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artists_beware
Hello there. I need some help!
Almost two months ago, I commissioned 2 different artists.
1st artist had a problem with their home situation and it sounded quite dire so I commissioned them for a colored sketch of a new character I had acquired.
Fast forward a month later, and I hear nothing back from them. On their profile, they've stated their turnaround time is 2 weeks so I had sent a message to check in. They didn't respond until a week later and they messaged me back saying that they had gotten out of the hospital and were going to be working on commissions.
Another month now, I haven't gotten anything from them and I had decided to let go a few characters I don't use anymore. It included the character I had asked them to draw. I messaged them asking if I could get a refund since I wouldn't be using the character anymore. I feel quite conflicted on this because I didn't want to make their situation worse but I also would have no use for the art I have not received. They haven't responded to my note, which has been over a week now.
They've been active on their twitter and I didn't want to message them there as I didn't want to make it a public thing. I thought it'd be unfair if I did so. I've messaged them on their toyhou.se with a similar message to my second note but I'm not very hopeful.
2nd artist had a cheap deal with buy 2 get 1 free, which I jumped on immediately as I thought it was a good deal at the time.
I requested if I could pay them when they started on my commission and they told me in private that they'd start my commission next so I could send the money right away, so I did so.
A month later, I saw they'd finished 2 other commissions but nothing about mine at all. I messaged them to ask if they had a queue like some other artists as looking at something like that reassures me that my commission would be done. They responded that they had nothing of the sort. They explained they had health issues, told me my commission was in the sketch process, and they would finish my commission next.
Now another month and another 2 other finished commissions later, I requested a refund for the same reason above. I was letting go of some of my characters and 2/3 characters I had requested were the ones I was letting go. They stated that no refunds were allowed and I could pick different characters, however, they don't have any examples of anthros (although they state that they can draw them in their journal) so I didn't have many people for them to draw.
I got frustrated and messaged them back (rudely unfortunately as I was frustrated) explaining to them that I wouldn't mind waiting longer normally but a complete lack of communications and how it felt like they had only told me they would work on my commission next so I would send the money. I wanted to know how far down my commission exactly was.
They messaged me back saying that they couldn't work on commissions due the fact "i'm constantly in the hospital" and pointed to a journal they've posted before taking my commission saying that their commission work would be slower. They stated they had medical issues that interfere with doing commissions and that they do their commissions randomly because it's more fun that way. (I can understand working on inspiration too but it was originally being told my commission would be done next that frustrated me)
I apologized a few notes later as I had not realized they were explaining their medical condition was the reason they forgot to do my commission next. (Despite telling me twice :T) They then sent me WIPs and said they would finish my commission that day. Maybe it's me being paranoid but I also noticed that an outfit one of my characters is wearing was an outfit I commissioned after they had told me the sketches were done. Their journal is also still open taking commissions.
It's been a week since then and I sent a note but they haven't replied since, it's just left unread.
I'm really not sure what to do and am I being too impatient? I've seen people wait much longer for art (especially on here!). I think I'm most frustrated because the wait time was much longer than projected and there's no communication telling me it would be later, via public journal or private notes.
Edit: I'd like to mention, this was in a course of over 2 months and I did not choose to sell the characters on a whim. I had expected the pieces to be finished well before this time as both of them are colored sketches. I was given the option by the 2nd artist to choose new characters, but I feel like it would take even longer on my commission and I don't want to deal with this artist any longer. I had agreed to let them finish the commission but now they've gone AWOL. The first artist never responded to me.
Almost two months ago, I commissioned 2 different artists.
1st artist had a problem with their home situation and it sounded quite dire so I commissioned them for a colored sketch of a new character I had acquired.
Fast forward a month later, and I hear nothing back from them. On their profile, they've stated their turnaround time is 2 weeks so I had sent a message to check in. They didn't respond until a week later and they messaged me back saying that they had gotten out of the hospital and were going to be working on commissions.
Another month now, I haven't gotten anything from them and I had decided to let go a few characters I don't use anymore. It included the character I had asked them to draw. I messaged them asking if I could get a refund since I wouldn't be using the character anymore. I feel quite conflicted on this because I didn't want to make their situation worse but I also would have no use for the art I have not received. They haven't responded to my note, which has been over a week now.
They've been active on their twitter and I didn't want to message them there as I didn't want to make it a public thing. I thought it'd be unfair if I did so. I've messaged them on their toyhou.se with a similar message to my second note but I'm not very hopeful.
2nd artist had a cheap deal with buy 2 get 1 free, which I jumped on immediately as I thought it was a good deal at the time.
I requested if I could pay them when they started on my commission and they told me in private that they'd start my commission next so I could send the money right away, so I did so.
A month later, I saw they'd finished 2 other commissions but nothing about mine at all. I messaged them to ask if they had a queue like some other artists as looking at something like that reassures me that my commission would be done. They responded that they had nothing of the sort. They explained they had health issues, told me my commission was in the sketch process, and they would finish my commission next.
Now another month and another 2 other finished commissions later, I requested a refund for the same reason above. I was letting go of some of my characters and 2/3 characters I had requested were the ones I was letting go. They stated that no refunds were allowed and I could pick different characters, however, they don't have any examples of anthros (although they state that they can draw them in their journal) so I didn't have many people for them to draw.
I got frustrated and messaged them back (rudely unfortunately as I was frustrated) explaining to them that I wouldn't mind waiting longer normally but a complete lack of communications and how it felt like they had only told me they would work on my commission next so I would send the money. I wanted to know how far down my commission exactly was.
They messaged me back saying that they couldn't work on commissions due the fact "i'm constantly in the hospital" and pointed to a journal they've posted before taking my commission saying that their commission work would be slower. They stated they had medical issues that interfere with doing commissions and that they do their commissions randomly because it's more fun that way. (I can understand working on inspiration too but it was originally being told my commission would be done next that frustrated me)
I apologized a few notes later as I had not realized they were explaining their medical condition was the reason they forgot to do my commission next. (Despite telling me twice :T) They then sent me WIPs and said they would finish my commission that day. Maybe it's me being paranoid but I also noticed that an outfit one of my characters is wearing was an outfit I commissioned after they had told me the sketches were done. Their journal is also still open taking commissions.
It's been a week since then and I sent a note but they haven't replied since, it's just left unread.
I'm really not sure what to do and am I being too impatient? I've seen people wait much longer for art (especially on here!). I think I'm most frustrated because the wait time was much longer than projected and there's no communication telling me it would be later, via public journal or private notes.
Edit: I'd like to mention, this was in a course of over 2 months and I did not choose to sell the characters on a whim. I had expected the pieces to be finished well before this time as both of them are colored sketches. I was given the option by the 2nd artist to choose new characters, but I feel like it would take even longer on my commission and I don't want to deal with this artist any longer. I had agreed to let them finish the commission but now they've gone AWOL. The first artist never responded to me.
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