Advice & Communication

[radiocatastrophe]

(LJ isn't allowing me to tag this)

Hello, I was recently enlightened about this group via FurAffinity and I think it's really handy, so far no one I've commissioned is on the list so I guess I'm doing something right!

Anyways, the issue at hand is that I've lost contact with a fur on FA by the name of Leeden, his banner won one of the 2012 (possibly 2011) entries (The Knowledgebase for banner history isn't up-to-date). On March 8th 2012 I commissioned him for a piece done of my fursona (Screenshot), he responded March 19th that he'd be glad to do the deed and apologized for the wait (Screenshot)(Payment). He stated in this note that he would provide sketches in the up coming days, I waited but I wasn't given any sketches (Screenshot). Not too long after my boyfriend and I went on a trip during the weekend of April 5th til the 9th, I sent out a mass message to all I was commissioning from at the time that I would possibly be unreachable during this time and I'd respond to any message once I returned (Screenshot). The message I sent to him is still unread (Screenshot). I also sent him an email (his paypal email assuming it was his main) asking if he had the sketches or a finished product (Email), I understood he was busy because he told me so when he responded to my commission request. I'd just like to get ahold of him in some shape or form, I've even contacted his most recent finished commissioner to see if there was any other way of getting ahold of him other than email or twitter. He's stated FA isn't a place his visits often so noting him there doesn't seem like something I can do since he hasn't even read my last note.

Any advice, ideas? From this my friend who referred me to him told me I should ask to pay half first and then half later either after WIPs/Sketches or the finished product, not saying he's a bad guy but this situation has gotten me into the grove of doing this with future commissions.

Updated Links:
Note #1 - Click
Note #2 - Click
Note #3 - Click
Note #4 - Click
Email Notice - Click
Payment Proof - Click

Comments

[kerstin-orion.livejournal.com]

Approved as a lost contact. However, none of the links to your screencaps appear to be working.

(p.s. I tagged your post for ya; only moderators can tag posts, here.)

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

Hm, that's weird they were all working when I uploaded them via LJ. Might be because I'm using my Twitter account or something.

Either way I got in contact with his friend/last commissioner who says he's dealing with personal IRL issues. I'll keep this updated as time passes and I continue to hear nothing from him.

I'll edit the links with Photobucket links though.

[skittlewolf.livejournal.com]

A lot of artists are going to ask you to pay up front. This is to prevent people from getting free sketches, work, etc. I can understand paying full after seeing WIP, but very very few artists are going to have you pay full after receiving the final work.

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

Yep, this. I don't know very many artists that will start work without seeing some type of payment.

Personally, I usually give the option of full payment up front OR half up front, half after a sketch.

[kerstin-orion.livejournal.com]

I believe the OP said they were planning on doing the half now/half later method, not all later?

"... I should ask to pay half first and then half later either after WIPs/Sketches or the finished product..."

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

Oh my bad. I think I read "half after sketch, half after WIPs or finished product."

Tired eyes. x_x

[kerstin-orion.livejournal.com]

Heh, you two threw me off at first, thinking I'd read it wrong when I approved it.

Don't do that to an old gray mare. ;P

[starcharmer.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I totally double checked it, too, before I posted my comment. And read it wrong twice somehow. Because I'm pro.

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

Oh no, I don't expect that from any artist. I usually ask now can I pay half first then the rest after I get the final piece.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

I just want to say, I applaud you for actually letting artists know that you'll be on vacation. I don't think I've ever had someone make sure to tell me, while I'd love for them to do, and some of those vacations were for weeks if not months long.

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

Thank you ^^
I thought it would be a good idea so they don't think I flaked on them and scrap my art without warning. I wouldn't want my money spent to go to waste and be refunded because of a bit of relaxation time with my boyfriend.