Illustration Commission Request Template

Open your commission queue with a professional intake process. This illustration commission form gathers the style, concept description, intended use, complexity tier, file format requirements, commercial licensing needs, and budget — so every commission starts with shared expectations and ends without surprises.

Use this template

Last updated 21 August 2026

Fields in this template

Client Namerequired
Email Addressrequired
Phone Number
Illustration Stylerequired
Cartoon / Character art · Realistic / Painterly · Watercolor · Flat design / Geometric · Vector / Line art · Pixel art · Other (describe below)
Concept Descriptionrequired
Intended Userequired
Personal (not for sale or profit) · Commercial (marketing, advertising, products) · Editorial (books, articles, journalism) · Merchandise (print-on-demand, physical goods) · Social Media / Digital content · Other
Illustration Complexityrequired
Simple (icon, single subject, minimal background) · Medium (detailed subject, basic background) · Detailed (complex composition, multiple elements, rich background)
Reference Images or Links
File Formats Neededrequired
PNG (high resolution) · SVG (vector) · PDF · PSD / Source file · TIFF · JPG
Do you need a commercial license?required
Yes — I will use this commercially · No — personal use only · Unsure — please explain your licensing options
Deadline
Budget Rangerequired
Under $100 · $100 – $300 · $300 – $700 · $700 – $1,500 · $1,500+ · To be discussed

Who uses this template

Freelance illustratorsCharacter artistsChildren's book illustratorsConcept artistsSurface pattern designersTattoo artists offering digital commissionsAnimation studios taking custom work

About this template

Illustration commissions are deeply personal creative collaborations — but without a structured intake process, they're also a common source of misaligned expectations, licensing disputes, and underpriced work. A well-designed commission request form protects both the artist and the client by documenting intent, scope, and rights before a single sketch is made.

This template is built around the questions that actually determine illustration pricing and scope: the style (a minimal vector icon is a very different project from a detailed painterly scene), the complexity, the intended use (personal vs. commercial vs. merchandise), and which file formats are needed. The commercial license radio is particularly important — illustrators who skip this conversation often discover mid-project that a client plans to use their work on merchandise, which typically requires a higher fee.

formformform makes it easy for illustrators to embed this form on their portfolio website or link to it from social media and ArtStation. Every submission arrives instantly by email, and the dashboard keeps a complete record of every commission request — ready to turn into a quote, contract, or project kickoff.

13 form ideas you can build with this template

Children's Book Character Illustration Commission

Captures character age range, personality traits, clothing style, and diversity representation preferences for picture book protagonists.

Wedding Portrait Illustration Commission

Gathers couple reference photos, background scene preference, delivery format for printing, and rush wedding date timeline.

Twitch Emote and Streamer Art Commission

Documents channel theme, emote slot count, expression types, and overlay integration needs for livestreaming brand assets.

Pet Portrait Illustration Commission

Collects high-resolution pet photos, background preference, art style, and framing or print size for personalized animal portraits.

Tattoo Flash Design Commission

Gathers subject matter, placement body area, size estimate, black-and-grey vs. color preference, and flash sheet vs. custom art designation.

Book Cover Illustration Commission

Captures genre, synopsis, protagonist description, mood reference, and publisher trim size for fiction and nonfiction book covers.

Surface Pattern Design Commission

Documents product category (fabric, wallpaper, wrapping paper), repeat tile format, color palette count, and commercial licensing territory.

Editorial Illustration Commission

Gathers article topic, publication tone, photo vs. spot illustration format, and print resolution requirements for journalism and magazine work.

Video Game Concept Art Commission

Captures world-building context, character class or role, color palette restrictions, and deliverable format (PSD, turnaround sheets) for game development.

NFT and Digital Art Commission

Documents collection theme, trait rarity tier, blockchain platform, and commercial rights structure for generative or 1/1 NFT artwork.

Corporate Mascot Design Commission

Collects brand values to personify, industry context, mascot use cases (web, print, merchandise), and style preference for branded character design.

Holiday Card Illustration Commission

Gathers family photo references, seasonal theme, personalization text, and quantity for custom holiday greeting card artwork.

Merchandise Print-on-Demand Illustration Commission

Documents product type (t-shirt, tote, mug), print area dimensions, color count restrictions, and POD platform for commercial merchandise artwork.

What's included

Illustration style dropdown covering seven distinct art styles

Detailed concept description field to capture scene, mood, and specific elements

Intended use dropdown with commercial, editorial, merchandise, and personal options

Complexity tier selector for accurate time and price estimation

File format checklist covering raster, vector, and source file options

Commercial license radio to define usage rights before work begins

How to create an illustration commission request

1
Click 'Use this template' to open the form in your free formformform account with all commission fields pre-configured.
2
Update the illustration style dropdown to reflect the styles you actually offer — add or remove styles as needed.
3
Adjust the budget ranges to match your actual commission pricing tiers.
4
Add a file upload field so clients can attach reference images alongside their written description.
5
Publish the form and add the link to your portfolio's 'Commissions' page, social media bio, and any open commission announcements.
6
Review each submission and respond with a quote and estimated start date within 48 hours.

Best practices for your illustration commission request

Make intended use required

it directly affects your pricing and license terms. Commercial use commissions are typically priced higher than personal commissions, and catching this upfront prevents awkward renegotiations.

Include a complexity dropdown, not just a price field

clients often don't know how to self-assess complexity. Giving them defined tiers (simple, medium, detailed) helps them understand what they're selecting and why pricing differs.

Ask about file formats explicitly

clients often realize they need a vector SVG after you've already delivered a PNG. Requiring a format selection at intake prevents this common last-minute request.

Add a reference field

clients who can share visual references give you far more useful direction than lengthy written descriptions alone. Even Pinterest board links are valuable.

Define your commercial license terms in the confirmation message

after someone submits, use formformform's customizable confirmation message to explain what commercial licensing includes and costs.

Keep your deadline field optional

artists who enforce rigid deadlines on every commission lose potential clients with flexible timelines. Keeping it optional signals you're approachable while still capturing timeline data from those who have one.

Frequently asked questions

What information should I collect in an illustration commission form?

The essentials are: art style, concept description, intended use (personal vs. commercial), complexity level, file formats needed, licensing requirements, deadline, and budget. This template covers all of them, with a dedicated commercial license question that protects your rights upfront.

How does commercial licensing work for illustration commissions?

For personal use, the client can display or print the work privately but not sell or commercialize it. For commercial use — advertising, packaging, merchandise, etc. — illustrators typically charge a higher fee for a broader license. This form's licensing radio button surfaces that conversation before work begins.

Can clients upload reference images when submitting the form?

You can add a file upload field to let clients attach reference images directly. Alternatively, the 'reference images or links' short text field lets clients paste URLs to inspiration boards, existing art, or examples of styles they like.

How do I use this form on my portfolio site?

After publishing, copy the iframe embed code from your formformform dashboard and paste it into your portfolio's 'Commissions' page. Or share the direct link in your social media bio or commission open announcement.

Can I close commissions when I'm fully booked?

You can pause the form by toggling it to draft status in your formformform dashboard — submissions will stop without breaking the link. When you're open again, re-publish it instantly.

Is there a limit to how many commission requests I can receive?

No. formformform supports unlimited submissions, so whether you receive 2 commission requests per month or 200, the form handles them all without any caps or fees.