If you have done pretty much exactly what the first post said, maybe you should contact the artist.
Especially when you commission something they aren't familair with, sometimes an artist is charging your for time rather than outcome, so if you asked for something excessively complicated, that is another factor to consider.

Until I see images of both the commission and the samples they had provided for the same cost I can't really judge accurately. Feel free to PM me with links and I will be happy to provide a discreet opinion.