What do you do when you don't like the out come of a Commission?

[nakoothetauren.livejournal.com]

What should someone do when they don't like what the artist they commission has provided for them?

I've been in a situation recently where the artist I commissioned said that they where happy with what the made for me yet I was not.
I feel like they rushed the commission and this caused issues. I don't want to go into real details but I want to know if there is anything a customer could do about this?
There where things wrong with the drawing, the artist got things about the character wrong but they stated that they where trying to replicate the style of the characters souse material (In this case MLP). To me it was clear that they where not as the eye's in particulate where still in there own style.
I asked them to change the things I thought they got wrong and they said that they where happy with the work they did. There was no mention of changes costing more. This was for an Icon so there was no progress shown.
I've personally dropped the issue but I want to know what I could do if this happens in the future?

(I hope this is better worded, I'm not the best with explaining my self sorry.)

Comments

[funkicarus.livejournal.com]

ask for progress shots in the future. unless the artist is charging a reeeeally low price (like, 2$ or somethin) this is usually a perfectly reasonable request.

that is odd though, that when you requested a change they came back at you saying they like it. :\ when it's a commission, the CUSTOMER's opinion is the most important one...they're the one who paid for it.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

I gotta disagree some here, without knowing more I don't think one can say the artist should have done this or that.

Most icons are pretty cheap (~$25?) and in all the commissions I've gotten it's not standard to show progress shots, but it would depend on the artist's TOS.

Similarly the artist wouldn't be obligated to fix style things for free unless that was also something they offered in their TOS. Such "fixes" may essentially mean redoing the whole icon, which would be excessive if the icon was on par with other work and with the commission description. But then again, maybe there was something way off on the icon; I just can't tell from what the OP posted.

[wuvvumsoc.livejournal.com]

I don't know what to say, really.

Sometimes I put out commissions where I feel like I didn't like the outcome of my work personally but I had already put in several hours and couldn't feel compensated if I did it again. Even if something "looks rushed" it may have had a lot of work done behind it.

Sometimes artists have a block and force themselves through and sometimes they have an off day. While it might feel like a case of "tough luck" I don't think it's really fair to the artist to expect a refund or for them to do it again if they delivered the work, and you simply don't like it. And it's hard to just without a comparison.

I'm more speaking from personal experience. There are probably cases where an artist clearly isn't trying at all and intentionally rush their commissions but sometimes you can just have hours of work and not so great of an outcome.

Edit: I'm just speaking in general when it comes to "rush work." An artist should fix mistakes but if it's just general quality that can be more debatable.

[nakoothetauren.livejournal.com]

Oh I understand on the front of being an artist as well.

It was more that they turned down fixing mistakes that bothered me. There are reasons I think it was rushed but as I don't want to make a beware of it and I'm not sure if would be ok to show stuff like that with out making one.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

I don't think there's anything you can do in this situation. I find it odd that they don't want to fix anything (since you mention that there's no info this to know before hand). Personally if the commissioner was unhappy I'd fix it, but it does depend on the situation.

I've had it happen before, very rare though, I think just once even, where a commissioner didn't like the work and felt it maybe rushed but I honestly didn't and spent the same amount of time and care, and liked the image myself. So without a comparison image it's hard to tell if the artist actually did rush it or not.

[rueq.livejournal.com]

I've personally gone through this, yes. By the time I'd thought about what I was going to say to the artist it was just way too late, they deactivated their deviantart account and disappeared. So I would definitely recommend speaking up as soon as you can.

Edited for a typo!

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

The only thing frown-worthy in this to me, is that the artist did not attempt to fix the work when asked to.

Other than that... I can draw MLP pretty good, but people can still see ME in my work, rather than the on model vectors... and I think that's a good thing? Perhaps to the artist, this is how they felt as well. Or its was just an attempt to go on model and they didn't quite get it, but were stil satisfied.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

Yup, kinda wondering about this. You can try to do the MLP style, but most have their own eye style, I certainly do, rather then copying the show. Hard to really know with little info.

[silvertales.livejournal.com]

I was wondering about this, too... presumably, you commission an artist because there is something about *their* style you like.

[poizenkat.livejournal.com]

Yes pretty much! I'm not a big fan of people that draw EXACT mlp work! I like to see their style differences show.

[mazz.livejournal.com]

I guess it's just me but regardless of if they're happy with it if they missed markings they should fix them for you.
I guess requesting progress shots in the future is about the best you can do.

[nightlinez.livejournal.com]

It can be hard to tell if a piece has been rushed or not. Also, replicating a style can be very hard to do and some artist like to not directly copy styles.

Defiantly ask for progress shots. Just check their TOS to see if they would show progress and/or do changes for the type of art you are commissioning. From experience I have things in my TOS about how many edits you can get for free.

Artist want their customers to be completely satisfied (or should be). If you do request WIPS make sure to correct the artist in the process and not state changes after the work is complete for best results(unless it is a simple thing like color in a digital commission)

[nakoothetauren.livejournal.com]

I don't believe they have a TOS. The was commissioned though LJ where they posted about icon commissions and as far as I could see at the time they didn't have any other art sites it wasn't until later (2 weeks after starting the commission) I found any of there art sites through another community altogether.

There are reasons I think that it is rushed but I am not sure if I can post them here with out making a beware. :c

I'm not sure how vague I have to be with this. I'm sorry to everyone.

[ljmydayaway.livejournal.com]

I'm getting this sense that you were asking the artist to 100% replicate the mlp style. Please correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm not, that's not something you should expect from any artist. You should be commissioning them for their style, not for the shows style. Or maybe even just be more clear in the beginning.

One of my first commissions was someone wanting me to draw a 100% on model mewtwo, and it's just not possible (especially when I was not very skilled back then). It was pretty disheartening.

[nakoothetauren.livejournal.com]

Not at all! I asked them what would work best in there style out of three character species, Tauren, Human and a Pony.
This is exactly what I said:
"Are you ok with drawing things like MLP characters, Human characters (Pokemon OC) or Tauren from the world of warcraft? And which would be easier for you?
If you would be up for any of those I would really be interested in getting one of your icons :3"

Maybe it comes across that way? I'm not sure. I never meant it to be that way and it sucks if it came off like that.

[tanginello.livejournal.com]

I always offer to fix missed markings or character details when I am doing commissions but with substantial re-draws there are additional fees. But, I also produce progress shots so folks can catch things they don't like before I get too far in the process.

I don't really think there is anything you can do; obviously the artist is not willing to change the art. Like everyone else has said, ask for progress images next time.

[growly.livejournal.com]

I personally wouldn't press it, I'd just not commission that artist again, or if I did, have them draw a different character.

[fiawol.livejournal.com]

Making a commission is like rolling a pair of dice: sometimes you get double-sixes, but every once in a while, you get snakeyes. Everyone who collects commissions eventually gets one they don't like, if it's digital you can try to see if the artist can do anything to "fix" it, but eventually you just have to move on and treat it as water under the bridge. I once commissioned a con sketch from an artist who actually did official MLP merchandise art, and even though I'd gotten a dozen sketches from this artist previously (on a whole range of subjects), I think the MLP sketch was the worst one I had ever seen them do at a con. You pay your money, and you take your chances. "Most" times you end up ahead.

[silvertales.livejournal.com]

I must admit to being a bit confused here. Please, correct me if I'm wrong. There are a lot of vague statements made in this post, so it's difficult for me to figure out if the artist simply rushed a job to get it done, or if what you think are minor changes, aren't quite so minor, or what the medium is, or how long this took, or how much it cost... all of which are legitimate issues when dealing with overall commission satisfaction.

From what I understand, you commissioned an artist to do something in the MLP style, and there were still elements of their own style present. If you commission an artist to complete a project, presumably you do so because there is something about *their* style you like. Replicating a style 100% is a difficult task to expect, and there will always be stylistic choices made specific to each artist.

As for changes, there are definitely points where changes can be made (depending on complexity) and can/should be discussed, but, after that point, changes usually cost money, or require a complete redo of the project (and for some, without compensation.)

Commissions are a unique entity and often times, you pay your money and take your chances. Like fiawol said, most of the time, you end up ahead.

[nakoothetauren.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry! I'm not the best at explaining.

Its pixel work.
It cost $5
I asked which character would be best in there style.
They said my MLP character would be best.
I payed them.
2 weeks later I got worried because I saw them posted on a drama com.
4 weeks I stated that I wanted some progress because they said it would be done in a few days. I did say that If I hadn't seen progress by 45 day Paypal window I would make a dispute.
The next day they post the work.
It takes me a few days to reply that I am not happy with the mistakes in the character.
They tell me they where trying to do MLP style. I don't agrue this but I would have thought that if someone was trying mlp style they would make things like the eyes in that style and include a cutie mark.
3 weeks later I post this.

I hope that doesn't sound to blunt I just want to get across what I am not getting across. >_< I do commissions my self and know all about the woes that come with them. My only issue is asking for changes and being told "I really like the work." they haven't made any changes that I can see so I don't know?
I'm sorry :c

[maxi.livejournal.com]

If there is something wrong with the character details, like using the wrong color or not including certain markings, then that's one thing and the artist should fix it - but if it's that you simply don't like the style then there's really nothing for you since they did finish the image.
Seconding the advice to ask for previews though.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Yes this - the vibe I got from the post sounded like the things that were "wrong" were style/taste things, not color or markings. But the post is vague so I just don't know.

OK to ask for color adjustments, asking to essentially redraw a piece is not okay unless the artist messed something blatant up.

Style is not something that is appropriate to ask to be "fixed", outside of some rather extreme hypothetical situations.

[intj-reflection.livejournal.com]

On a small commission like an avatar where no WIP is given and the artist flat out states that they will make no changes because they like the way it looks I would just let it go. Unfortunately there will be times when what you, as a commissioner want and what the artist can produce (rushed, art-blocked, more inspired on other pieces etc.) just won't add up.

Best thing you can do is have a clear idea of what you want up front, request a WIP if it really worries you, make any request for corrections coherent, concise and in a single post so that some aren't overlooked.

Some artists might want money for changes and it can be a sign of good faith to offer (and pay if the offer is accepted) for corrections to be made, but once the artist refuses to adjust or change a piece, you, as a commissioner need to accept that your vision and the creative talent you chose to develop it were just not compatible this time.

It happens and is disappointing, but there is only so much that can be done.

(Edited for atuocorrect derp. )

[xubunturambles.livejournal.com]

Next time just ask for wips, and try to assert yourself, as in, be more firm about the changes. If someone makes your character red when its quite plainly blue, are you gonna stand by and do nothing?

Also, if there were obvious thing wrong with the character, i don't understand why the artist wouldn't do anything about it :L

[vauvakolibri.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't really understand why the artist didn't want to add the cutiemark and such...
But I noticed you said things like "I think from what I see on there artistes they are not of age to have a payapl." and that the artist didn't have a TOS, which to me would personally be definite red flags on not commissioning said artist, since if the artist is underage they are more likely to lack professionalism and business experience and without a proper TOS or any agreement of WIPs/adjustment before the payment/agreement you sometimes end up like this.

Basically yeah, the best you might do is to firmly ask for the changes, since you are the one who paid for it. Of course you can try making a beware, especially if the artist gives you more attitude on not wanting to fix it etc but whether it's enough to get through mods is another.

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

I don't think without further details I can give you a reasonable assessment of what you could do.

[nakoothetauren.livejournal.com]

If it helps a few comments up I explained a bit more of this transaction: http://artists-beware.livejournal.com/701674.html?thread=26922474#t26922474
I hope that helps