(no subject)

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

It's been a YEAR since I paid 17$ for two LJ icons from chapeljax and I still haven't seen them, or the lineart/sketches he'd said he'd "done but can't color due to no tablet". Now...that pertains to digital coloring...but he could always try and color them with real media.

I can't get money all that easily, and I try to trust who I'm paying, especially if they seem to be popular, but friendly, like this guy.

I could always ask for my money back, but I've been told I won't get it, or I'd only get half of it back.

What should I do guys?

I have read his journal and the posts he's made, but waiting a year for icons is too much for me, and I'm normally a VERY VERY patient person. so..yes..what do I do?

I should note I have nothing against him personally. Just to clarify!

Comments

[drake-anaya.livejournal.com]

I don't think that requesting a realmedia commission in place of the digital commission is a reasonable alternative, as realmedia can easily take much longer timewise, and I know I personally charge more for realmedia because of the supply costs for colored pencils and the like.

Who has told you that you won't get your money back? Other people, or Chapeljax?

Some more information on the communication you've had with this artist might be helpful. A year IS a long time to wait for icons, but how well have you been keeping contact with them? have you personally asked for a refund? etc etc
I think you posted about this here before, but I don't remember all the details.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I talked to them once before in Jan/Feb, and they had forgotten about me because I payed via snail-mail, so I had to resend my info. I'm also told I'll have them in a couple weeks...and that didn't happen. I've also commented in there LJ asking about the icons (several times) and got no answer as of yet.

As for the money issue it was other people, so I'm not quite there in listening to that just yet. And I posted about this sometime in december or january I believe.

[crssafox.livejournal.com]

Real media in place of coloring digitally is not an unreasonable request when the commission is just a simple icon.

Assuming he's not doing full-sized sketches of the characters, then scanning and coloring digitally.... a small sketch would be no prob to ink and color using real media. Heck, I do it all the time with con badges... All you need is a quick inking, lay down base color with marker and do highlights and shadows using colored pencil, and you're done with one in less than an hour. And if the sketches are already done, then the majority of the work is done - half the trouble is getting the sketches to look right. ;P

I'm assuming that a digital icon commission wouldn't be all super-detailed; nor should the real-media substitute be overly complicated. A quick coloring job, and scan the image... He doesn't even need to send the original, since the commission was for an icon in the first place. (You don't exactly get "originals" with an icon... you get the icon, and that's it.)

[chapeljax.livejournal.com]

Eh, I'm really not all that great IMO with real media, and don't think I could replicate my digital look in realmedia. Especially with something so small.

[theassassinnox.livejournal.com]

Give him an email. He is super busy and doesn't currently have a working tablet. You will get your icons. They are just on hold right now.

He can be hard to contact. I'd send him and email and check base. If you like, I bet he would refund your money.

A weekly email is not out of the question at this point until contact is made.

~S

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I'll give it a shot..but I'm not sure what to expect :X

[banrai.livejournal.com]

I already told you what I thought about this situation in your LJ.

I think it's utter bull that you're being ran around like this, as well as being taken advantage of with the money situation. You've always been an awesome customer with me, and I know how wonderful you are to work with, as well as how good with communication you are. I have no doubt that you've done the same with Jax.

By the way, your origional post is here: http://community.livejournal.com/artists_beware/64403.html

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Thanks pal..and wow..the old post still exists?? XD

[skulldog.livejournal.com]

I had a friend who's still on Jax's suit que, he was promised multiple times that the suit would be done before FWA, then that the suit would be shipped to the con center during FWA. FWA passes, and the suit is still not done, possibly not even in time for AC, I'll have to wait and see this weekend.

Jax took on a lot more work than he should have, and has admitted to it. I can understand the broken tablet, but a year is way more than one should wait on something small. This isn't a suit, this isn't a large project.

I'd send more email, be a little more demaning (Though nicely) and say you want to see at least INKs soon.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I tried that once...and I had to resend my info and was told then I'd see them in a couple weeks :X Didn't happen obviously..

[lupusetgruis.livejournal.com]

I can understand the broken tablet, but a year is way more than one should wait on something small.

Especially when you could just use a mouse for digital colouring.

[moonstone-wind.livejournal.com]

Sadly Ive no trust in him after a bad commission fall thru waiting 9 months for paws I can imagine your flustration over icons. And im sorry your getting treated unfairly.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's unfair, it's just the "year wait already" has gotten to me :X (and I"m good about waiting for stuff I really want and all). It's not the icons themselves, but that it takes me awhile to save for something I see that I like :X

[rapytur.livejournal.com]

Dang. You seem like a nice person/great customer too. ;;

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

I am :(

I pay when I'm supposed to, and I always respond to e-mails quickly :X and I'm almost borderline-insanely patient x.x

[banrai.livejournal.com]

She is. As I said in my reply, she's one of the greatest I've had the pleasure of working with. She's one of the only people that I take their word for, when sending money, 'cause I know she's always good for it.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear he jsut sort of brushed you off like that Shin. I do hope the matter gets resovled. Maybe this post will be what it takes for him to either refund your money or get you your icon.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping :X

[ex-midnightf139.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear you've had a bad round like this. I hope everything will get worked out somehow. Good luck!

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[gothwings.livejournal.com]

Were I in your position, I wouldn't have waited a year for just an icon, that seems ridiculous. I don't think I'm familiar with this artist, but I do know there is a Jaxx or Jax-god-of-yaoi or something like that who does very nice digital artwork, to look at, it's well worth the money.

What I would suggest is that if he doesn't refund you or provide the artwork already paid for that you have to write this one off and not commission him again. Also, as you have here, inform other people maturely and sensibly of the risk involved when commissioning him if they ask for information or other commissioners experience with him.

Here's hoping that he's just got really badly snowed under with projects and can complete your artwork for you. I wouldn't commission him again though.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

That's the guy. Jax-god-of-yaoi. Last time I posted I told them to beware, as they MIGHT get forgotten like I did when I e-mailed him once.

[grygon.livejournal.com]

that's a lot of $ IMO for 2 simple 100X100 icons. O.o my sympathies.

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

He's a decent artist..so I was willing to pay...but now I'm regretting it :X

[evlclosetvortex.livejournal.com]

Jax is busy XD haven't you already made this post twice before? Are you trying to get some sort of reaction, Shin?

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Once over 6 months ago. I'm not trying to get any sort of reaction. Just what I was promised, that's all :X