Suggestions wanted

[drakenbyte.livejournal.com]

Hello!

I have a small dilemma with an artist who I will not name. A friend and I commissioned this artist at FWA for conbadges. They were fairly cheap badges, 5 dollars a pop. The artist said she would be in the alley all night working on commissions and other such things. We did come back later to the alley to find that the artist was not there. We did see sketches of our badges at least, so at the point we weren't really concerned about them being finished on time. The next day we see the artist and she said she wasn't feeling well at first and admitted that they were afraid of inking and coloring the badges, so we gave our address and contacts so she would be able to mail us our badges.

Since then I have very limited contact with the artist, and was not aware of her contacts until a friend told me what it was. The artist still had not colored our badges, but had done a sketch for my friend. A month down the line, I got a message from the artist and a digital badge from her. (I was still expecting a traditional badge) And my other friend (about a month later) has now received her badge, but it's digital. The artist also stated that she has not had the motivation or time to finish our badges, but I can see that she has done other projects in the meantime. Personally, I would have no problem with this, but it's the last thing that the artist said that got me.

They wanted to give us our badges next year at FWA. We'd like our badges now. Should we press this artist to send us our badges sooner? Personally, we both liked the badges they sketched at FWA much better than the ones we received. Should we ask for our sketches, our money back? Or should we just give up since it is such a small amount of money?

Thank you for your time!

Comments

[kassichu.livejournal.com]

she has not had the motivation or time to finish our badges

You paid, didn't you? Why isn't that motivation?

[aaaamory.livejournal.com]

Lol! I thought exactly the same thing. She has not had the motivation? Huh?? Seems like she's just asking for something to motivate her. *eyeroll*

[growly.livejournal.com]

I agree with this.

[annakitfox.livejournal.com]

I think the point they were making is that they didn't get what they expected. I think they made out pretty darn good by getting something done digitally for $5 but if they didn't get what they had originally arranged for, then that's pretty much a moot point.

[wyngaed.livejournal.com]

Why do people treat digital work as if its a lot harder than traditional work and thus a "good deal" for $5? Just wondering.

Otherwise I agree with what you've said. The OP didn't get what they paid for.

[taasla.livejournal.com]

Speaking from my own experience, I think digital work goes a lot slower than traditional. (Maybe I'm just crazy..)

Still, I find getting a badge of any sort for $5 to be pretty good. The only thing I may be a tad upset about is not getting what I paid for.

[findmealone.livejournal.com]

Aye, my digital works take so much longer than traditional. Odd.

[wyngaed.livejournal.com]

I guess everybody works differently. It takes me a long time to finish my traditional stuff...

Anyway... yeah.. $5 is a really good deal for a conbadge. I'm curious to see the quality.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

I work faster digitally than traditionally, it depends on the artist really.
But if they agreed on traditional then she should deliver traditional work as mutually agreed upon at the time.

[drakenbyte.livejournal.com]

Which is EXACTLY why I did NOT want to post their name or art. I do not want to slander their name at all. I really am not the type to drag someone through the mud (and make my own self sound like a complete and total idiot and scammer) over a small deal such as this, I mearly wanted to know what other people thought aboout it.

Only two people know who this artist is, me and my other friend who commissioned them.

Thanks for the comment though! I do agree that they have done more than we wanted, it just wasn't what we were expecting. We actually had NO idea that they did digital art before we commissioned them.

[beetlecat.livejournal.com]

I don't understand this comment. A good deal or not, the customer did not receive what they paid for or expected.

..trying to get a digital badge -and- a different traditional badge for $5 seems like you're taking advantage of the artist..

Then the artist should have finished and completed the badges according to the original agreement and within a timely manner. I do not see how this, in any way, takes advantage of the artist.

I do agree, however, that it's probably not worth pursuing. Pressing the artist is probably just going to make them more apathetic regarding your badge. Better just let it go and commission one somewhere else.

[silvermaximus.livejournal.com]

The only argument I have to this is that it sounds to me like the SKETCHES that they were shown at the con were different from what they received digitally. If they saw the sketches and said "Yes, we like them," then in my mind they were agreeing to getting THOSE sketches completed as their badges (traditional vs digital mediums aside) and those were NOT what they received from the artist.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the motivation thing happens to me, where I just feel like I'm at a dead end with particular commissions...with those, I eventually get them done, but it takes longer than I originally planned. I do not estimate the time of completion as a year after I am commissioned, though.

Sometimes I do little sketches or quickie pieces of work as a sort of apology for taking so long...as I assume, from the way you talked when you posted, the digital badges were. While I am in no way justifying what your commissionee has said to you, I'm just saying...

Anyway, I think that the digital badge would suffice for me, maybe even for a year, as long as I eventually got what I paid for. Speak directly to the person you commissioned, and ask if they can please get it done faster than a year, maybe. It always helps to voice what you're thinking to the person you're talking about. (: I'm sure they'll understand, and I'm sure you both will be able to work something out.

I hope all that was coherant. >.>

[drakenbyte.livejournal.com]

Yup! I understood you. :3 I do the same thing when I am commissioned and I take longer than expected too and give details to the commissioner.

Thanks!

[stitchedlamb.livejournal.com]

On one hand, I think it was kind of an underhanded, sneaky thing for the artist to do. To go from, "I'm not feeling well, can you give me more time" to "I'll give them to you next year" just isn't right.

However, I have to agree with everyone else that a digital badge and sketch would be a great deal for $5. If it doesn't work out, at least you didn't get completely ripped off. However, if you're not satisfied with this, and it was originally agreed upon that the badges were to be done tradtionally, then it's your right as a paying customer to approach the artist and tell her that you want it sooner. It most certainly does not take a year to ink and color a simple badge, that's just ridiculous. Is there a reason why she wants so long to finish them?

[drakenbyte.livejournal.com]

Firstly, I will address that I was expecting the badges before we left, since the sketches were done within the hour we paid (which seemed like the artist was a quick working artist). She also said that the badges would be done that night, and that we were to come pick them up later at the alley that night.

I personally think that I should be done with this transaction. But I really wanted to hear some suggestions of what people thought.

Also, the digital vs. traditional is something that is based on the size of the badges, the detail, and of course the artist. I can say, from doing both traditional and digital, that some digital work, more so things that not detailed in color, does not take long. I will say that the badges WERE a good for 5 dollars, but the issue isn't the price or the fact that the badges were done, it's that the artist did not come through on what they promised, then makes us wait for a year to give us badges that were finished recently. Basically, if she doesn't want to print and mail our badges, I am wondering if they are actually going to send the sketches.

I do have to say thank you for giving time to comment on this. :D I was wondering this question, and under guidence of my friend, posted this. Thanks again!

[thaily.livejournal.com]

No motivation is no excuse :/
When people pay you to draw it's work and everyone doesn't feel like working sometimes but you still have to.
You need to politely remind her you two made an agreement and that she's not holding up her end of the bargain. Set a deadline in the near future and if she can't deliver her product by that time demand a refund.

[aaaamory.livejournal.com]

Heh heh, you could've always replied, "You don't feel motivated? Are you asking for me to motivate you? I can do that." And then rub your hands together menacingly.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

It'd be amusing, but this artist might take any excuse they can to get out of doing their work so I wouldn't bet on them having a sense of humor :P