Things People Say To Artists...

[ginkaruja.livejournal.com]

And commissioners as well...

I hope this is allowed....
I am trying to compile a list of things people have said to artists and commissioners that have a negative view/stance on various subjects surrounding art. Mediums, pricing, marketing, art itself, methods, etc.  Anything and everything, even if it seems minor. What arguments have you seen out there?
Please number/point if you have more than one to share.

Examples of what I'm looking for:
-Digital is worth more than traditional.
-Art isn't a real job. (Everyone knows this one)
-Digital art is cheating.
-Patreon is a scam/paywall.

Variations on the same thing and details are welcome because sometimes it can add another dynamic to the opinion that must also be tackled.

Comments

[mpd-84.livejournal.com]

Stuff like "But I can't afford that!" or "Why do you charge so much? This other artist doesn't change that much!" ?

[okojosan.livejournal.com]

Traditional takes more skill than digital and is therefore worth more is one I've seen.

[greenreaper.livejournal.com]

Well it is! :-p

Actually, I would say it tends to take more time, and is therefore likely to cost more, all other things being equal. Of course, they often are not equal - maybe you don't have your computer/tablet around but do have traditional materials, or vice versa, or just want to work in a particular medium today…

[vauvakolibri.livejournal.com]

1. "I can offer you 1000 points/coins/fake money (that'll convert to 1€ of actual money [except you can't actually convert it to real money] when your TOS says you only take real money) for this 50€ commission, why don't you take it??"

2. "Only part/work that goes into art is the actual final drawing, any sort of mental work/preparation/studies/thinking isn't actually work/doesn't happen, right?"

Also almost everything in here:
https://twitter.com/crappyclient

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

"If you really loved art, you'd make it for (me) free!"

[whoop-zi.livejournal.com]

-"The fact that you don't give your friends discounts/free commissions is messed up"
-"Drawing for a fandom is not a real career and should not be treated as such"
-"Setting the prices you want to for your art is horrendously illegal in all forms, horrible, terrifying, and unethical" (Actual quote, I shit you not)
-The furry fandom is for networking so you should work for pennies because everyone in the fandom is your friend(because real friends want you to work for pennies, right)

These were all said to me by the same person. They also compared charging a high price for art to rape, and called me a child for civilly disagreeing with them. A real gem.

[ithinkdirt.livejournal.com]

I know this response is nearly a month since you posted but I have to share I am terribly amused at TERRIFYING

it's TERRIFYING

they wake up in the middle of the night, heart pounding, sweaty, terrified

[timelapsedecay.livejournal.com]

How about critique from a client that is more an insult than actual, applicable critique?

"It looks like you fell asleep halfway through drawing this, lol" is an actual quote, said to me. In the six years since, I've never forgotten it. It was the most insulting feedback I've received.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

The most obnoxious thing about people saying stuff like that is that they -will- claim if you're upset, it's because you can't take critique/criticism. They can't tell the difference between just plain rudeness and critique.

[koulagirl666.livejournal.com]

1. "If you can do it for your internet friends, why not do it professionally and make a real career?"

2. "It's really easy money though, my cousin's girlfriend makes $2000 a week on etsy, you should just do that!"

[whoop-zi.livejournal.com]

Oh boy, I love when people tell me that. Non-artists(particularly older adults) love to tell me to "just work for Disney" when they learn I have an animation degree. Just walk in to Disney and get you a job! Who knew it was that easy?

[meeka-meerkat.livejournal.com]

Never said to me, but I see these quite often

"Can you make it look like ___'s style?"
"I wish I had the money!"
"I love/want this but I'm broke right now!"
"Looks similar to ____"

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

"For that price I don't think I'm getting a lot."

"You charge X for a A x B size image? Wow, my friend charges Y. I think you overcharge."

"Artist B charges half the price you do."

All things I've gotten in my years working this fandom.

[tiana-silvery.livejournal.com]

• Why don't you make art for free? You can't draw or just too proud?



• Digital art has no soul in it.



• Digital art in nothing compared to traditional, in digital computer does all the work for you.



• Wait, you've used a ruler in this traditional piece? Cheater!

[sacch.livejournal.com]

Opening commissions and someone immediately going out of their way to say "I would but I don't have money/I can't afford it." Bonus if they include reasons why that I never asked for in the first place, that may or may not be pretty personal.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

Edit: Sorry, didn't meant to reply to you!

Not a quote, but I've had it happen a couple of times where people seem entitled to more then the commission. Time, personal feelings, etc. For example, if I no longer feel comfortable working with them, they'll use commissioning me as a reason, "I spent x amount on you", to tell them why/say my feelings, or say I -have- to work with them because they pay me.

[fusreya.livejournal.com]

"This reminds me of..." or "This looks like..."

No, my original creature that I have spent days designing is NOT from Avatar.

[laughsatthunder.livejournal.com]

I get that so often on my fursuits.
I had another maker send people after me for making the same species as their fursona, claiming it looked exactly like it since I used the same colors as any one of them would have in nature. Such a waste of time.

[eski.livejournal.com]

I have a really good one that involves a watcher (not client) chastising me deeply for painting a religious symbol in a commission. Would that be on topic? It was pretty... special.

[ginkaruja.livejournal.com]

Sure!

[laughsatthunder.livejournal.com]

Oh god don't get me started.

"It's cute but you're asking too much for it."
"The price is too high, the materials don't cost that much!"
"That looks like my fursona" (On a very generic work, like an all black wolf with yellow eyes).
"That looks different from [older work here]."
"Can I buy it for ________?"

Recently I had someone win an auction of mine, then tell me they couldn't pay the reserve price OR their highest bid, then told me "I think your work is worth $300." It's been killing me since. I blacklisted them and told them not to bid if they cannot afford to pay and they just gave me backhanded compliments such as, "You'll have no issues re-selling it for $300."

Also, as of late I've had a person give me critique on everything. I don't know why and I don't have the heart to block them. It's not that I don't mind critique but it's so unnecessary and it ruins my mood. They asked to see my fursuit designs and individually told me how I could change each one to their liking. Now they've been commenting on my photos or messaging me in private about how the anatomy could have been changed, the most mind boggling one was that a toony fursuit I made didn't look realistic enough. Really. Not even regarding the species, they just wanted to tell me it wasn't good enough for them personally.

Nitpicking here I also don't like it when people ask me to trade. No, I'm not going to trade with you, you've only made one fursuit before and I don't need an "art bundle". They usually get REALLY angry when I politely decline anyway.

[meeka-meerkat.livejournal.com]

Just block them and don't look back! Think how good you'll feel when all those comments stop.

[bornesb.livejournal.com]

From artist to commissioner:

"Sorry I haven't been able to do X, I [seriously long explanation about exactly why they couldn't do it that is probably personal.]"

I can see how personal transactions might be a little hazy on where the personal/professional barrier is, but 90% of the time I just want art in exchange for my money. I don't need your personal life in my inbox. You should update on if something is wrong or will take a while but "due to personal issues" is all I need. It shouldn't be longer than 1-2 sentences.

This rarely happens to me anymore but when it does it's like the artist felt they had to write a whole novel to explain themselves. You don't need to explain yourself. Just tell me when it will be done, or give me a refund.

In a similar vein, artists who refuse to... refuse service.
If you (as an artist) don't like a customer or their request for whatever reason, or are not sure you can complete the art... DON'T TAKE THE COMMISSION.
I'm not badgering anybody to do anything. If you don't like me, cancel the commission and give me a refund. Dang, if you just hate me make up some lie about "Sorry, something came up and I am unable to take your work anymore. Here's a refund."
Done, case closed. Some people will be ticked about it but it's easy to move on.

Instead, what quite often happens is an artist doesn't want to do work for whatever reason but doesn't cancel the work either so just sits on it for months and months and has effectively made situations worse. Whenever updates are asked, it's empty platitudes about "Sorry I couldn't do it. I'll do it this weekend/tomorrow/some day that never comes."

I've had artists cancel on me before. I didn't agree but I get it and I respect that. But the artists who just sat on it because they felt uninspired or didn't like what I said or whatever I have held a grudge against for a really long time.

Sorry that last one was a little more of a vent, but it's not one specific line they say, really.

[bornesb.livejournal.com]

In the same vein, commissioner to artist:

"Oh I can't pay yet because of [extensive list of reasons]."
or
"I wish I could afford this but we just...[journal entry about current state of finances]."

Brevity is best.

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

I think the worst one I got was when someone commissioned me for subject matter I didn't draw a lot, and then passive-aggressively/patronizingly complained about how it wasn't up to snuff. I mean like...what did you expect, exactly?

[itsamellama.livejournal.com]

"I'm willing to pay a good price for quality... as long as it isn't too high."

(from friends/family)
"Give me a good discount, all right?"
=_=

"But you live in [third world country], you shouldn't charge that high! Your cost of living is lower!"
(This one personally gets on my nerves a lot. You are paying me for the value of the service I provide you. The amount of work I put in isn't any lower than what anybody else would. You have no right to demean me just because I live in another country and am of a different race.)

And while not exactly for art, I got this when I was asked for my freelance writing/editing rates:
"Are you trying to tell me your minimum rate is $xx per hour?"
(Something about the way it's said just really angered me, especially as this person kept complimenting the high quality of work I provided them in the past as one of their previous employees.)

Mod Comment

[dergish.livejournal.com]

Hey folks!

I just want to leave a comment reminding everyone that this is not a beware post and therefore all customers and artists being talked about need to remain anonymous.

[mewsicklemels.livejournal.com]

"I thought you said art was your passion? Why are you trying to charge me?" (Because you can't earn money off anything you're passionate about. That's not what a career is at all.)

"Our up and coming website offers $1 for each item image you'll draw! Maybe we'll raise that after our site becomes famous!" (For a 100x100 icon, and they want full rights transferred as well of course)

"I am really feeling bad today, I just wish someone would draw me some art..." (From a used-to-be close friend literally once a week)

"Hey could you be my friend! I really like your artwork but I'm really broke!" (Totally how friendship works. Also pairs nicely with the next one.)

"Why won't you be my friend after talking one time! You're a shitty artist now and I'm going to tell everyone."

"If you don't draw me X, Y, Z for free I am going to report you!!!"

"I am going to sue you if you don't give me this art!" (Said to me by someone who commissioned me for 10 images and then vanished for six months so I resold the items when I couldn't get a hold of them. Needless to say they wanted the work for free too, since I'd 'upset them' into needing to contact a lawyer lmao)

"I commissioned this and therefore I own it. I can do whatever I want with the art." (That's not how that works when you don't own the rights bro)

And then of course some really fun ones from IRL conversations.

"Aren't you afraid you're taking advantage of your partner???"

"Oh I wanted to be an artist when I was younger too but then I grew up / decided I didn't want to starve."

"Oh so are you pregnant then? I mean why else would your partner let you stay home like a house wife?"

"You work at home? That must be so easy I wish I could work at home."

"Can't you just throw this together real quick? It'll only take you like five minutes."

"I told my boss I could do this, can you do it for me real quick tonight so I can give it to him?" (From the last time I ever spoke to my sister, as she was furious when I told her no and she had to tell her boss she was a liar.)

[talentedfool.livejournal.com]

"Why won't you be my friend after talking one time! You're a shitty artist now and I'm going to tell everyone."

I didn't mention it bc it wasn't a specific phrase, but honestly, when artists and commissioners use over familiar language when they have a purely business relationship... using pet names like "sweetie" or "darling", generous use of emojis (I use some very sparsely, but when it's like, chat among friends level of xD ;-; :D owo it's a bit...)

I appreciate your business, so I am willing to be friendly, but I am not willing to be your friend.

[talentedfool.livejournal.com]

1. Emailing just asking if I will do their commission without stating what they actually want me to draw. It's a minor thing, but it wastes a bit of time, and there's no answer I can give apart from, "You'll need to tell me what you want before I can judge whether it's in my ability to do." It's not outright bad/insulting like other things posted here, but it's frustrating just because of how often it happens (about 90% of the emails I get are just "will you do my commission?").

2. Asking for any kind of justification for pricing - "Why do you charge that much?" - "X doesn't charge that much for the same thing, why do you?" etc. Artists charge what they decide to charge, if it's too high in your eyes, don't commission them. This isn't a flea market, you don't get to haggle.

3. When commissioners don't let you know there's an issue/something they want fixed and just tell you it's "great/perfect", and then you later find them grumbling about a bunch of flaws...

4. When you reblog/RT/repost commission posts/journals a lot to boost visibility and self-advertise, and someone sends you a nasty message like, "do you have to keep flooding my dash/feed/notifs with this? I only follow you for the art." Freelance artists rely on self-promotion, asking them to strangle themselves because it inconveniences you is terrible.

5. "You did X for free, why do I have to pay?"

[scourge (from livejournal.com)]

I just wanted to say something it response to 4. I used to watch and artist who would repost the same ych's somewhere from 5 to 10 times a day alone and even though I never said anything to them personal I did find it really annoying to see the same ych's plastered in my submissions some only an hour apart.

[kelen.livejournal.com]

I don't get a lot of these thankfully, but I've had some interesting ones.

Like the guy who wanted me to draw his full color, hundred something page comic for free.

And the guy who wanted me to draw things I don't like. Drew a several because of needing money only to have him start be condescending about the art. This guy acted like he knew everything about art, when he didn't even know basic things like sunlight makes things brighter, or chiding me when I couldn't put a dull gray on exactly the same shade of dull gray and make one stand out. His lack of even the basics was appalling. But things got bad when I politely turned down a commission. Really didn't enjoy drawing the topic. He threw a fit. Started spreading bad information about me. I lost commissioners because of him.

[wuvvumsoc.livejournal.com]

Occasionally I'd come across people who were taken aback that my boyfriend and I would pay each other for our services (he does web design and has designed some things for me before and I do art). Actually got paid by my brother to do art before as well so at least some of the people around me don't feel entitled to have it for free.

[eyenoom (from livejournal.com)]

"Everything looks perfect, no changes needed, thank you so much, I love it! :D" *6 months later* "You remember that commission you did for me? Yeah, I've found some things that I want you to fix ^^"

[pinstripedtiger.livejournal.com]

Had a guy do that to me on a commission I'd finished 10 full months prior... because I'd forgotten a character's earring. >___>

[wyla.livejournal.com]

"Don't accept a commission request from X, they said [kinda shitty comment] about your art in a private conversation we had but now suddenly want to commission you. Let people who really appreciate your work get the slots!"

I can KIND OF see where they were coming from and I already accept that not everyone is going to dig my work but... why tell me that. Seriously. If they like it enough to commission a piece that's good enough for me and I would have been thrilled to see them interested in my work. Why even plant that seed of doubt, it's such a needless blow. :c

[whoop-zi.livejournal.com]

That's just bizarre. Why would someone commission you if they don't like your art?

[sacch.livejournal.com]

I REMEMBERED ANOTHER THING

Someone: Can you do a request/trade/commission for me?
Me: No.
Someone: Wow, what a shame. A loss for you then.

Um, no? Get out of here. It's not a "loss" if I never wanted to do it in the first place. I want to kick people like this in the kneecaps.

[sacch.livejournal.com]

OH. I also had an experience where someone came into my inbox with the most condescending tone EVER because I'd decided to protect myself and not post certain personal content anymore. They were like "Well I follow you for that!" Okay. Sorry. Not really my problem, I don't draw that for you. They proceeded to insult me so I blocked them.

They then messaged me anonymously going "UGH SO WE HAD A DISAGREEMENT AFTER I SAID I LIKED YOUR ART AND YOU JUST BLOCKED ME??? GOD WHY DO I INTERACT WITH ARTISTS THEY ALL TURN OUT TO BE SUCH SHITTY PEOPLE"

Nice victim complex there, dude. I blocked you because you're rude AF and I don't allow ANYONE to talk down to me.