Another Question. Is lack of inspiration/art blocks an excuse for delayed commissions?

[friskecrisps.livejournal.com]

Something else I thought of the other day that I wouldn't mind getting some feedback on especially from the artists. Whenever I ask for an update on a commissions, I sometimes get a response about them not having inspiration to draw/write which I take to mean they are in a supposed art block. I often hear lots of people saying that its just an artist excuse to be lazy but then when you have lots of stress coming from outside life, it can be hard finding the inspiration to draw/write a commissions. What do you guys think? Is it a plausible explanation for delayed commissions?

Comments

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

I do think it can be a legitimate reason for a delay. I'd be wary of anyone who used that excuse far too often, though. Everyone gets art/writer's block at some time, but if they're falling back on that time after time after time...

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

Agree with this statement in it's entirety.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

To a point, I think it's fine. If they're claiming art block for months, claiming art block and still taking commissions or claiming art block while completing a mass of other work, I'd be worried.

Personally, if I get art block, I'll sometimes doodle for myself a bit, though. I'd never feel comfortable giving that level of quality to a commissioner [since my work is generally subpar at those times], but working on little things for myself or as gifts for friends sometimes helps me work through it. I keep drawing because it helps chip away at the block. :)

However, if the art block went on too long, I might offer the option of refunds to my commissioners.
Luckily, my infrequent art blocks never last for more than a week or so, so it's usually not much of a problem.

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

While I think art block can be very real, I also don't think it's professional to not produce just because of "art block". I work as a graphic designer and yeah there are times I'm stumped about what to do with a logo design, but that means I have to work on researching what other designers have done, research typefaces, and do tons of thumbnails until I find a few designs that can be further developed. Sometimes it takes 5 pages of thumbnails before we get 3-5 designs to present to the client.

Now if they're clinically depressed, that can be a whole other matter, but I see a lot of excuses among furry artists that make me a little cynical.

[kiwihunter8.livejournal.com]

I agree completely here. Out in the real world, a client isn't going to take your excuse that you have 'art block'. You get fired. You have to push through it.

[frisket17.livejournal.com]

So pushing through an art block usually entails doing work that is subpar (at least in artists eyes, and most artists don't want paid work to be subpar to go out to the clients).

You're right. In professional situations, they should push through. But it's a matter of whether you trust the artist when they say their quality is not up to snuff -- and whether or not then you complain that 'This piece isn't up to the same standard as other pieces)

So art block is real. Some may use it as an excuse, but many who state they're struggling it isn't because they AREN'T drawing, just most of the time what they're drawing looks like crap to the artist / not coming out right.

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

I sometimes get a response about them not having inspiration to draw/write which I take to mean they are in a supposed art block

From the OP, I take it that nothing at all is being produced, not that the artist is dissatisfied with what's being produced.

[hellebore.livejournal.com]

Yup. If I am on a job and have art block and feel like I can't 'perform', it's too bad. They've paid me to have an image done and they usually don't accept "I've got art block" as an answer.

There's such a huge difference in the pro world vs the 'furry' world. I can't believe some of the things that the furry world gets away with, and for many who want to transition out of the furry world into the pro... good luck if you think this attitude is going to get you anywhere.

[teekchan.livejournal.com]

I don't believe in 'art block' because of this. You can't just up and claim art block in the industry. I have always worked through periods of feeling like I don't want to draw.

Generally I do allow some wiggly room as a lot of artists on FA do get it and stop drawing for those periods. But if the artist is pumping out art and claiming art block and it'd been over a few days/a week, I'd get on their case as a lot of people just claim it to get out of owed work.

[kaiiju.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'm going to go against what a lot of people think and say yes -- as long as it's not excessive.
Even though it may not be "your problem" as the commissioner, we're all people and shit happens. A bit of patience and understanding can go a long way.

I know when I'm stressed out I can't do much of anything, let alone draw anything that looks like it'd be worth money. I do let people know what's going on and let them know a refund is a possibility if they want to take it, though.

[slyminera.livejournal.com]

I was actually just discussing this with a friend of mine who was lamenting about a few commissions she has to finish, so I'll post my two cents.

I think it can be a very valid reason. There's a lot of factors behind lack of motivation/inspiration, particularly people who suffer disorders like depression or anxiety. My friend as an example, has become somewhat burnt out on what she's been having to draw for commissions and thus lacks the motivation to work on them. She doesn't want to necessarily force herself to work on them because she doesn't want to deliver what she considers a "half-assed" product just to get it done because that wouldn't be fair to the commissioner.
She also does feel guilty for taking so long, which just adds to her stress and makes her want to work even less, even though she really does want to finish it and have it be up to par quality-wise.
Obviously, it can't be used as a reason forever. Eventually the work is going to have to get done (or refunds should be issued if it can't). I told her to try working on drawing other things for a little while to de-stress and be able to go back to drawing what she has to to get the commissions finished. She doesn't take forever to work on commissions either of course, but it might take her an extra few weeks to a month at most sometimes.
She always delivers in the end, even if it takes a little longer than expected, and that's what's important.

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

I'm going to go against the grain and say it isn't valid at all. When you're taking money for services things like "art block" shouldn't even be an issue. I suggest folks just work through it and get their work done in a timely manner.

Of course, when someone says "art block" I think of folks who put off doing the work for days to weeks on end. If someone needs to take a couple of days off from production to regather themselves, that is absolutely not a problem.

I personally take a couple of days here or there when I need it. I will bulldoze through moments of art block, because that's not my clients' problem.

[ctk-hullo.livejournal.com]

This. I can't believe how many friends I've had to pester because they owed paid work but didn't feel like working on it for days and days.

[thelisky.livejournal.com]

My girlfriend has a problem with "taking time for herself" it's pretty painful to watch at time. So when i see "Art block" i tend to think of other people i know who use it as an excuse to gain pity/avoid work. When i see "Stuck/burning out" i tend to be a lot more sympathetic, because they're 2 very different things that people tend to mix up.

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Yes, burnout is a totally different thing. I mean, atm I just built up a small savings to take the next month off because I am burnt out on doing commissions. But, you know, all my work is completed and no one is waiting on me.

[nisaetus.livejournal.com]

I agree with this. It's one thing to take a couple days off to prevent burnout, but claiming a persistent block should never fly in a professional setting.

[dinobutt.livejournal.com]

Definitely agree with this. I make art professionally outside of furry, and I work to extremely tight deadlines since my reputation has been built entirely on how fast I get the work done. I wouldn't dream of screwing over a client who has invested their money in me, and I apply that equally to furry art. A business transaction is a business transaction, no matter who it's coming from.

Of course burnout is a very real thing, and I've had it happen during major projects, but I push through and get it done because I have to. It's no more valid an excuse than deciding not to show up to any other job just because you're tired and overworked.

All you can do is build up a comfortable savings buffer so that you're prepared to take time off when you need it and make sure all your prior obligations are taken care of first.

[wolf-goat.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think it's an acceptable "excuse" - HOWEVER I believe that an artist in that situation should offer a refund, as it's only professional. Many commissioners will still decide to wait, at any rate - but the option should be there.

A lot of artists in various fandoms are hobby artists so stating that art block should never be an issue for them is not really valid imo, they are not industry professionals. Also there are numerous people doing artwork who have chronic health complaints and this can also contribute to difficulty which a full-time professional would not have. It's just about how you handle your customer service, should it arise.

[tylociraptor.livejournal.com]

Art block is not an excuse when talking about paid work, period. You aren't going to call in to work, especially in an art industry, with the excuse "I just don't FEEL like drawing today..."

Art block can be a real thing, sure- it's the product of not warming up, not sketching from life, drawing the same subject over and over, etc., any number of things... but that burden is not on the client. They have been paid to do a job and need to do it, so have to either take steps to rid themselves of art block (of which there are many options), or just work THROUGH it. A day or two of stepping away from a piece is one thing, mind you, but if they are weeks of using the same excuse...

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

Yes and no. Its a valid excuse for SHORT delays. Long term delays are an entirely different issue.

Everyone has periods where their physical, mental, or emotional reserves get low. This is why we have weekends, to refill that well.

The problem here is that often artists that make their living from commissions never really get to punch out and NOT have to deal for it with a set time. The feeling that they should always be working is a stresser in and of itself.

Which is where art blocks come in. Artists that don't build downtime into their schedule to actually REST start running into blocks. Or start using them as an excuse to get some desperately needed recovery time. Even if they don't recognize what exactly is wrong, they know they need a break.

But its only a partial break because those commissions are still out there, lurking, chewing up mental and emotional energy.

So if an artist says they're blocked and takes a few days or a week off to refresh, I wouldn't say this is an issue. They'll come back refreshed and ready to tackle projects.

It's where it turns into a chronic issue that it becomes a problem, for both professionals and hobbyists.

Sometimes people get overwhelmed by outside forces and can't keep up. The energy that should be going towards work is being drained off elsewhere, just like if your weekend got eaten up. If you spent the weekend at a funeral, working a second job, or sick as a dog, your performance Monday is going to be subpar, or so damn poor you should have stayed home. The same hold true for art.

Freelance artists don't normally have those days built in to schedule to deal with those sorts of issues. Truly unexpected issues can knock artists for a loop as many are young, healthy, and active so never consider "hey, I should build a sick day into my schedule." Always on, always working.

If they have nothing else going on that is draining their energy away and are just bogging down under work, that's a self created issue and will just get worse if anything serious DOES happen.

SO it really boils down to what the artist considers to be their actual JOB. If they earn most or all of their income from art, they should be treated as professionals who can schedule themselves appropriately and work through blocks and meet deadlines. They should have built rest time into the schedule.

Be sympathetic is they TRULY have something that's thrown their schedule into disarray and ate up the downtown they should have had built into their schedule. But be realistic. If it truly NEEDS to hit a deadline, a blocked artist should refund you without prompting and let you move on to someone that can finish the job on your deadline.

Someone that recognizes they need that downtime in the schedule to rest and recover should also be able to recognize that the energy tied up in projects they CAN'T finish is making it even harder to finish other things, and start refunding people so they CAN get back on track. Sometimes they may hit the point where they've been so depleted they can't be proactive and may need prompting to start refunding.

Hobbyists are another matter entirely and likely where you're going to have more problems with chronic blocks as its treated as a hobby. It's done entirely with spare energy they have... which often means if they also work full time so if have anything happen, they have zero energy to work. They are also blocked but for a different reason. They not only don't have the energy to work their regular job, they don't have the experience or skills to head off the problem in the first place.

Long comment is long

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

Does this mean hobbyists should get more slack? No, but expectations should be adjusted accordingly that they are INCONSISTENT producers in the first place. If you entered into the process expecting that they may take considerably longer to finish (or might be done today, you just don't know) heads off frustration.

That said, there does come a point where it becomes clear that the hobbyist clearly can't or won't deliver and they will likely need a fair amount of prompting to refund.

The key difference between the two being the ability to accurately self assess their abilities and work load. The professional should have a lot more experience and should be expected to power through OR get on the ball and refund. The hobbyist likely has a lot more difficulty doing that self assessment and may not even have the energy to MAKE that assessment. They may be utterly convinced that this week, this week they'll get it done, really, even if they've thought that every week for the last two months.

TLDR: Be sympathetic to truly unexpected disasters, but if you see a pattern of chronic blocks or taking on more work while there's unfinished work outstanding, ask for a refund. a block should be temporary, not a state of being.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Yes, but if an artists puts commissions on a hiatus due to an art block they should also offer a refund. If a customer wants to wait it out, it should be their decision.

[wuvvumsoc.livejournal.com]

Yeah that should be mentioned too. It seems a few bewares have been in cases where an artist did offer a refund and the commissioner kept refusing - in that case you should deal with the expected delay.

[poizenkat.livejournal.com]

I'd say it is, but you should be prepared to refund if that's the case. What I call art block is when nothing I can draw comes out right. I would feel terrible giving someone work at those times when I know I could do better later on. I actually had to stop taking commissions, because this started to happen to me for a couple months at a time.