Question 1

How do I order a fursuit?

Accepted Answer

Want to get your character bought to life by Eastern Dragon Studios? Well here is a step by step guide to assist you in getting a slot with us!
 
I take in a select number of commissions each time we open, I aim for 2-5 suits each opening every 3-6 months depending on complexity of the projects taken on at the last opening. Eastern Dragon Studios is run and operated by only one person (Kaikirith) - so I do limit my opens and projects I do take on to ensure each suit gets our full attention and is made to the best of our abilities every time!
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Our commission openings are listed on THIS PAGE

Question 2

What is your order process for a fursuit?

Accepted Answer

STEP 1: GET ORGANISED
- Get a reference sheet for your character! Whether its only a head or a full digitigrade fursuit - a visual reference of your character is essential! I can not even give you a quote without an appropriate reference sheet! (The only exception to this is if you are choosing an artistic freedom design, or are leaving the design up to me as an artistic freedom. If you are choosing the later - have an idea of colours, markings or species you would like or prefer.
- Save up your money! If you have your reference sheet, you also need to be able to put down at least 40% of the cost of your fursuit down up front to be able to secure a slot with us. Check out our FURSUIT ESTIMATOR to get an idea of how much a fursuit from us will cost.
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STEP 2: GET A QUOTE!
- Wait for commissions to open and send in an application!
- Openings are first on my PATREON as an early access reward, then EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS and then open to the general public. I advertise on my website and social medias when an opening is coming up, and when they are open.
- Once I receive your application I can give you an estimate of how much your project will be and if I accept your application. Sometimes I receive so many applications that I can't respond to all of them and will only contact the ones that I wish to work on the most.
- I select projects that I would like to make, and are usually picked based upon design, species, complexity and the appeal I have for making the character, or what would really show of my capabilities and skills. I also do love a challenge - however if it is a particularly novel project, some aspects may be quoted pro rata as it is difficult to estimate cost when I haven't tackled a similar project. I wish to make sure every suit I do is made to the best of our ability, and unfortunately I can not accept every application that comes in (Some times I wish I could!!!)
- Quotes are only valid for 14 days - even if you got a quote from me in the past, you will need to get an up to date one!

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STEP 3: PAYMENT
- You're application has been accepted and you've decided you wish to go ahead with getting your fursuit made by Eastern Dragon Studios! YAY!
- Discussion on completion time and payment will be made. I plan to get all new work done within 6 to 9 months of the final payment being made.
- Your slot in the working queue is not secured until final payment is made. Deposit only secures your slot.
- We will require an initial 40% non-refundable deposit (minimum) to secure your slot. The rest will be required to be paid as per payment plan agreements.
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STEP 4: THE WAITING GAME
- Now that you have paid your deposit, you need to pay off the rest of your commission, payment plan is detailed in the TOS 
- Your suit will not be added to the working queue until it has been paid in full. Commissions are added to the working queue in order of completion of payment. If you wish to have your suit completed earlier rather than later we recommend paying the full balance as soon as possible. Work does not begin until I reach your slot is in the working queue. When you finish paying off your suit you will receive an ETA of completion.
- I do not have set deadlines for completion just estimated time frames. Lately I have had to be dealing with mental health, RSIs and other unplanned factors - usually I drop our extra projects like artistic freedom suits to try and keep on track but if there is a significant delay and your project is on my Trello within the next 3 months I will notify you. Otherwise - stay up to date with my TRELLO 
- If you have a deadline and want to make sure your suit is completed by that deadline, I may charge a deadline completion fee, but I only accept this rush fee if it is within a conceivably doable time frame. This fee is payable with the rest of the suit up front. You need to notify me of this upon your application for a fursuit, otherwise you will be scheduled into the queue as per normal. This fee will be refunded if I are unable to meet the deadline due to illness, accident or other unforeseeable causes.
- During this period I purchase the materials for your suit, working on current projects and inching closer to working on yours! (If there's any queries on colour matching it will usually happen in this period while I'm sourcing fur/fabric!). If you want a specific shade of fur I may send photos or even mail out swatches for your approval during this period. Please keep in mind that not all fur and fabric colours are available, but I will try our best to match what is available to your character design!
- During this waiting period I order in the materials for your commission while I work on existing projects so I have everything needed when it comes time to begin bringing your character to life!

STEP 5: THE GAME BEGINS
- Its now 2-3 months out from working on your project, and I will contact you with a request for measurements, supplied parts
- If you are getting a bodysuit, its time to make your DTD, for other parts you will need to measure and fill in the measurement form. 
- I do not need your DTD until about a month prior to working on your commission. We have limited space, so please wait while we work on completing other projects to make space for yours.

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STEP 5: ITS THE FINAL COUNT DOWN!
- WE ARE MAKING YOUR FURSUIT!!!!
- At this stage things start moving very quickly!! I will provide photo WIPS at a few stages for design approval. I typically can work fairly fast on certain tasks, some can be a little longer to process. I try my best to balance construction methods with artistic style. I also work on producing stock for conventions and deal at between 2 and 6 events a year - so making stock is always scattered in amongst working on fursuits.
- I usually take final photos within 1-2 weeks of completion (as my partner who often models for me works irregular and long hours)

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STEP 6: GETTING YOUR FURSUIT! YAY!
- Your fursuit has been completed, with photos for my gallery already taken!
- Provide your shipping address and I will get a quote on shipping costs (shipping costs are not included in the quote). Shipping costs are payable before your suit can be shipped off to you, if you wish to take the option of express shipping, signature on delivery or insurance, you will be responsible for paying the additional charges involved. Tracking comes standard.
- Once shipping is paid, I send off your suit! I have no control over the parcel once it leaves our hands, but I do our best to ensure it will arrive safely! If there are any taxes, tariffs or duties on importing your costume to your country, you are liable to pay those associated fees.
- I do not offer at free at con delivery as it compromises space for my dealer den stock. Due to this factor I do charge a fee for at con deliveries. Please let me know in advance if you are considering an at con pick up so I can organise logistics to enable this (this may include posting extra stock to the event in advance to make space in my travel bags to deliver your costume)
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STEP 7: BE YOUR CHARACTER!!!!
Just do it! Put on your fursuit and have fun!!!

Question 3

How long does it take to get my fursuit done?

Accepted Answer

We aim to have a maximum of a 6 to 9 month turn around from completion of payment on most of our fursuits, and open 3-4 times a year for new fursuit commissions. That being said, sometimes new techniques, materials or extremely complex designs can slow our turn around times.
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We do not queue skip, so each intake of fursuits is completed in order of payments being made. The only time we might complete parts of a later fursuit is due to scheduling, delays in materials, (or delays in client providing details/feedback). New commissions taken on later will NEVER be placed in front of suits already on our queue, even if they have a deadline. We like to give our clients peace of mind that their suit will be completed and not stuck in queue hell. While we finish the existing queue, we start ordering in the materials for the new commissions so they are ready to be started once we finish the fursuit/s remaining in our queue. We also do not add any commissions to our working queue until payment has been received in full.
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If you are the first suit on our new intake - we will be finishing the fursuits that are already on our queue, we do not queue skip, your commission will not be placed in front of clients that have already paid off their suits. As it is, we usually have to order in new fur or parts for commissions, which can mean it can take some time to a) find a supplier, and b) get those materials shipped to us. This means even if we could start your suit right away - we'd have to be waiting for the fur to be shipped in anyway. Once we have all the materials for your suit, we usually can make a partial within a month, or a full digitigrade fursuit within 2 months.
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Since we take on 3-4 applications each round, your suit could be completed within 2 months of completed payment or it could be up to 8 months from completed payment if you were the last person to finish paying for their fursuit in full.

Question 4

What's the fastest I can get my fursuit?

Accepted Answer

Currently the fastest we can complete your fursuit is a 3-6 month turn around depending on the existing queue. We usually will drop our artistic freedom partials to ensure a deadline will be met if unexpected situations occur. The current working queue average is around 6-9 months.

If you wish your suit to be made ASAP the best thing you can do to aid this is to apply for a slot as soon as we open, and have your money ready to pay in full up front. If you pay in full up front you will have priority in our queue and will be added to the first available space at the end of our existing queue.

I usually have to order in new fur or parts for commissions, which can mean it can take some time to a) find a supplier, and b) get those materials shipped to me. This means even if I could start your suit right away - I'd have to be waiting for the fur to be shipped in anyway. Once I have all the materials for your suit, I can potentially make a partial within a month, or a full digitigrade fursuit within 2 months.
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If you have a deadline and want to make sure your suit is completed by that deadline, I charge a deadline fee depending on the size of the commission and the length of the deadline. I only accept this rush fee if it is within a conceivably doable time frame. This fee is payable with the rest of the suit up front. You need to notify me of this upon your application for a fursuit, otherwise you will be scheduled into the upcoming projects and working queues as per normal. This fee will be refunded if I am unable to meet the deadline due to illness, accident or other unforeseeable causes.
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Shipping however, is not within my control. Once it is handed over to the postal service, there is literally nothing I can do. Most of the time parcels within Australia will arrive within 5-7 business days, however I have had some parcels take up to 3 weeks to arrive at their destination - Even before Covid! Express shipping is generally reliable and gets to its destination within 2-3 business days within Australia (if it is in a capital city). If you wish to take the option of express shipping, you will be responsible for paying the additional charges involved in express shipping.

Shipping outside of Australia is highly variable but usually within 1-3 weeks. I usually aim to have it in the post 4-6 weeks before a desired deadline to allow for delays in shipping or being held up during the export/import process.

Please take shipping times into account if you are after a deadline.

Question 5

What do I need for my fursuit to fit me?

Accepted Answer

FURSUIT HEAD
- the circumference of your head at eyebrow level
- the distance between your eyes (center to center)
- the distance from eye to chin
HAND PAWS
- the circumference of your palm
- the circumference of your wrist
- the length of your hand from wrist to finger tip
- the circumference of your arm 6 inches from your wrist
FEET PAWS 
- the circumference of your ankle
- the circumference of your ankle (inc. heel)
- the length of your foot
- the width of your across ball of foot
BODYSUIT
 - I need you to make a DTD and send that off to me so I can use that to build your bodysuit to your bodyshape (see next question below on how to make a DTD!)

Question 6

How do I make a DTD? (Duct Tape Dummy)

Accepted Answer

We have a tutorial for it HERE!

Question 7

Do I need a reference sheet to commission you?

Accepted Answer

If I'm simply crafting you some hand paws, feet paws or a tail, a reference sheet is not necessary, however a description of what you would like will be needed (ie colour, patterns).

Anything else, and I require coloured, detailed reference sheets to accurately recreate your character in a fursuit or an illustration. Essentially your reference sheet needs to show accurate proportions and details of your character as you wish to have them. I will rarely accept reference sheets that are solely and extremely stylistic in proportions (ie chibi style).
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A reference sheet generally ensures that we are both on the same page as to what the final product is to look like. It also allows me to accurately quote you the cost. I can offer some simple sketches (at cost) if appropriate reference images are not available. There are also many free to use bases that you can download an colour in yourself if you have a design in mind.
 
Reference sheets are required to have at least two facings - front and back. I do offer reference sheets in my drawing commissions if a reference sheet can't be provided. Without a reference sheet I can't provide an accurate quote, or may not be able to accurately recreate your character to your liking.

​This information is required so I can complete your commission to the best of my abilities. If there is any information missing that I require for your commission I will ask for it. Please note there may be small changes made to your design (such as slightly moving a marking or changing its shape), so as to make the design work as a costume.

Alternatively, you can also choose to get an artistic freedom fursuit from me - this means I create the design of character. You can still choose to have some influence over the design (ie if you want specific colours or you want to have spots instead of stripes)

Question 8

I have allergies. Do you have pets?

Accepted Answer

We have a Corgi (dog) and a long haired cat in the house, and while we do our best - corgi glitter (fur and fluff) GETS EVERYWHERE! Please let me know if you have an allergy to dogs or cats and I will do my best to keep the workspace, materials and myself free of animal hair when working on your suit - however I unfortunately can not guarantee any projects will be perfectly free of animal hair or dander (just due to the simple logistics of owning animals and working from home)

Question 9

Can I come and watch you work?

Accepted Answer

Whether I am working on someone else's suit or your own suit, the answer is no. I don't invite people into my house to watch me work, especially people I don't know. Having people in my house watching me work is not conducive to my work flow, aside from the fact that I don't like the idea of having someone look over my shoulder while I work.
 
I do live streams on Twitch, and do have some videos available on our youtube channel

I choose what I stream based on ease of work on camera and what I have in the schedule. If you would like to see something specific on stream, please consider pledging to our Patreon and sending in a request

Question 10

How do I become a fulltime artist/fursuit maker?

Accepted Answer

As counter intuitive as it seems - DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB!

Seriously. It takes a lot of work to build up a following, develop your skills and gain a reliable income from doing art. While you are still employed at your day job, take the opportunity to get yourself set up!
 
Get your finances in order. I highly reccommend having a decent savings cushion before you take the final plunge and quit your day job, and by decent I mean enough to live off if you had to for 3-6 months with no other income - you never know what might happen!! For me - I ended up having to urgently vacate my home due to domestic violence and then Covid 19 hit a mere 7 months later and I was then made homeless for 2 months - so that savings buffer was very much needed and well and truly depleted once I was able to properly start working again.

Make those big business purchases while you have a stable income (such as a reliable sewing machine, or drawing tablet, or even buying shelving or desks for your workspace), and in the meantime work on building your audience - get your work out there on social media, build a website, attend a couple of conventions as a dealer. Raffles are a good way of getting exposure and followers, but they can also be a catch 22 because you will draw a lot of followers that only want free stuff and not actually buy anything from you - so be careful how often you run them.

Then as time goes by, slowly wind down your day job - But ONLY once you start getting reliable commissions each time you open. You want to maintain your income - not slowly get poorer! Let's say you work full time - cut it to 4 days a week and then devote that new day available to working on your business. When that is going smoothly and is financially stable, cut it down to 3 days a week. Only once you can see your business has a decent chance of being financially stable on its own would I reccomend quitting you day job completely.

Make sure you are charging AT LEAST minimum wage for your area, and include your expenses in what you charge your clients. Expenses can also include the overheads such as tool maintenance or replacement, and fees for maintaining websites or online shops - not just the materials that go directly into the client's commission.

Make sure you only take on work you know you can complete within a reasonable time frame, and factor in things like breaks and potential for being sick into your schedule. Consistently delivering your projects in a reasonable time frame/within your estimated delivery times will grow your reputation as a reliable artist. Failing to deliver or consistently underestimating time frames will make your brand less trustworthy. There is also nothing worse than ending up in a situation where you need to take on extra work, while still having a soul crushingly long queue. Exceedingly long queues can destroy customers and your confidence!

We don't want to feed into and encourage the starving, overworked artist stereotype!!!

Frequently asked questions