Commission trouble, need help!

[24huskies.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone, I have been following this community for a while since I commissioned an artist, and having constant trouble with them. I really need some advice.

I commissioned the artist for 2 pieces of very expensive digital art, the first piece was completed after some trouble. The artist started on the second one and I paid them in full because I thought I could trust them, but after that a lot of trouble started. They would give me all kinds of excuses for not being able to work on it, and promises to send me updates but never send them unless I send angry emails. It has been over 6 months already, and I have asked for a refund but the artist only replied with a rude email and called me names. I have tried to reason with the artist but it is always ignored.

I am sick of this and I don't think commissions should be this difficult. Does anyone have suggestions of what I can do or say, except to threaten the artist? I do wish to sort this out with the artist instead of posting their names. Thank you!

Comments

[ducttapeninja.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'd be really wary of "threatening" an artist to try and get them to cooperate-- From what little you've said, I'm assuming this artist is the type of person who would see anything close to resembling a threat and use that as a reason not to finish their end. "The customer was harassing me" sort of excuse, you know?

I do have to wonder about what sorts of "angry emails" you've been sending the artist, though. Your wording there has me a little concerned, mostly because there's so little detail about the actual situation itself.

Honestly, I'm not really sure whatever advice to give you without knowing a bit more about what's going on on either end-- You could always try writing up a more detailed beware here? Unless naming the artist here is your biggest concern, really, in which case you could always just blur out the names in screenshots or the like?

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

I do have to wonder about what sorts of "angry emails" you've been sending the artist, though. Your wording there has me a little concerned, mostly because there's so little detail about the actual situation itself.

I agree, that and talking about "threatening" the artist. That's really not a solution.

[epiceternity.livejournal.com]

Also concerned by this. If the situation has descended to both the commissioner and artist sending unprofessional angry/rude emails and name calling it seems that it's going to be very difficult to resolve.

[24huskies.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the responses. Basically my angry emails are "I have looked up to you and I am frustrated with the situation, please stop ignoring me and explain/send me an update" I wasn't particularly rude to the artist but surely it wasn't nice. After that I would get a little update the next day, but after that there will be nothing again. This has happened for 4 times, and around the 6th month I sent an email that is very similar to the above one and "If you do not wish to work on this anymore, could we arrange a refund?", and that's when they called me names.

During all this time the artist has been advertising for and taking new commissions. I didn't post screenshots because I felt that it will just make the artist more angry.

Would it be best to continue emailing or leave them alone for a while? All of this has killed my interest for the art and I'd rather have a refund...

[epiceternity.livejournal.com]

If communication has broken down that badly then perhaps a refund would be the best way to conclude things. You say the artist has started on the remaining piece so may not be a full refund depending on what work has been done and what kind of problems have been occurring.

Edit- sorry, I re-read and saw that you had already tried asking for a refund. I'm not sure how you worded that request though as to the response you got.

[kasune.livejournal.com]

There's a lot of missing information in this post. The fact that you mention angry emails makes me wonder how you approached things when you were angry. Were you just firm?

Also agreeing with the others, threatening the artist is a BIG no.

[24huskies.livejournal.com]

I made it very clear that I needed the art to be done and it was frustrating me, is this too much? The artist said it's going to be ready in a month and it has taken 6 months.
I also do not like the idea of threatening the artist, but I couldn't think of another way to deal with this...

[kasune.livejournal.com]

Honestly you should post a beware with all your proof. Still, this is a business transaction, and threatening the artist makes you come off as unprofessional. The beware could easily be turned right on you, too, and make artists not want to work with you. As an artist myself, I've gotten very frustrated with finicky customers or people who don't pay upfront, but that's no excuse to treat them with bad service.

Be firm and set a deadline, but don't threaten. In the future, if you've made a deadline and the artist misses it after a long wait like this, say you gave them the opportunity and you'll be posting them to Artists_Beware.

[ranlur.livejournal.com]

I'd say your best bet is to fill out an actual beware. Hard to make a judgement call based on just what you've put here.