Artistic Differences

[clickclackcat.livejournal.com]

I've run into this problem a couple of times. People have come to me asking for commissions and requesting I do the art in a different style. -_o Most recently it was someone asking me to draw their Jack Russle character and then they showed me a drawing done by Blotch and instructed me to make it look like that! In the past I have tried to calmly explain that I was NOT "such-and-such" artist and that if they wanted a piece on in a certain artist's style, then they should commission THAT artist.

Though sometimes the message just doesn't seem to go through and once the piece is done, I'll get asked again why it doesn't look like something "that other artist" would have done.

Does anyone else have any advice for dealing with this sort of problem?

Comments

[lastres0rt.livejournal.com]

Shouldn't "I can't draw that way" be sufficient?

You think people would understand that artistic styles are notoriously hard to emulate and that there's no one "right way" to draw... You can be picky about anatomy and shading and such, but unless you're doing medical / police illustration you can't just plug-and-chug artwork and expect an exact facsimile of something.

[alcyione.livejournal.com]

I think it's rude and condescending to ask an artist to draw something so it looks like another artists' work. If someone did that to me, my feelings would be really hurt, and I'd have no problem letting them know that.

I think that if... telling them calmly/politely doesn't work... tell 'em to hit the road. It's RUDE to ask an artist to do that.

(and I'm sorry if I seem flustered... I've about lost my patience with commissioners this month x.x)

[foxhack.livejournal.com]

What the hell.

If I commission an artist it's because I like his or her style enough to want something drawn IN THAT STYLE.

What kind of dick asks you to change it? Jeebus...

[lastres0rt.livejournal.com]

I think at least part of it comes down to having a poor grasp of where all the parts actually GO on Character X, hence they only trust "the one that got it right", which in and of itself is its own problem.

A good Character Reference Sheet would fix most of those issues, I'd think... or at least force them to accept multiple interpretations of said sheet since the sheet itself usually displays multiple angles of a challenging character detail.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Include it in your TOS that people have to read and agree to in advance.

"All commissions will be drawn in my own style"

[albinowolf.livejournal.com]

That makes me shake my head. The reason I'd commission an artist would be so I could get an image of my char in their style. If I don't like the style, I'll probably never commission them. But the fact that some people can't even grasp that simple concept...

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Common sense. Not so common. ;)

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

LOL love your avatar

I think that a lot of non-artist's just don't get it. I'm not sure how to get it through to the more insistant ones though. I think I agree with marbled gennet, tell them you do your style and just your style.

[aerfox.livejournal.com]

I'd tell them that I was offended that they were asking me to do someone else's work, and that the other artist would be offended that this dipshit is trying to gyp them out of their style.

You want an artist's style? Pay the artist for their time.

I've had these faggots ask me this too and it's always the same answer:
"I draw the way I draw. If you would like it drawn in the style of Blotch, feel free to commission Blotch."

I bend over backwards to be polite most of the time to people because art is my job, but there are times when it's just too far. The reason why it doesn't look like x's style is because I am not a fucking Photocopier. Goodbye. :D

[digivolution.livejournal.com]

I can't believe people actually do that. How fucking inconsiderate :/

[dae.livejournal.com]

I hate it when people do that, but the solution is simple, as others have said...

"If you want Blotch's art, commission Blotch. If you want MY art, commission ME."

[hamburger.livejournal.com]

I get a variant of this problem from time to time.

My style is really cartoony and simple. Now and again I'll get a commission requesting some incredibly detailed character in some complicated action pose that is beyond my capabilities. Sometimes they want this for an icon, which already has limited space.

For the most part, what I do is politely inform them that I think that the request is beyond my abilities. I think if they continued to insist that I attempt it, I would first do a rough to show to them what the end product would look like before I take payment. If it seems I'll be unable to satisfy them, I will (again politely as possible) decline their business.

Then again, I have the advantage of not needing commission money to make ends meet. Not all artists have the luxury of being able to turn down work.

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

I forgot to add, say that if you were to do their style you'd have to charge their prices. I imagine that often stops people from demanding professional quality work such as Blotch's).

[thornwolf.livejournal.com]

ive run into that problem. I generally respond with the contact information of said artist they want me copying.

[skulldog.livejournal.com]

Never run into it myself. But I do put a warning that I won't draw in someone else's style in all auctions I run as well as my commission terms page.

Personally, I think it's people who find cheap artists to to get around paying more for the artist they REALLY want art from. Charge more. :P

[alpha-orionis-v.livejournal.com]

I tell them that if they want to commission me, they should go through my gallery to see what they're in store for. If they press the issue, I ignore them.

[circlemeats.livejournal.com]

I either get, "Please draw it like you drew this picture *links to a drawing I did 6 months + ago*"

or, "Can you please add this super detailed complicated animation to the icons you clearly stated were on a basic template?"

@_@ I'm sorry but if I have to change the animation TOO much, it turns into more work than it's worth.

[banka-flavored.livejournal.com]

jeez, artists have thier own style for a reason. Why do people think that way? its annoying :(

[amarafox.livejournal.com]

I've gotten that before. I had a commissioner be really unhappy with what I did and snark 'I knew I should have asked someone with more experience, I want it to look like *insert style I don't draw in*'

I calmly told them I didn't appreciate their comments and would be happy to refund their money to get another artist to draw it.

The nerve of some people.

[archteryx.livejournal.com]

This is one of the key things I do when I judge whether to commission an artist -- do I like THEIR style? What sort of things do THEY like to draw, especially things that they rarely get ASKED to draw? martes loves drawing birds, for example, but most people ask her to draw Jack Salem, her primary character.

I think that you just flat out have to tell them, "If you want something drawn in that *exact* style, you're gonna have to get in line, commission that artist, and pay whatever they want for the privilege. I can try, but I'm not , and as with any artist, I have my own style and sweet spots."

Wordy but succinct and to the point.

(And what's the big deal about Blotch, anyway? They are good, but there are a ton of good artists in the fandom).

[lastres0rt.livejournal.com]

Blotch is just the current fancy-pants artist.

Nice realistic artwork, soothing colors, has done work for several cons as of late, that kind of thing.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Actually, I believe "Blotch" is a collaboration of at least 2 artists I know of rather than a single entity. So if they ask you to "draw like Blotch" you can ask them "Which one?" :P

[archteryx.livejournal.com]

But to me, the key questions are:

1) Do they really need *my* business, or am I just following the herd, and,
2) Are they nice individuals, people I'd personally want to support?

And even if the answer to "1" is no, that doesn't stop me buying their prints and such, as I do for Dark Natasha all the time. :>

[namitheuntamed.livejournal.com]

If they give you an unrealistic expectation like that, I would suggest not taking on the commission, they'll just be disappointed and start bitching anyway, they might refuse to pay for it or something, and just doesn't seem worth it.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

My two cents: Don't take any commission from someone who asks this of you, period.

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

I'd say that if you get asked to do art in X artist's style, tell the commissioner "Here's X artist's website/gallery/contact info, have a nice day." Obviously, you will never be able to please someone who wants you to draw in someone else's style, so save yourself and them the headache and tell them to commission the person they really want to commission.

[sabarika.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be completely offended if I were asked this. The ability to mimic other styles is a good skill to have, it diversifies your art and allows you more flexibility as an artist. Unless my gallery illustrated my ability to work in many varying styles though I might be offended at being asked to outright emulate another artist's distinct style (which I assume is what you mean by them asking you to "copy this style") and like others have said I think the best approach in that situation is to politely direct them towards the artist whose style they want the work in with a brief explanation that you are not comfortable directly copying a style of art that is not your own.

[byakko-tsuki.livejournal.com]

Mm. I don't think it'd be a huge problem if they wanted a parody style.
It's when they'd ask me for a serious picture, that I would be significantly concerned..

If it's not something you want to do, you're always more than welcome to say no to it. ^^

[leonidus83.livejournal.com]

Well, it's sort of a question of style and level-of-detail.

I mention in my own commissions page that I can draw in a variety of styles (mentioning major cartoon series or video games), just ask, and prices adjust accordingly. My own style varies from strong, dynamic realism, down to stylized animation quality. I can do either and anything in between, though the more detail, obviously the much higher cost.

Now, I wouldn't copy a specific artist outright, but I could replicate conditions like level of shading, lighting, level of toonyness. I'd used my own stylistic conventions, tho.

[candiedmouth.livejournal.com]

I think the most important thing is to just make sure you have all the information and everything is clear before taking the commission. I know a few people who've gotten themselves into deep water by taking commissions without finding out what the customer wants, first, only to discover what they want is very far outside the realms of what the artist is capable of or comfortable with drawing (for example, having a landscape artist paint a complicated rave scene).

Find out before you take the person's money what they expect from you, and make very clear what you are capable of before you let them pay you. Do NOT be shy about being as firm as you need to be - and if you're not sure, don't take the commisson.

[marlinkhylacat]

Everyone here had good advice. I'd also tell anyone who asked me that, "I'm sorry, but I can't take work away from *artist's name* by copying their style. It's not fair to them."