I really could use some help.

[posterslapper.livejournal.com]

I commissioned someone over a month ago. Granted it was a little bit of a complex commission, but she seemed fast and reliable. It’s a acrylic painting of one of my characters. So I can understand the bit of wait. It’s just…I’m getting frustrated at this person (no going to state any names). I was SECOND on her commission list and the first one was already done by the time of me commissioning her. And after 3 weeks of waiting I dropped her a nice note just asking how it was coming along. She replayed saying “I was going to start on that really soon btw!” I’ve done some more waiting. And still I have gotten nothing. And I know she is active because she some how managed to make two masks, like rubber prosthetic masks, at lest 3 molds for soap and several bars of soap all in one month. She had announced she was going to start making soap the same time I had commissioned her, so they’re not old projects.

So I sent here another not asking for another update and she reply’s with “I’ll submit it Monday maybe.” But yesterday I checked FA many times, no art was posted from her.

The main reason why I am so frustrated is because she is submitting oodles of personal work and is giving little to no communication. And I am not sure what I should do. Should I wait a week? Should I just demand my 40$ back now? Or am I just to impationt?

And if you think I SHOULD refund my money how should I word it with out sounding like a jerk? This so far is my only "failed" commission thus far, and I just dunno what to do.

Comments

[skittlewolf.livejournal.com]

"Granted it was a little bit of a complex commission"

Relax. A month isn't that much time to wait ESPECIALLY if you got something complex, as you said. Artists are not machines ready to pop out commissions. It is annoying when an artists posts other things that are not your work but you have to remember sometimes they need breaks from a commission to work on something else so they don't get bummed out or anything with working on a piece continuously for awhile.

The lack of communication is annoying, yea. How many times are you messaging her? Are you pestering her? I know some artists are less likely to respond if you CONSTANTLY heckle them for progress.

[breakspire.livejournal.com]

did you guys agree on a deadline?

Personally I don't think it's soon enough to concerned, but maybe ask the artist to give themselves a deadline for it if there wasn't one.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

I'm kinda in the middle with this. For one, yes a month is short. But it all depends. Is this artist fast? How much art are they doing for themselves?

Artists deserve breaks, so it can be difficult to tell when it's becoming too much or not. Me personally, I reserve weekends and after 5pm as me time. So I could upload a lot of personal work from those times, looking like I'm not working but it's actually just "after work" for me.

For me, a month is a long time if you're at the top of my list. If at the bottom, then a month makes more sense.

[saitenyo.livejournal.com]

I agree with what others have said.

I definitely agree it depends, and it's hard to make an outside judgement call on this one. Most people doing online commissions are doing them as supplemental income and if they have full-time or part time jobs that pay the majority of their bills those take precedence. A commission that would take me only a few days if I focused all my time on it may take me a week or more because I have to work on it either in my free time or when there's a lull in my primary job's workload.

I do think the lack of clear communication is bad form on her part, and depending on just how much personal work she's churning out she could be behaving irresponsibly about this but it's hard to say without being in the situation myself. I'd maybe try getting her to be more communicative. Just be honest and say that her lack of progress on your commission is making you uneasy due to the other stuff she's uploading, and you wondered if she could give you a more concrete timeframe for it.

[dodger-greywing.livejournal.com]

Has she shown you any progress pictures at all? Like a photo of the sketch at the very least, to reassure you that she's at least started it? Because after a month, I would also be concerned that she hasn't even started it, especially since you're at the top of the commission queue.

[magusmanx.livejournal.com]

Personally, I would ask for some progress pictures with in like a week or so, and if they can't provide it, then I'd want a refund. Even a sketch or something would at least reassure you that she's working on it.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Patience goes a long way. If you mean to firm up a more rigid deadline contact her and let her know you want your piece sooner rather than later or a refund, but if you are willing to wait a little more than I'm sure your art will turn out better for it.

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

A polite note once a week to ask about progress shouldn't be out of line, unless the artist has indicated otherwise. At the very least, I'd ask to see progress shots of the piece before she goes uploading a final product. The lack of communication on her part isn't very professional.

That being said, a month isn't very long, especially considering this is, by your own words, a complex real media painting. Depending on the size of the piece, I'd say even a two or three month wait would be on the short side, unless the artist can work on paintings full time without burning themselves out. Patience would probably be your best bet at this stage, which I realize can be frustrating if the artist isn't keeping you in the loop on your commission's progress. If you haven't set any deadlines with the artist yet, I'd suggest doing so.

[drakenbyte.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I think I know the artist you are talking about. If it is that artist, I did a badge trade with them about four months ago, and got my piece finished up promptly I believe. After waiting 3 months for their half, I noted them, and they quickly sent me a rushed sketch of the badge that night, and then I never heard from them again. >:| I think this artist overwhelmed themselves with commissions, and then doesn't seem to consistently finish them, which seems to starting to build up. So I think you should prod them more. But I would totally ask for a rough sketch or thumbnails at the least within a soonish time frame.

[sunhawk.livejournal.com]

Just as an FYI, the time at which an artist announces they are going to do a project, like the soap one, it generally means they had the idea a good time before that and now they can finally go ahead with it, whether it was they were waiting for the materials to arrive or hadn't figured out the logistics or were saving up the money to do the project, etc. As well, there is no rule that says that artists can't work on other projects while they work on yours, as long as they finish your project in the timeframe that you both explicitly agree on. I generally have about five different projects going at varying stages of completion at any given time, as some things get put on hold as I wait for paint to dry/I wait for supplies to arrive/I'm waiting for the client to approve the sketch/etc.

I do think a month is not a huge delay for a complex acrylic commission, and she has been responding to you with updates so I would give her a chance to get it done. If it's really bothering you, ask for a specific time that you can both agree to have it done by.

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

i've traded with this artist before and got my end promptly! i think she's a pretty good egg. i hope things work out for you

Thank you every one!

[posterslapper.livejournal.com]

Every thing worked out JUST FINE. Thank you all for giving the advice! Thanks to every one I chose not to push on and I got AMAZING art in return. So I'm glad that I chose not to post names and cause drama. C: