Awkward commission request?

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

This was nothing terrible but I wanted to know other opinions on this.

I just had a woman aproach me after seeing me working on one of my drawings. She asked if I took commissions and I answered yes. She explained that she needed a drawing of a dog wearing clothes. Odd, but ok. Then she explains that its based off a photograph. Better, references! Then she goes on to say that she's a design major but cant draw. Um, so this means Im doing her homework for her? Not cool. THEN she tells me that she already has the dog drawn, but wants me to modify it. This is where I get uncomfortable. For one Im not cool with doing other people's homeworks and I got the sense that she would be taking full credit for this. AND when I confronted her about how I dont feel right modifying another person's art she got all pissy with me saying that its HER idea and that she should be able to have whatever she wants done to it. Then she says she wants it done withing the next couple of days. If it wasnt a no beforehand, it definately was after that bit. She obviously has no idea what it takes to create a piece of art. I know some artists could meet that deadline but I certainly cant, especially with my class/work schedual this semester!

So what do you think about the situation? Was I right to feel uncomfortable? Has anyone else had anything similar happen?

Comments

[kiriska.livejournal.com]

You're definitely in the right, especially after this person got pissy.

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, LOVE your icon. I can only imagine thats what my own face looked like by the time she walked away!

And thanks. Ive done enough commissions by know to know that if I get attitude THAT early in the process the person is definately not someone Im going to want to deal with.

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

I've had something similar happen, sort of. A roommate my freshman year asked me to draw a quick doodle of a scene from Lord of the Rings (book, not movie) so she could have something to 'visualize' or whatever. Me, being the stupid, eager-to-plase freshman I was, complied. And did a couple other doodles for her as well. None of which I ever saw again. I found out later she had a class assignment where she was supposed to sketch some stuff from a story. She used my work (which was a bunch of crappy doodles, but still) for her homework.

Sounds like you were facing the same sort of deal, only your weirdo wasn't as subtle (and you weren't as gullible).

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Me too and thankfully I learned. There was this girl that lived in the same dorm as me who I had hated in the one year of high school we had together. But to show that I was a nice person and was turning over a new leaf, I complied to do a tattoo design for her, for free. It was just her last name and a clover leaf but I spent a long time finding a decent calligraphy font and fighting the clover in in an appealing way. So when all was said and done, she was very happy with the design but as soon as she got it she never talked to me again, blew me off, and claimed the design as her own. *sigh* some people dont change. Never did that again.

[akeyla.livejournal.com]

dont even bother with her again. Doing last minute homework for a student? noooh.
on the other hand thats a real job niche... lets camp outside Unis with a big sign "Will do ur homewurk 4 u for just 5$ ppiece!"

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

I had thought about that too but having other people do your homework gets you nowhere and even if it does, you have a worthless piece of paper SAYING you know what your doing when you dont. Im working my ass off to get my degree and Im going to be proud of that piece of paper. I dont want to support any "phoneys" out there, you know what I mean?

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Odds are she downloaded the dog on-line somewhere and wants you to edit it for her so she can turn it in as her own, yes. Fuck her, let her do her own work.

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Its a possibility, but she had mentioned that I could erase whole sections to fit on the clothing so Im pretty sure its an actual drawing. She probably ripped off some other poor unsuspecting artist. Its so easy to take advantage of those new to commissioning. Ive have it done to me but Ive learned and she probably took me for a noob too.

[kytheraen.livejournal.com]

that's well crazy. i wonder if you did do it, she would get pulled up for it cos it wasn't in her usual style ;)

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Probably not. She could say that someone else did the dog but she did the clothing or something which is really all the teachers care about.

[theblackdragon.livejournal.com]

bottom line: you felt uncomfortable, and you have the right to turn down a commission you don't want to do. period.

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that goes without saying. Ive turned down commissions for less.

[growing-rose.livejournal.com]

Hey, I think you were totally within your rights. I wouldn't want to "modify" anyone's art unless I was close friends with them. Then you know there's no chance of them turning around and slandering your name across the local scene. (Well, less of a chance.)

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Well thats just what made my stomach lurch. I had a class once where we had to make a piece of art and pass it on to another student to mess with and then passed on again and again. By the time it was done there was nothing left of my work. I felt sick and thought it cruel that the teacher made subjected us to that.

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

she got all pissy with me saying that its HER idea and that she should be able to have whatever she wants done to it.

I can't argue with that. SHE should do whatever she wants done to it, not you. You have nothing to feel bad or guilty about, in declining her commission.

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Haha, yeah. I dont understand how she can be in a design class and not know how to draw let alone be willing to alter it herself.

[snapesgirl34.livejournal.com]

She seems like the type of person who buys her term papers of the internet. You were definitely right to say no. It sounds to me like she's trying to cheat on a homework assignment. And who becomes a design major if they can't draw? o_O

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Actually design often is the refuge of people who can't be bothered to learn to draw. You don't need mad drawing skills to pass a design course.

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

well from everyone else's replies it seems like a pretty normal thing *ugh* but I definately agree with you there. Even if she does pass the class, I cant see her being very successful!

[oolong.livejournal.com]

within a couple of days is a pretty common timeframe if your goal is to do commercial art for a living and not just as a hobby, but the rest of it was definitely bad vibes. i think you made the right choice.

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

yeah, thats why I said I know that some people can but thats their job. Im a college student and she approached me at WORK so she knows that I have at least one job that doesnt involve art for a living. In truth I have two, plus full time student, plus an internship. She was either insensitive or she was just clueless which seemed more likely.

[ed-the-chibi.livejournal.com]

That's not just awkward, that's irritating. After her reaction, you're very much in the right. I agree with Snapesgirl as well. If she can't draw, she needs to get in another major >>

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Hahaha. I totally agree.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Sounds like she's was attempting to get her homework done for her or otherwise to scam something, and sounds like she's the type who would use the work for commercial purposes even if it was a private commission. Those type of people are trouble and worth avoiding like the plague. So yeah, if your gut feeling is someone's up to something it's worth turning them down.

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Oh, believe me, I had a bad feeling just seeing her walk through the door BEFORE I even knew what she wanted. Plague? Im thinking along the lines of incurable leprosy!

[rainsonggryphon.livejournal.com]

*groan* one of THOSE types... Honestly, I'd find out who her prof. is, and snitch. 'cause I can guarantee you if anyone at the college level catches that crap, it will not be tolerated.

Little mean, yes, but an F speaks louder than a gripe.

[lilangelwings.livejournal.com]

Thats a good thought. To make matters worse, she had to be at least 35/40 years old so I was really taken aback by her attitude towards the whole ordeal.