Yeah, sometimes filling a LFA (looking for artist) request might be a rough experience, since it is not always easy to catch artist interest and attention. We really want to make your participation in the community the most pleasant possible and that's why here we are doing a compilation of tips, suggestions, advices and ideas coming from the members of the community. If you have something to say or something to add to the compilation, don't hesitate and participate and speak your mind commenting here!

Please keep in mind that there is not a "Book of truth" when it comes to inspiration and creativity, those are not rules but ideas and suggestions coming from artist and members of the subreddit sharing their experiences and feelings towards art request in a subjective but interesting way!

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1. Don’t over or under describe the character.

Over describing the character is an easy way to alienate an artist. It may seem like it’s the helpful thing to do but it can actually be the opposite and weigh the artist down with trying to get those features right or just plain ol’ bore them. Also you never know what the artist could come up with for your character, there could be some things that you like more than what you currently have in mind, you just never know! Under describing is a similar issue, you may think you’re giving the artist expressive freedom and you certainly are, but you’re also not giving them any reason to choose to draw your character. Why would they need your prompt to draw a ‘white human with brown hair and leather armour’? If they’re on this subreddit they’re probably looking for characters of interest, and that character is sadly lacking. ( u/Socksarepurple )

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2. Do weave a bit of a story.

Tell us why this character is interesting! What makes them worth their own art and not just some stock image off of Google images? Obviously it’s because you like them, but tell us why! What strange personality quirks do they have? Have they once bested a bear in an arm wrestling contest? No? Could they? Not only will this interest an artist browsing through multiple requests, it will help give character to whatever they draw. A warrior that would kill a man for a slice of barmaid Matha’s deep dish blueberry pie might be drawn joyfully downing a plate, or holding the pie triumphantly while wielding his axe outwards to any that would dare take his prize. You’ll get more original art this way, and it will be way more unique to you and your character. ( u/Socksarepurple )

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I like hearing about the characters personality as well. It often comes through easy enough if someone tells their characters backstory, but I've found this to be just as important as the physical description. ( u/page-10 )

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I would like it if they would say if the character is being played, about to be played or if it's a backup. Nothing to stop them from lying just I find it easier to care if it's one being played. ( u/Cobblehoof )

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3. Please don’t request X character but slightly more Y.

If you want a specific pre-existing character but with a different hair colour, then you can easily just take a screenshot of them into photoshop and BOOM you have images of your character. Pre-existing characters can be useful when describing your character (He’s bulky in a Hulk-sort of way, but with he skips leg day) and immediately conjure up helpful imagery for the artist (and reference images on google, hell yeah!). Use it sparingly and also only to describe particular traits, otherwise what’s the point in your input? The artist might as well just be drawing fanart of that character. ( u/Socksarepurple )

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4. Please please PLEASE remember what a gift the artists are giving to you

That’s not even hyperbole, you have requested something of them that only they can create and they have deigned to use their free time to complete your request. For free. The requests here are done for free. I haven’t seen anyone disrespect artists here so far (and thank god for that) but I’ve also seen people callously making huge (and specific) requests that you’d normally have to commission someone for. Art takes time, art takes energy. For someone to take your words and paint them into life is amazing, and it’s being done for free. Just remember that when making your requests: keep your wording from being too demanding, remember your Ps and Qs, and don’t weigh an artist down in specific demands and details for something you aren’t paying them for. ( u/Socksarepurple )

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Something that bothers me on this reddit is that not enough people even interact with the art posted. I see probably ten requests for every one request filled. I also see amazing art that can't even get five up votes or any comments. If you want artists to stick around this community at least give them a little bit of positive reinforcement. Also, if you're going to ask for a large group work, actually pay some one to do it. I see a lot of 5+ character group requests... that is a ton of time for an artist to commit to for free. ( u/skip104 )

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Also ask artists for their websites, twitters etc. Even if you cannot pay them, supporting them on social media and properly crediting them to your character piece they've drawn is HUGE! It draws in more customers and helps them build a reputation. I LOVE following artists on social media and I'm happy to support artists.

Also ask them what hashtags they prefer to be tagged with, too! Not just out a respect, but they might be dedicating their work to a cause or they have hashtags they don't want to be attached to or they simply have their own hashtags to use like a giveaway, or a discount commissions/sales hashtag. ( u/LadyDaemontus )

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5. "Give some freedom to the artist and have trust on their criteria"

I can only speak for myself as I'm pretty sure it varies a lot between artists what they look for, but there's a couple of things I tend to gravitate towards when doing an RF. First things first, I'm not looking to do a free commission here, and while I want to represent someone's character to the best of my ability I really prefer not having to copy a bunch of design elements straight from other images. Giving some references to work with is totally fine, but I avoid requests that say stuff like "They have armour like this picture, hair like this picture and a cloak like this picture".( u/Bulletproofsteak )

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6. Interact with us: Join the community Discord Server!!

Please don't hesitate to join us there! Its fun, and we talk about Art, Characters, Tabletop games, Artist and many other things! So if you are wondering about creating a new LFA the discord server is the right place to discuss about it ( u/Arcady )

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7. Others

I would like people to link their references in the comments or the post body. ( u/Cobblehoof )

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Since visual references are a thing, Moodboards are quite a thing these days. Why don't try it? ( u/arcady )

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I'd say to keep it simple but fun. ( u/T-DotTerror. )

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^(This compilation of ideas, suggestions, tips and advices was based in the original post created by () ^(u/Socksarepurple) )^(https://www.reddit.com/r/characterdrawing/comments/76q1y1/how_to_get_artists_interested_in_your_character/)

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