Character sketches/designs are a way to establish the look of a character before using them in a full illustration. They allow for the illustrator and the client to agree on a look for a specific character (or an artists interpretation of an existing character) so that all parties know what a character will look like before they are drawn in to a comic, cover, poster etc. It saves everyone involved a lot of headache. Designs can range from loose pencil sketches all the way to fully rendered art. It’s all about what is needed for the sake of clarity. In most cases, and depending on the scope of what is needed, character designs are billed at an hourly rate. This is because there’s no standard amount of time in which it is certain that the artist and client will reach a consensus on the right design/look for a character; and therefore a flat rate is not usually the best option. If the rate is too low the artist often spends more time than they are being paid and if the rate is too high the client risks being overcharged. An hourly rate also allows the client to request as many revisions as they would like (within reason) without fear of being charged more than they bargained for. My standard rate is $30 per hour. All designs are created digitally.