Is this unreasonable?

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

I’m not going to name the artist yet because I’m not even sure if they’re in the wrong. But their “business” practice is irritating me, and I wanted to run it by you guys.

Back in December, I commissioned an artist for a picture as a Christmas gift for my best friend. I paid upfront for the actual picture, and my friend paid for shipping. In total it was $40. We didn’t ask that it be done in time for Christmas, so I don’t mind that it wasn’t. In fact, I don’t think waiting a few months for a commission is unreasonable. We all know that things come up: art block, school work, etc….

It’s not the waiting that bothers me. It’s the fact the artist is question has been uploading TONS and TONS of personal artwork since then. Not only for herself, but for her friends and such. And they’re not quick sketches, but pieces that seem like they would take a decent amount of time.

Now, I have no objection to an artist doing their own thing in addition to commissions. But it bothers me that I’ve already paid her, and I haven’t even seen a sketch. If she has time to do scores of personal pieces, surely she has the time to finish one picture that’s already been paid for? She told my friend it’s already been drawn and inked, but neither of us has seen anything.

In addition, she opened up special commissions for Valentines day before finishing her previous commissions. All the slots were filled, and they were all finished, as far as I can tell. Mine, however, is still nowhere to be seen.

I don’t know if I have a right to be upset about this, so I wanted to know what you guys think. Like I said, if it was taking a while due to something the artist couldn’t help, I wouldn’t mind. What bothers me is that she’s already been paid, and I kind of feel like she’s not treating it like the priority it should be.

Am I being unfair to the artist about this?

Comments

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Well, there's two sides to this.

On the one hand, I do agree that it sounds like she's not making you a priority, and as you've paid in full she probably should.

On the other hand, it also sounds like you haven't given her a date you need it done by, or asked her if she could please finish it quickly. She may not even realize that you're impatient.

I know there have been times (and I've got a notice about it on my site!) when I've needed to push back one commission, because another had a deadline that really needed to be met, so I was finishing something commissions later before something commissioned sooner, because the one customer needed it fast, and I needed their money, and the other wasn't in any hurry.

She should probably have let you know if that's what she needed to do, but you may just want to let her know "hey, I know you're busy, but I really want this done by X date, can you do that?" If you set a firm deadline, you're more likely to get the art done in a timely manner than if you say "whenever you get to it."

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

I would be upset too. If the sketch been inked and you weren't even offered a chance to see the it beforehand to approve the design, well...in my eyes that kinda defeats the purpose of a commission, unless it was stated explicitly between you two that the artist could do whatever she wanted.

I say tell her that you've noticed she's been uploading a ton of work, including other commissions, and you're just wondering if yours got lost in the shuffle. Give her a date by which you need to see the sketch, since it's supposedly already done and shouldn't be that hard to scan or post online.

Personally I just find it rude to take on new work without finishing the old stuff first. Makes it look like the artist's just choosing to finish the ones he/she likes and taking the money from the rest. :/

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

Grah, hit reply too soon >>.
I was going to say that I agree with bladespark in that sometimes commissions do need to get pushed back due to other things, but still, I believe it's only the polite thing to do to actually notify a customer if that's the case.

[kerstin-orion.livejournal.com]

Have you made any recent contact with the artist? Heard anything back?

[bi-ancha.livejournal.com]

I'd contact her, I know I got tons commissions to do. I first thought you where talking about me, but i havn't made many gifts for people, the GAP gifts I did took 20 min, the commissions I do get more attention then that LOL

hmmm and yeah i do not have a valentine slot XD

Hmmm, i'd say contact her about it O___O

[kaputotter.livejournal.com]

You haven't mentioned yet if you had any communication with her since December. Y/n?

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

The only message I've sent her since then was when she wrote a journal about not having internet access for a while, and that she had to use a school computer to print references, and I told her that was ok and it was worth the wait.

I don't remember exactly when it was, as I just looked and she deleted the entry. I want to say it was about a month ago though.

You're right, I definitely should talk to her directly about it. I was just kind of feeling shy about saying something, and I wanted to know what other people's opinion on it were. I could at least ask for her to scan in what she has.

[mossfox.livejournal.com]

Direct is usually the best way to go. Los of us are forgetful and honestly i like getting reminded now and then to make sure I stay on track. As long as it's once and a while and not a daily pestering thing.. but a poke once every other week or so especially if it's been a long time is usually ok.

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

Just to clarify, when I told her it was ok, I was trying to be patient about it. It's just been these last few updates of hers in the past week that pushed me to the point where I wondered what was going on.

[kaputotter.livejournal.com]

Talking is good.
It saves relationships. :D

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

Ok. Thanks for your help everyone ^_^

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

I think I actually know what artist you're talking about...wanted to commish her for a long time.

Doesn't she still have school and everything to do work for? I don't know, but I bet if you said something to her about it, she'd show you the inks. She seems to work REALLY fast, how she uploads every couple weeks with a TON of stuff, so probably if you mentioned it, she'd paint it right up for you quick.

Of course, this all depends on if we're talking about the same person. And if we are, I agree about it being worth the wait. ;D

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you probably know who I'm talking about.

That's just the thing though, she spits out things so fast, but it's all her own stuff! Ah well....I know it's going to be gorgeous when she's finally done, and that's what matters, right? ^_^

[tayit.livejournal.com]

This is a reason why you never pay in full for commissions up front. One just leaves himself open to being suckered. Always accept the terms of agreement to include half up front, and half upon completion. 'S much better that way and one is less likely to get screwed out of money that way. This is the exact reason why I will never get anything done by anybody in the artists' alley at AC...paying up front just leaves you open to be taken to the cleaners by con artists (definitely NO pun intended), :D.

However, I will point out that you should contact the artist and open up lines of communication before things get strung too far along.

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

The only thing is, some artists will refuse to do it like that. I'm pretty sure people have mentioned here that they've been ripped off and like to have payment all at once.

If/when I start to take commissions, I'm probably going to do that half up front thing though. I agree with you.

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

IMHO equal amounts of time have to go into work and play. It's not cool to make your customers wait months and months while you crank out pic after pic of your boyfriend's fursonna. ;)

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

I think I may know who you're talking about (won't name any names of course)--if you want to, you can email me at lemonfruitpie@gmail.com and I can give you the name for you to confirm; if it IS the same artist, I can tell you about my experience with her, and hopefully ease your anxiety a bit :O

[unicornspirit.livejournal.com]

Bleh, when I do commissions, I never make my commissioner pay until they are satisfied with an approved sketch.

[mapdark.livejournal.com]

I don't think you're wrong to be pissed ..

Geez.. you paid for something but there the artist goes and draw FREE stuff for everyone..


The artist has no sense of priorities obviously..