one by one on a twitter DM or through email — these can be easily lost or forgotten..
If you have a carrd specifically for your OC and/or a Toyhouse page for it with references already there, these work perfectly as well!If you're sending me video game screenshots as references, please try not to take them at strange angles & take pictures somewhere where there is natural lighting (if game has photo mode use neutral lights);
Descriptive Reference
(Text)
Finding images that most resemble your character, haircut photos and any other details, stock images and etc. accompanied by text is good! However for text descriptions, I ask that you answer the following:1. Describe them physically. What is their body build? Face shape? Hair? Colors? Any specific features like scars or markings? For this part, descriptions like "they have a gentle disposition" are also helpful;2. Talk about them. This one isn't required, but having some idea of what they do and what their personality traits are will help me accurately depicting your character (so that I don't end up drawing a cheerful character as edgy and dark for instance).This can be a small description or just 1-3 words if you want — there's no need to send the life story though!!3. What are they wearing? Any accessories and props you want me to include? (Please note that complexity adds to the price.)
2. CONFIRMATION & APPROVAL
You will receive updates of the drawing as it is being made. Rough sketches, value/color pass for rendered pieces, and any major changes from then on until the final drawing is reached — I have included an example of a previous commission done for DinoDraws below:
1. Rough Sketch
Once I send you an e-mail confirmation informing you that I am ready to start work on your commission, you can expect to receive rough sketches soon afterwards. This rough sketch may or may not include colors, depending on complexity of palette (some palettes can take time to figure out);Do not hesitate to inform me of any changes you want at this point. It is imperative that you let me know of your thoughts on things such as the pose, expression, outfit, composition, etc. during this stage to avoid extra fees later on. If there are any changes to be done, they will be taken care of before continuing to the next stage. Once the rough sketch is approved by you I will send a paypal invoice for ✳upfront payment.✳ I allow and offer payment plans for orders reaching certain values, especially if the client is a returning customer who I already have some level of trust. You can ask about this when placing your order through the provided form.
2. Clean Up and/or Lining
Once the payment is confirmed as received, I will check in with you after I clean up / line your drawing to confirm that you are satisfied with the direction. It is important to understand that while I still allow changes after payment, any large changes at this point will start incuring fees..
.
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3. Grayscale Flats / Color Flats / Render Progress OR Final Product
Depending on what you're commissioning me to do, if your piece is finished I will be checking in with you a last time before proper delivery of the piece's files;If this is a full render or large commission this would be an extra step where I check in with you once again for colors and any effects and then check in at the end again for any tweaks.
2.1 Changes & Further Edits
Please make sure you give a good look when you get the rough sketch and take your time to approve it!1. You may ask for a maximum of 2 major edits to the pose and composition of the piece.Additional edits after a second major edit will have a fee, the value of which will depend on how much is being changed, type of commission, and at what phase the drawing is at.2. The maximum for minor edits is 5 (this might include details I've missed in your character's design or simple add-ons). Additional edits after a fifth minor edit will have a fee;If you have a specific idea, pose or mood in mind, make sure to be clear with its explanation — Even a small stickman scribble can help!Ideally all your changes are done during the rough sketch phase, although I understand that in some circumstances you may end up not feeling a certain detail, pose, or color when it reaches halfway of the commission progress. As such, edits are still available even after you pay, so don't feel locked out of changing something in the drawing after payment — it is important to me that you receive something you actually like.
Examples of things that might be Major changes
— Changing the direction of an arm CAN be a significant change if the flow and composition of the drawing are changed by it;— Changing a pose is a significant change, as it requires a complete redraw;— Changing a color to a completely different one CAN be a significant change if it clashes with the rest of the palette, thus requiring a change of all the other colors to accomodate the new color.Note that as previously mentioned, any significant changes after the rough sketch may incur a fee. Failure or refusal to pay fees means our work together stops there, and I refund a % of the payment for the work done until that point.
Examples of things that might be Minor changes
— Changing a hand's pose, an expression, the jewelry details, shoelaces' direction, nose shape, etc.;— Changing a color's value slightly while still remaining in the same or a neighboring hue.*
3. PAYMENT
You will receive a paypal invoice AFTER the rough sketch and price have been approved by both parties. All payments are in Euro & via Paypal Invoice.Payments are done only when the sketch is approved by you as a way of 1) avoiding pressure-related anxiety on my end & 2) avoiding any issues in case I become unexpectedly unable to work on your commission;Work will only be continued as soon as the payment is received, so please make sure to check your e-mail for the invoice;
4. TURNAROUND TIMES
I will always inform you if there are any issues regarding time. I unfortunately don't have a fixed schedule or timing needed, but counting from rough sketch approval to end, during "usual" queue times you can expect your commission to be ready anywhere from 1 week to 1 month, and during "slow" queue times stretching a bit beyond that.I understand this may be troublesome for some people and is a big reason I don't often take big commissions with a tight deadline. If the idea of possibly ending up waiting for 1 month or more for a personal-use commission is something you can't work with, I recommend commissioning another person (no hard feelings, I absolutely understand and respect that);Time and energy is something I am constantly trying and slowly getting better at, unfortunately medication doesn't solve all the problems... 🐌💦 If after reading this you're still interested, know that I'm forever grateful for your patience!I try my best to always send out updates to everyone in the queue on SUNDAYS though e-mail & my art discord.To minimize waiting times, please respect my time and my work, and try your best to reply within a day to any commission-related emails that I send!
5. COMMISSION DELIVERY
Once your piece is finished I send you a resized version and the original size version of your commission in a .zip/.rar file (use WinRAR, WinZip or 7zip) but if for any reason you don't have these I can send in a different method.For works such as tokens, I always send a watermarked version and a non-watermarked version. Please make sure to ONLY post the watermarked version if you share it anywhere public.Due to email size limitations you might sometimes see me send files through a website called WeTransfer, please make sure you download your files ASAP if so, as the site deletes files after a week!
❓ Redistribution, Crediting, Permissions & Uses
1. I allow the client to repost their commissioned piece on social media websites, however proper credit must be given and somewhere visible. (Additionally, for instance in the case of Token commissions, if I give you a version without watermark in addition to a version with watermark, I ask that you post the watermarked version only)2. If you have a specific purpose in mind for your commission, please let me know in advance! I will try to accomodate this during the production of your piece;3. Editing/cropping/printing of my work for personal use is allowed - However, the original watermark must remain visible when possible. For anything that renders the watermark illegible, please have a link nearby in the description/caption for the piece;4. I do not allow commercial redistribution of work commissioned for personal use. You do not have the right to make any form of profit whatsoever from my work commissioned for this purpose;5. I have the right to the image, its distribution, and its use. However, rest assured that I will not sell any prints or merchandise from any commissioned works;6. Please let me know if this commission will be for commercial use. Further details regarding commercial use fees must be discussed through email;7. You absolutely CANNOT use my work as an NFT or anything similar or related. I don't make and don't support NFTs and other blockchain & crypto technology content, if you see anyone using my art for these purposes do let me know.8. I do NOT allow the use of my work to feed AI image generators.
❓ Refunds
1. The client will not under any circumstances get a refund for a completed drawing — they are given several opportunities to provide feedback on the progress of their artwork, it is up to the client to ensure that we are on the same page, and that the artwork is proceeding in a satisfactory direction.;2. A refund will be given if the client wishes to terminate a commission that has not considerably progressed and I have not given any updates as to why;3. If the client wishes to terminate a commission that has progressed at a certain amount, I will refund a percentage of the price paid. This percentage will depend on how much work was done;4. If I have decided to discontinue working on the piece for any reason, the client is to be notified and payment will be fully refunded regardless of the status of the commission.
This is the end of the Terms of Service page -- Thank you for reading!🐱💕
Please enjoy this congratulatory photo of my cat son Tino as a reward:
Intro Information📌
Before submitting a commission form, please take a moment to look at my Terms of Service to learn about my process, payments and other relevant information.If you have a question that isn't answered on that page, feel free to message me about it either through social media or email at melonkind(at)hotmail(dot)com.Want to support me but cannot currently afford commissions? I have a Ko-fi page as well!If you're interested in commissioning me multiple times, or think you might, I recommend getting a Commissioner Card from me; This will give you a 20% discount when you commission me a number of times!
✳Line & Sheet Spots: These options are limited, usually I only take 2 of one or either in a commission batch total of 5 to avoid becoming overwhelmed as these are big commissions. Available options change from time to time!
🤸 TTRPG Party / 2+ Characters / Groups
These will be priced accordingly with the option chosen + character addition fees + any applicable complexity fees. There might be discounts;🤠 Matching Icons
Priced as usual, multiple Icons/Tokens discounts can apply;
🍑 NSFW Art & Artistic Nudity
Open to many things, except for illegal ones & any that I might feel uncomfortable with and/or not confident drawing it. Ask me about it if you want acces to some example art pieces;🐛 Chibis & Page Dolls
Prices based on option picked, discount for multiples may apply;
ADDITIONAL FEES 📍
Start at 10€ and cap at 20€;For commissions over 100€, the fee becomes a 20% percentage to better reflect the work that comes with larger and/or more rendered works.Usually applies to creatures, machinery, props, armor, decorative elements, patterns.
If I am asked OR required to design anything for your piece, a fee applies. Anything that isn't already presented in a reference provided by the client.If you're looking for me to design a character for you, please refer to the appropriate commission option section.
Urgent, high priority jobs can be arranged; These are +100% of final value. Deadlines for gift drawings are the client's responsibility to plan accordingly!
Starting at +200% of final value. MUST be discussed privately before anything else. (ex.: Illustrations for promotions & advertising, Publishing & Web Design; Packaging Design; Visual branding such as brand mascots, etc.).
Sketch
ADD-ONS | PRICING | LIMIT |
---|---|---|
+1 Character | +30€ p/ Character | 9 |
+ Flat Colors | +30€ | n/a |
Full Render | +50€ | n/a |
CHANGES ARE HAPPENING TO THIS COMMISSION OPTIONAs you may have noticed, the way I have been doing "sketches" has been too similar to the "lineart" option -- I have a tendency to get carried away and end up working more than I am supposed to;From now on I will try to keep them at my "true" sketch level. Apologies for any inconvenience! This is to alleviate any possibility of burning out;
Art Page
# SKETCHES | THREE | SIX |
---|---|---|
Grayscale | 100€ | 180€ |
Flat Colored | 140€ | 220€ |
Full Render | 260€ | 320€ |
+1 Character | +80€ | |
Max Characters | 2 | 2 |
The sketches are usually divided as the list below, but the client may change some options around:— 2x busts
— 2x half-bodies
— 2x full-bodies
1x Bust can be replaced by:
Chibi;1x Half-body can be replaced by:
Bust, Chibi1x Full-body can be replaced by:
Bust, Half-body, Chibi
Getting more than 1 page on same commission order gives you the choice of having flat colors on one of the grayscale pages for free!
Lineart
🔎 | Bust | Half | Full |
---|---|---|---|
Base Price | 60€ | 80€ | 120€ |
Flat Colors | +15€ | +25€ | +30€ |
Render | +30€ | +45€ | +60€ |
Chibi | n/a | n/a | 60€ |
Add Character | +30€ each add. | +50€ each add. | +60€ each add. |
TYPE A: Soft, textured with slight transparency;
TYPE B: Rough, textured with minimal transparency.
If you're having trouble distinguishing the types captioned in the examples or want an alternate comparison, please click the image above or here!
Tokens
& Icons
🔎 | Flats | Shaded |
---|---|---|
Pixel | 35€ | 45€ |
Lineart | 35€ | 50€ |
RPG Token Style | 35€ | n/a |
Squishies | 35€ | n/a |
Client may choose to add, change or remove certain details such as no background or different background color, front facing, border removal, etc.
Getting 3 or more makes you eligible for a 20% Discount!
Please do NOT use any of the tokens here for your public or private games. These have all been paid for by the clients and should only be used by them. Not be used without their expressed permission.
This is a highly customizable reference sheet option, so you can mix and match options from the table below -- Note that you can pick the same add-on multiple times, "+3 expressions" can become +6 expressions if you pick it twice!The base price already includes the following:
✦ 2 full-body turn-around views,** Front & Back. **The Front view will be fully-rendered by default.Text included and information boxes such as small details, clothing notes, name and titles, etc. are all chosen by the client. It is also possible to not include any text if preferred. The addition or removal of text does not cost any fees.
Character Sheet
🔎 | Prices |
---|---|
+3 Expressions | +20€ |
+1 Extra Pose Sketch | +20€ |
Props & Pets | Start at 10€* |
Flat-Colors | +15€ each drawing |
Additional Views | +50€ each |
Size Scale | Free! |
Color Palette(s) | Free!** |
*Props & Pets is a complexity fee and the amount will depend on the number and complexity of the added items and/or animals;**Color Palette(s) should be free! Unless this is a case where you ask me to come up with colors for your character or an outfit, in which case this brings in a Designing Fee
This option wildly varies in price, but as a minimum it starts at 30€. There's a lot I can do here, so the best is to just shoot me a message explaining what you want and we'll go from there. 😅If you want something in a specific style from the ones presented here, do let me know;Do also note that if you ask me for an actual sprite sheet or an animated sprite / pixel art, the price will change! As expected, sprite sheets/animated pixel pieces will cost more than just 1 pixel art piece or an icon.
Pixel Art & Sprite Work
🔎 | Small | Medium | Big |
---|---|---|---|
Page Doll | 30€ | 40€ | 60€ |
16x16 | 30€ | n/a | n/a |
━━TYPES━━ | ━ | ━ | ━ |
Simple & Flat | +10€ | ||
Lineless | +20€ | ||
Complex Shading | +30€ |
"Melon-Flavour" options are the ones drawn in the style of the middle icon below (PogGraff);
"Blobmoji" option are emoji that use the Google/Android blob emojis as a base for your character, with all tweaks to expressions and features done by me;You may also inquire about other things like an animated Bongo Cat emoji for instance. Please note I cannot make emoji out of icons/images/memes where the creator has denied permission to do so! Popular memes should be okay, but it's a good idea to double check!
Emoji & Badges
🔎 | Melon-flavour | Blobmoji |
---|---|---|
Base Price | 25€ | 15€ |
4-Pack | 80€ (20%off) | 40€ (20%off) |
Animated (2 Frame) | +15€ | +5€ |
Animated (4 Frame) | +30€ | N/A |
If you choose a 4-Pack, you get a discount of 20% on the pack!Packs may only consist of 1 character, as such if you want different characters, getting 3 of character A and 1 of character B does not count towards a full 4-Pack;This discount is not stackable and only applies to one 4-Pack, but you may get several 4-Packs.
🔎 REFERENCES + CONCEPT | (BASE | PRICE) |
Client Provides | All (50€) | Parts(70€*) |
Artist (me) Provides | All(100€) | Parts (*) |
🔎 LEVEL OF WORK | ━ | ━ |
Rework Existing Design | Starts at | +30€** |
Full Design | Starts at | +50€** |
🔎 FASHION DESIGN | ━ | ━ |
+ Clothing Design | Starts at | +30€** |
Alternate Outfits | Starts at | +20€ ea/** |
🔎 OBJECTS & OTHER | ━ | ━ |
+ Prop Design | Starts at | +20€** |
Color Palettes | Starts at | +20€** |
Alternate Forms | Starts at | +30€** |
(PAGE IS STILL IN PROGRESS -- PRICES MIGHT CHANGE)
REFERENCES + CONCEPTS
If you already have an idea and references well set in your mind, including all your references when submitting a form will make your base price 50€ -- Otherwise, if you need help shaping some aspects of your concept, providing only some and leaving the rest for me leaves you at a base price of 70€;Want me to come up with something myself and/or just want to be surprised? Then leaving all references to me is the way to go!*Base price for "Parts" depends on how many references are given / I need to look up;
LEVEL OF WORK
This is the amount of things you want me to work on -- do you want me to design an outfit, armor, an existing design that you want to refresh, or a brand new design?
FASHION DESIGN
Exactly as it says on the label, fashion design here includes everything from beach wear to complex sets of armor;
OBJECTS & OTHER
Character inventory, color palettes, pets, hairstyles, different forms, etc.
Character Design
NOTE: Do NOT bring me other people's characters with the intent of having me repurpose them into your own. One thing is bringing me a reference of someone's character art and saying "I want something along these lines", another is "It's exactly the same but with magical markings and different colors". Don't do this.