Advertising rules - clarification needed

[Mr. Moon]

Alright, so I'm wondering if it'd be alright for me to post a thread on Arts in Crafts saying that I'm taking commissions for art. Now, I know that advertisment is against the forum rules, however part of those same rules make me wonder if this may be an exception.



You may always advertise or link to works of art online, such as other webcomics, fiction sites, music sites, or anything else that generates original artistic content—even if that site also makes a profit off of that work. We don't want the rules against advertising to prevent people from discovering new creative works that they will love, and we don't want to penalize artists for trying to make a living off of their work. However, if a site only resells creative work and does not have any of that work available online, then it is primarily a commercial site and cannot be advertised here.

Now, these rules seem to say "If it's art that you make, then it's okay", and I'll be making all the art myself. So I'm pretty sure it'll be okay, but seeing as if it's not, I'd get an auto-ban, I'd like a second opinion from a mod first.

[Kobold-Bard]

I think as long as:

a. The actual selling is done on another site,
b. You don't self bump your thread,
c. It's not in the OotS style (or any other copyrighted whatever),
d. The site you're linking to generally falls within the forum rules (non-pornographic etc.),

Then you're allowed. After you've made the thread don't bump it, stick a link in your sig instead.

Obviously not a mod, but I think that's how I remember a previous thread like this ending.

[Roland St. Jude]

Sheriff: Well, some of what KB says is true, but on the whole it's not that easy a question. If you maintain a site where you are generally displaying and selling your own art, then you are welcome to mention that in your sig and create a single thread about it. Obviously, don't cross-post that thread or bump it.

But actually creating a thread to solicit commissions for work is a bit different. In that case, you're not using the Forum to direct people to art you've made, you're using the Forum as your commercial store front. That's a bit more problematic for us.

We're going to have to discuss this a bit and search the archives.