Advice Needed!

[spreebok.livejournal.com]

Hey all, longtime lurker, first time questioner! Anyway, I'm in a bit of a pickle and need some advice as to what to do. It's been a yearly tradition that on the Ukfur Forums, we have a group picture commissioned of those who want to be in it and pay. The 2011 picture was organized by a member, and all appeared to be going smoothly. Towards the end of last year, we still hadn't seen anything from the artist, and after a bit of a stink was kicked up, the original organizer was banned from the forums. This is where I come in, as I offered to take up acting as a point of contact and see the picture through till the end. After a bit of prodding, I got the background of the picture sent to me (this has taken about 6 months if I recall), and I presented this to the Ukfurs. Anyway, since then, contact has been very sporadic with the artist, with the occasional note. I have twice been promised updates but have no received them. The artist gave me their skype but I've yet to see them on it. Artist was paid upfront by each participant, to the tune of £5 each. I believe it came to about £300? The deadline was pretty much the start of the year, and about a year from the start all we have is a background. If I recall, the artist is suffering financial issues, and is continuing to take on commissions and streaming. Basically, what do? I literally just offered to be a point of contact because I thought it was progressing well, so I'm a bit stumped really. I really wish I hadn't taken this up, but I didn't know about these issues at the time, and I'll admit, I'm really inexperienced with dealing with problems with commissions, as everyone I've commissioned so far has been awesome to work with!

Comments

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

Since money is involved and the artist has been paid upfront, they're obligated to make with the goods. You could send them a note, reminding them of that while being sympathetic to their money issues - that sort of thing totally happens! - and setting a deadline for completion or refund, if the artist just can't afford the time to do the work.

It sounds like the art might be the preferred outcome, so I hope that the artist comes through for you!

dang

[millislim.livejournal.com]

If all that was done is a background and the preferred outcome is the art not the refunds I would get a list together of everyone who purchased a slot so that, if they lost the info about who was in the group pic, they can have a master list. Also, if they're streaming other commissions, try to catch them since they're not answering notes and are not available on skype. Did they have other contact info like another email or a DA account you can try to reach them at? Final straw maybe to post a shout...pretty hard to ignore those and if he/she does? They may not be trying to complete the art. It's one thing to be on hard financial times but if you're paid you work...simple as that. If the picture being completed is the main goal and this artist TOTALLY drops the ball have there been any other artists in your forums that may step up to the plate? If there are multiples maybe split up the work load?

quick question/request:
is there a link to that forum to see what was promised in the £5 buy in? Was it for sketches? Full color? Inked? Chibi's? Detailed?

Re: dang

[spreebok.livejournal.com]

Yeah, see, they do reply occasionally, and I understand that this has probably become that monkey on their back, like a massive block, and I have sent them a firm note telling them it's gotten a bit silly, and it would be best if they just prioritized that and got it out the way, to which they responded agreeing.

I don't think they are purposely ignoring me as in, ignoring because no intention to finish the art, I believe it more a case of it's just snowballed on them.

There is a link, but it's a signup to see forum, and I'd rather not name just yet. We have a list of everyone, and it was £5 per full character, digitally done and coloured in SAI.

Re: dang

[kawaiipiepie.livejournal.com]

Crikey. I'm not excusing them, cause they agreed to it, but I can understand them feeling overwhelmed at needing to draw 60(?) full body, full colour characters in one picture, with a background to boot.

Re: dang

[spreebok.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is why I don't wan to name and shame, because if they're having trouble, drawign that many is pretty daunting.

And looking at the list, I think it's actually in the region of 120+ furs o___o So yeah, lots of money but lots of work! To lessen this, due to the nature of the picture/BG (a giant fair ground) they don't have to be omg super detailed, because it's a large view, and characters will be covered or partially hidden by others on the rides and such. It's a massive workload really :

Re: dang

[kawaiipiepie.livejournal.com]

Holy moly, a fair ground?! 160 characters?! If I'm honest it's not a lot of money at all for that amount of work. If I was them I.. well I wouldn't have agreed to £5 a character for a start lol. But I'd be tempted to refund if possible. I imagine they're in a pretty.. stuck situation where they probably want to refund but can't afford it. But I mean, that's just me guessing and assuming.

Re: dang

[solalia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's an incredible amount of work for that small amount of money.

Re: dang

[spreebok.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it, frankly, if someone offered me the gig I'd laugh at them!

Re: dang

[keeperofdreams.livejournal.com]

True, but they still took on the commission. Just because they can't do it or undercharged themselves doesn't mean they're off the hook.

Re: dang

[bakasam.livejournal.com]

Just want to add that the artists named their own prices and what exactly they'd be drawing for the amount paid.

Re: dang

[spreebok.livejournal.com]

Mhm, yeah, I forgot about that, thanks :D

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

Maybe next time you all can have a smaller image with less furs being featured? Unless the artist agrees to adding more slots, there should be a minimum for situations such as this. I would never be able to do detailed full body colors of over 160 different furs (everyone knows how exotic people have to get) plus a detailed fair ground with them doing different things in different poses. If anything you all should ask artists to do pre-posed auctions.

[spreebok.livejournal.com]

See, I'd have no problem with that, but I'm not the one who organizes it :

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

Maybe management should organize it together? And think over what can be done so not to have issues like this in the future.