Looking for advice: Requesting a refund from an artist

[friskecrisps.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure if I should have mentioned this in the title so I felt it was better to keep it in the body. Essentially I'm considering requesting a refund from an artist due to having to wait several months for having a commissioned piece done. However what's troubling me is that the artist says they are suffering from depression and that they are doing what they can to get mine and other works done. I'm not sure of what to do here cause I feel like if I ask for refund, a whole new set of issues are going to arise from it and that I might be causing the artist more grief on top of their current situation. So I'm a bit lost of what to do.

Comments

[tyrrlin.livejournal.com]

If you're not too determined to get that particular piece of artwork, I'd definitely ask for a refund. Taking new work while not finishing owed work is unprofessional.

(Begin rant)
Y'see, this is something that just... gets to me.

If someone works for a company and is depressed, do they just get to mope around their place of business, not work, and still get paid? As their customer, it's really not your business that they're suffering from depression and personal issues shouldn't be brought into a professional* transaction, unless it's rare, serious, and immediately affects the outcome of the business transaction.

If someone wants to have a professional business - i.e. get paid for their work, they should act like a professional businessperson.

*once money/goods are exchanged guess what, it's a professional transaction.

(end rant)

[stormrunner1981.livejournal.com]

Not trying to be snippy here I promise just...feel a bit attacked in this rant of yours.

I'm disabled because my depression would literally make me mope about the workplace. I cry at the drop of a hat in intense situations etc.

That doesn't mean I can't do commissions on the times I feel better.

However, I give my commissioners ample warning that I could have a relapse anytime - this is why I take payment after the fact (or refund if someone finds my paypal and pays me ahead of time).

Does me having depression really make me not worthy of doing commissions? That seems a bit mean :/.

[tyrrlin.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry if you feel attacked. That wasn't my intention and I was speaking generally.

That being said-

You communicate your situation up front with your commissioners. You also won't take payment until the work is finished. That's perfectly professional. What you are doing is accomodating your specific working conditions and communicating clearly with your clients.

My issue is with artists who not only take money upfront and not do the work, but also drag personal issues into a business transaction and make constant excuses to delay completion(especially if they continue to add more paid work to their queue).

(I also have medical limitations for my work, but do my darndnest to work around them)

[stormrunner1981.livejournal.com]

This I agree with. Thank you for clarifying :).