About to give up on this one.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

I commissioned airuko back in November of last year for a simple colored piece.

Didn't hear anything for months, but she had a large workload. i contacted her again, thinking maybe paypal hadn't sent payment- it's been mean to me like that sometimes. So I ask if she got payment. She says :

Hello!
I have indeed recieved the payment! Sorry it's taking awhile, been rather busy lately. If I don't get it done by the end of this month, feel free to deathgrip me off a cliff. XD

I'm a patient person- as long as I'm kept in the loop, I don't care how long it takes (to a point).

Well...i got a WIP that was a sketch, and it looked great.

April rolls around...still nothing from her. So I email her:

Just poking you to see how you were coming along with my commission =)

her reply?

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2009, 10:10 PM

lol if you were getting irritated at how long it's taking, you could just say so :P
as much as i'd love to suddenly poop out a masterpiece, sometimes it takes time for me to get in the mood. i could technically just draw you something in a few hours, but it wouldn't look good. i like to pride myself in doing a good job on commissions.

also, a few months ago i switched to linux and therefore could not use SAI and thus couldn't finish your commission. i've just switched back to windows but i no longer have the WIP file so i would have to start over.

either you can wait it out a bit longer, or i can give you back your money.

Now the excuses and passive aggressive snark irritated me(no need to get snippy, and it really wouldn't have bothered me if you sent me a heads up letting me know you'd switched OS'es and lost the WIP file= tech shit happens, y'know?), but I bit my tongue. I reply:

Wasn't really irritated at how long it was was taking, just kinda O_o at the fact that i hadn't heard back from you. I don't mind waiting a long time for pieces; I just like hearing back from the artist on what's going on =)

She simply sends me another WIP that's 1/3 done, and she says she'll have it done. Haven't heard from her since.

I'm just irritated at the fact that this is takin so long, with little to no communication from her save for when i prod her. She is very active on LJ, but ever since I prodded her about my commission, her art flow on her DA page stopped.

I'd ask again how my commission was coming, but at this point, I really don't want my head bit off again. Should I ask her to finish it, or ask for my money back? I know other people who are a bit more deserving of my money.

Edit:Situation resolved. On some advice I sent her an email telling her I was uncomfortable with the commission thus far, and she sheepishly admitted that she has been too sucked into wow and told me that she'd been working on it from time to time, but didn't email me about her progress. She told me that she should have a finished piece for me by the end of the day, and she apologized profusely for making me wait so long and for getting snippy.

Comments

[blackswan666.livejournal.com]

I dunno, looking at her LJ, it seems like she's more preoccupied with playing WoW than doing commissions.

[teahound.livejournal.com]

Holy cow, do I second this... I don't speak WoW but all those numbers seem to imply that's all she's been doing lately...

[delphinios.livejournal.com]

WoW is the mindkiller. It is the little death that brings social obliteration.

[lobotomysoup.livejournal.com]

You know .. it isn't always :/

[teahound.livejournal.com]

No definitely not but it's certainly addictive from what I've heard. xD Literally the only reason I don't play it is because I know once I started, I'd be on it forever and fuck up my other responsibilities, simply because I get addicted to stuff like that easily. >///>

[mazz.livejournal.com]

World of Warcrack > Do what you're paid for

[feathery.livejournal.com]

I think I'd have to agree with this also. I've seen very sweet, kind people turn into raging hose beasts because of WoW. The community is pretty bad (just tonight I got, basically, "OMG Y WON'T U HELP ME?1 THIS DUDE KEEPS GANKING ME1!!!" to which I said "... I'm sorry?" and logged out like I planned to). The addiction is probably making her think "If I get this commission refunded, I can go PvP more! :D"

Ugh... It's a fun game, and I still play probably more than I should, but I got over my horrible addiction after not even 2 months when the "new" wore off. I was more addicted to Second Life.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

See I play a lot, but I make time for RL stuff first- commissions/pets/people. I'll admit I play too much at times, but i do prioritize.

[fiercereaper.livejournal.com]

I've seen marriages go into the flaming pit of no return over that game.

[delphinios.livejournal.com]

The most important thing (as far as public opinion is concerned) is to be polite and respectful even in the face of snarkiness, and to be a bit generous with patience. She's progressing, at least, and judging from her correspondence, she's not likely to screw you over or abandon the piece. Perhaps she's just having a bit more difficult time with it then her usual artwork - that whole 'inspiration being fleeting' kind of thing. :)

I'd say poke at her about once a month or so, and as long as she's making some progress, then just wait it out. If you feel that she took far too long or was rude, then don't commission her again, and give your money to the next 'more deserving' artist. :)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

This is the point at which you send a very polite message, something along the lines of "I'm not upset at how long this has taken, but I would like to have this art by X date, is that possible?" Get a date agreed on. Then if she misses the deadline you have a solid reason to ask for a refund. Because honestly if you two haven't agreed on any kind of time frame then she's will within her rights to take as long as it takes. Though that doesn't excuse the snarky, passive-aggressive crap, I'll admit, that's a very bad sign. But that aside, in her place I'd be a little startled to have somebody demand a refund when they'd never given me any sort of deadline or any sense of urgency about the project's time line.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Yes, this!
It doesn't really work to go from "take as long as you like" to "this took too long gimme a refund", even if the person is abusing the "take as long as you like" privilege and being rude to boot :P
I second giving a polite deadline (maybe another month? End of summer? ??) and THEN asking for a refund if they violate it or refuse to agree to one.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

it's not so much that it's taking a long time as it's her attitude about me inquiring after her silence. i'd rather just ask for a refund than have her get snippy again and rush the piece.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Hurm, I get that, although in 50/50 hindsight you should have said something when she was initially rude, rather than saying it was okay.

IDK I guess if that's the case then just send an email saying what's on your mind as politely as possible? "Look, I'm sorry to do this but I'm not comfortable with our commission anymore, I feel like I cannot request reasonable status updates without you getting upset" IDK.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

I lack tact for the most part, but when I try to be nice, I end up being a doormat, and it's a fatal flaw of mine, I admit.

I did write up a draft; i'm just muddling over it, trying to sound firm yet unassuming/demanding =X

[mazz.livejournal.com]

That was rather immature of her to get snippy like that. I'd just get my money back and give it to someone who has good customer service.

[sunhawk.livejournal.com]

Wow that was rude and uncalled for of her.

[gamzee.livejournal.com]

Dang. I hope she was just having a bad day when she responded like that and this all gets resolved with no more annoyance. :( I second what bladespark said about setting a deadline.

[mmyesidosay.livejournal.com]

For what its worth, I commissioned her around the same time, and had mine done very promptly, and she was very friendly.

Sorry to hear you're having problems though, and hope it gets settled fast. :( Just wanted to say that from my experience, she wasnt like this all the time.

[kitefeathers.livejournal.com]

I love your icon, just wanted to say. >.>

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

<3 Dr horrible ^^

[enchelynassa.livejournal.com]

That's surprisingly rude for simply asking for an update, wtf. I'd probably just wait it out unless you really mind waiting a few more months (which it might be judging from how much she talks about WoW on that journal). Even if you get a refund at this point she might still charge you for what's already done. Then you just have 1/3 of a picture and probably half your money. :S

[gearpony.livejournal.com]

I am not seeing the rudeness. To me she was just being honest. If waiting so long is bothering you, ask for a deadline, (As Bladespark suggested.) Then at least if she doesn't come thru by a certain date you can ask for a refund.

OR ask for a refund already since the wait time is already bothering you and she offered to give you one if you didn't want to wait any longer.

Heh.. or wait till WoW Arena season is over and then I'd imagine she'll have more time for art. :x

[kiwihunter8.livejournal.com]

It's not very professional to say they're not in the mood... because that's what professionals do...work no matter what their mood is. They don't sit around all day waiting for the muse to strike like a wayward storm.

They show up at the drawing board every day and draw whether or not 'the muse' has hit them. They should have the technical skill to give you your money's worth even if the piece is not their most inspired work. IT just needs to be good, as good as their samples.

I am sorry to say I have no advice for you though. If it were me I'd ask for my money back, since they offered, if you are able to get a response.

[komickrazi.livejournal.com]

True, however my husband has waited a year or more for commissions from pro comic artists who fed him "Oh I just haven't felt like drawing angels" for months. The worst was when he started posting Angel drawings on his Deviant art, and when we inquired about them, he claimed they were just for fun, but not our commission piece. So you're not in the mood, and then when you are you choose to dilly around on non-commission work?

Some artists are just flaky.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS

I kind of hate the notion of "oh well I don't feel like drawing thus I shouldn't". Okay, sometimes one has a bad art day or a great one, but if the "bad art day" is stretching in to weeks and months... then they must not be a very good artist :P
Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration, and all that.

Goodness...

[silentsamael.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's really a shame. A friend and I (You've actually commissioned art from her before Lougara :D ) were both thinking about investing some cash in getting art from her. After this though I'm not sure I want to give it a try. While I understand that others have gotten their art quickly and politely, the fact that this could also happen is making me a little gun shy.

I do commissions too on occasion and understand that sometimes you really aren't in the mood but...I mean, you are being payed to draw and while no deadline was set that doesn't mean you are allowed to waffle around and take 6 months to produce a finished piece (And not even a finished piece in this instance) And from what I see the OP didn't even have an issue with the length of time it was taking, as they say, they were perfectly willing to wait.

Unfortunately, having bad day and taking it out on a paying customer is a negative strike against you. Especially when DA, Wow art comm and the Artist beware comm are pretty tightly knit together.

Re: Goodness...

[hobokitten.livejournal.com]

Off topic, but where did you get your Icon? It's hilarious X3

Re: Goodness...

[silentsamael.livejournal.com]

It is one of a rather large set of class icons by Icon_teahouse to either the World of Warcraft community or the wow_fanart one. :)

[raven-rivers.livejournal.com]

Well, it sounds to me like you already know what you should do, but are just trying to make sure other folks don't think it's unreasonable.

My suggestion is, yes, get a refund. This is downright retarded. Patience is a virtue, but there's a point to which you're just being masochistic. Continuing to deal with this jerk sounds like it's more stress than it's worth, especially since you already stated there are other artists you could commission. And I'm sure said artists would truly appreciate your business right about now!

Get your money back, and if she doesn't give it to you promptly, please post here again with another warning. Artists like this need to be outed completely, in order to make sure they never see another red cent worth of business again. It's the only way to ensure the others are motivated enough to actually do the work they're paid to do.

[ken-redtail.livejournal.com]

Yikes, rude artist much?
She has no reason at all to get snippy like that, especially for someone who promised she'd get it done by the end of the month.

Feel free to deathgrip her off that cliff.

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

She even said that if it's not done after a month to chase her.

I don't do well with passive aggressive BS...I would ask for my money back at this point. She had implied that it would take ~ a month to do, 6 months later is way too long, unspecified due-date or not. Not specifying a due date does NOT give an artist the right to take forever, especially without letting you know what's up.

I don't agree with what others here have said: one should not have to specify a due date to recieve it in a reasonable manner...six months for a small peice is not acceptable without reason. I feel that depeding on the project there is definitely an amount of time in which the artist has a right to take, but if the wait is longer than what is to be reasonaly expected, it needs to be specified by the artist. Part of professionalism is having turnaround times be appropriate to the task at hand.

For the person that thought there was nothing rude there, this:

"lol if you were getting irritated at how long it's taking, you could just say so :P"

Is not an appropriate response to someone politely inquiring for an update after months.