Need list of reliable furry artists.

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone.

Before anything else I want to say that many of the furry artists I've gotten work from have been good about meeting deadlines. I also want to say that they are all very talented. :) I also want to make it clear that while I do have a few pieces in the works right now, this post is not about all the artists I'm currently waiting for.

I don't want anyone leaping to any conclusions. :)

(If you are one of those artists and you are concerned just contact me directly.)

Now then, here's my problem.

I have had some serious problems getting work finished on time with a disheartening number of furry artists just lately.

I wonder if artists understand how important it is to complete work when they say they are going to?

For example, I often comish work as birthday gifts and I always make a point to do so at least a month in advance and usually more so. What happens a lot of the time is that I pay in full in advance and the artist promises to have the work completed by a certain time. Then the promised time rolls around and the work isn't ready.

This isn't an isolated incident either, it's happened a lot.

This puts me in a position I hate which is to nag because nothing is worse than having to give someone an IOU for their birthday.

Now as the mother of a special needs kid I totally understand that things don't go smooth. I get that, I do.

I am saddened to note however, that when I comish work from non furry artists the work is always on time. Every time. I've never had this problem with the non furry artists and I know a lot of them.

Additionally, I would not be at all upset if the furry artists in question simply didn't promise the work would be ready within a specific timeframe. If they'd be honest from the very beginning about having no clear idea when they'd be able to finish something I'd know they were the wrong person to comish for anything time sensitive. I'd probably still hire them for work too, just not time sensitive work.

I'm dealing with an artist right now who's driving me up a wall. They promised the work by May and here I am into June and needing the work very shortly with no idea if it'll be on time. Worst of all, this artist rarely returns email and never does so promptly.

It's just sad that I wind up commissioning non furry art more often because the non furry artists have a better track record when it comes to reliability.

I want to change that.

So here's where I need your help.

Can you guys help me compile a list of furry artists with an excellent track record for meeting agreed upon deadlines?

I generally commission 15-20 pieces a year, (general, not adult) and would love to give my business to artists who can get work done on time.

Thanks!

Comments

[moonstone-wind.livejournal.com]

Depending on what you want/ request ive been good myself on meeting deadlines when given for art. If you want to get to know me more feel free to ask round, or email me at moonstonewind @ gmail.com

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll keep it in mind. :)

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

i'm good with a specific deadline. it's the "oh, get it finished whenever" trap that i fall into.

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Lol..so noted. :)

[joecifur.livejournal.com]

i admit i very rarely declare deadlines, but for what it is worth i personally have gotten things of good quality rather quickly from:

-balaa
-hibbary
-kaided
-skulldog
-korrok
-jill0r
-painted-dog

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much for the list! :)

[thaily.livejournal.com]

A lot of furry artists aren't professional artists and thus aren't used to deadlines. Professional artists can meet deadlines, but they often also cost more, so people have to weigh their options.
Do they want it comparatively cheap or pay more and receive their work on time?

Personally I would definately recommend Ursula Vernon, real pro in every aspect.
http://www.metalandmagic.com/

[thaily.livejournal.com]

And oh, experience tells me I can make deadlines ;P

[darkwulf787.livejournal.com]

I'm an honest person. If I actually am given a deadline, I'll get it done by or before that deadline. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. I'm actually open for commissions currently and will be for a while. You can take a look at my work at the following URL: http://www.darkwulf787.deviantart.com

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Your work looks great. :) You may be hearing from me once I get the current batch of art cleared.

(A lot of the work in this group looks great..lol.)

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Wish I could help out, but the only artist I know who is 100% on deadlines has gone completely pro, and no longer takes commissions for individuals, as she does stuff for large companies now, and is too busy.

I think a lot of people really have no idea how to be professional. (I try, I'm not there yet, but I stopped taking art commissions years ago, I just do fursuits now.) As that one 100% artist I mentioned said, the deadline is God. you never, ever, ever miss a deadline if you want to be a pro.

[dirtylittlelie.livejournal.com]

I try not to have deadlines on my art, as with school I very rarely am able to finish things by when I say if it's a complicated piece or something I'm not used to drawing. I actually have a birthday gift commission at the moment that was supposed to be for a birthday last year, but is turning into a birthday gift THIS year. I always feel terrible about things like this, so...I try not to have deadlines.
Hopefully that will all change now that I've graduated! :D

Anyway, I've commissioned Karzrave a couple times and she's always on time. I do it every year for my boyfriend's birthday.
Wolvenillusion is pretty well on time, I think.
Alblage on deviantart.
Poofmongoose (doesn't really do furry art, I guess)

That's all I can think of at the moment. :3

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[beechan2.livejournal.com]

I'm a stickler for meeting deadlines, and if something comes up that really cannot be helped, say like my family or my main job or some other kind of emergency, I try to inform my customers. As a general rule, I like to keep in touch with my customers through every step of the commision process, from start to finish. That way, the person commisioning me knows whats going on and how far along I am.

I know more non-anthro and general artists on a personal level *general as in artists whom will do both anthro and human, but don't fit in either catagory of either fur or skin, such as myself*. But from what I've seen and whom I have talked to, the people I would trust with doing commisions on time are Aida *Akaineko*, Bandit *banditdemon. She has, however, removed her website, all online art gallery accounts, and the such. She can still be reached though, if I'm allowed to give out her contact information*. There is also Majime, Emmm *name on FA, has the online comic called "Y?"*, and Maygikal.

~~Bee

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

I appreciate the list and also appreciate any artist who stays in touch and keeps me abreast of delays and suchlike. That's a great trait to have! :)

[llamafluff.livejournal.com]

Try the community artistrecommended for some ideas or to ask?

[llamafluff.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I'll try again: artistrecommend

[mottenfest.livejournal.com]

I like to think I'm pretty good at keeping deadlines. <3

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

So noted. :)

[martes.livejournal.com]

vickimfox and "Moldred" both commission tons of work, and might be able to help if you email them.

It's been a long time since I commissioned anyone, because I got sick of dealing with flakey artists. I can tell you a couple people to avoid like the plague, due to numerous complaints both on this board and elsewhere:

Starfinder
Brian O'Connell

I have an additional dozen or so names I could list, but don't want to start a flame war. If you're interested in who ripped me off, took a million years to finish, or was a horrible flake, email me. (roz.gibson _at_ gmail _dot_ com)

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Email sent, thanks. :)

[ratbat.livejournal.com]

not to sound like an ass, but I only meet deadlines if its a company. Thier really is no reason to "rush" on a peice of work that cannot be put into a professional portfolio (and yes, I said it. Most Furry does not look good in the professional portfolio)Or published in a monthly product. But with that said, I take a long time with my own art as well. I also dont take lists of people, I take only one client at a time because I know how long i take. as with thaly said though you really have to weigh your options, pay for quality and speed, or accept that you might be waiting for a while.

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

That would be fine if the artists in question did not claim that a piece could be finished within a certain timeframe or even promise to complete it within a certain timeframe.

If that's an artist's attitude then said artist should not take comish work and should state flat out that even though they accepted your money, the results are a low priority for them.

[saitenyo.livejournal.com]

If I'm given a deadline I will meet it. And as much as I hate doing it, if I've got free time, I can power through a commission in a few days. But kudos to you for giving people a month's notice. That really ought not to be a problem for most of the work I see commissioned. Oil paintings take longer because of drying time, but if we're talking any other real media/digital, then most artists can get it done in a month no problem...so long as they're good about meeting their deadlines. As Thaily said, the issue is probably due to the fact a lot of furry artists commission as a side hobby or for extra cash, as opposed to being professional artists/freelancers.

I've only commissioned two artists before, Kilojara and Balaa. Both were very prompt.
http://kilobitegraphix.com/
http://balaa.deviantart.com/

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much for the links! (Yeah, it's usually a standard badge sort of comish. Ink or pencil or what have you.)

[dreamaria.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty good at meeting deadlines :) I've done a few pieces for birthdays, Christmas, etc...I usually finish it early so corrections can be made and stuff ;)

http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Dreamaria/ Most of my commssions are "adult" so most of the "good" stuff is there, but I'd be more than happy to get away from it and draw some general stuff =)

[mistystriker.livejournal.com]

As long as I'm given suitable notice, I can meet a deadline. Though it also requires contribution on the commissioner's side of things by being able to respond to my emails of questions or approval sketches in order to have me done on time. I've had it happen before where somebody wanted something done by a certain date but didn't respond to my email asking for his approval on a sketch.
My art can be found on my site, along with my commission prices.
http://furfetchd.furrynet.com/

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[coyotewings.livejournal.com]

- Kacey Miyagami (http://kaceym.deviantart.com/)
- ThornWolf (http://thornwolf.deviantart.com/)

Those are the two people I've delt with as far as deadlines were concerned, atleast those are the ones I can remember right now. :P
They did an excellent job, and even got everything to me AHEAD of time, by quite a bit.

[gearpony.livejournal.com]

I second thornwolf. She has a fast turn over rate for completing comissions, and she's very professional about her work.

[kaputotter.livejournal.com]

Sadly, the majority of the furry world just does not grok the concepts of time management, budgeting, and deadlines. I'm not surprised at all, considering that furry is primarily a hobby, and there are a great deal more working professionals with knowledge of that dynamic in non-furry fields.

Best of luck with your pursuits -- my only advice is to always commission trusted individuals whom you know will give you your money's worth, on time.

[digitalis.livejournal.com]

I work professionally as an artist both full time and freelance, and if you choose me for a comission you will be treated in a professional manner as well. :)
I meet my deadlines, but I'll also be realistic and say right now that any comission I take more than a sketch or black and white piece will not be completed until late August. But once a deadline is agreed upon, it is not missed.
You can see some of my work at www.lynntendo.com, or email me for a sample or my anthro work. Some of it is also up on artvark under the name Lady Foxglove.

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

So noted. :)

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

check at the artistrecommend comm I started up. There are a lot of artist, mostly furry who have recommendations for being timely and efficent.

I'm sorry you have been having a bad time with artist meaning deadlines. I hope you will find a good artist to redeem your opinion.

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

I'll check it out, thanks. :)

[kjorteo]

I don't commission a lot of people, and the ones I do commission tend to run late.

However, I can say that, while it took forever to actually get the thing started (was on his waiting list for almost a year,) Lysozyme was awesome on the turnaround once it was underway.

[azuredoragon.livejournal.com]

If it's general art, then I'm good at making deadlines, or at least I'd like to believe, it's the adult ones that take me more time and I can't decide the times cause my room is open to everyone and it makes it hard to draw that stuff when there's other people around c.c

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. :)

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Don't bother with me then, I'm lousy with deadlines, I'm still looking for a commission I was doing last month that I somehow managed to lose (I think a friend moved it and now I can't find it), I'm also known as Subversive-imaginati or subimagine.

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

LOL..honesty is good.

Also, I don't always have a deadline.

Only for time specific stuff like birthdays and what nots. :)

[aaaamory.livejournal.com]

I'm good at meeting certain kinds of deadlines, like I don't always make it when I say I'll have a sketch sent out before I go to bed and end up sending it the next day or the day after (I'm working to change that, though). I do have a reliable history of getting them done when the commissioner requests a date, "I really need to have it by Valentines!" Those kinds of deadlines I really put everything aside for.

I never, ever have avoided responding to emails.

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Good to know. :)

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I've never had a commissioner give me a deadline before, they pretty much always tell me no rush. But I don't think I've ever taken longer than a month under normal circumstances to complete a commission.

I'm pretty sure if someone were to give me a deadline that I'd be able to meet it unless something serious happened in my life, but I'd like to assume anyone who commissions me could understand not getting their art immediately if I'm in the hospital or something. :P

I like to keep in constant contact with my commissioners, and will tell them if something will take longer than I thought. But there have been a lot of cases where commissioners were unresponsive themselves, and I'd imagine it's hard to meet a deadline when you send someone an approval sketch and they don't reply for weeks. But it doesn't sound like that'd be the case with you, at least. :)

http://www.kayla-la.deviantart.com in case you're interested, though I don't post all of my stuff online, so there's not too many recent pieces of art in my gallery.

Anyway, I think it takes effort on both sides, but most people draw this stuff as a hobby, and probably don't feel the need to place their own strict deadlines. If you're commissioning someone for something time sensitive like a birthday gift, make sure you tell them that (I'm assuming you do, though). I personally would want to get it done as soon as possible because I'd feel horrible if I caused someone to miss a timely birthday gift!

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Hospital is totally understandable. Communication about various life emergencies is fine. It's when they go poof with no explanation that's tiresome. Also, I frequently don't have a deadline. It's just that when I do and if the artist agrees to meet it I tend to want it actually done. :)

[caishide.livejournal.com]

i agree with thaily about the whole proffessional (furry and nonfurry are both easy to find) versus nonproffessional (about a million furries and anime fans)

it's less that furry artists are unreliable, and more that there is such a huge pool of furry artists available for commissions them that you're bound to find quite a few unproffessional ones who can't meet deadlines for every proffessional one

i've found a great percentage of commissionable affordable furry artists are in the 16-22 age range before maturity has enough of a time to grow and sink in. (not that everyone in this range is unreliable, but you know what i mean)

and i don't know what you mean by 'lately' but if it helps shed light on the situation; anthro con is coming up and school (highschool and college) just had its graduation ceremoneis and let out for the summer. so artists in that agerange or with an interest in anthrocon might be absolutely SWAPED right now (not that it excuses it, but it might explain it)

[leswamp.livejournal.com]

Again, none of this would be a problem if some of the artists did not promise work by a certain time or agree to work by a certain time and then vanish. O.o