problem

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

the situation has been resolved- thanks for everyone's advice. And thanks much for all the feedback.

Comments

[nicolyrezk.livejournal.com]

10 notes over four days?

Impatient much?

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

no it was more like- "Hi i was just wondering if you received my payment via paypal"

his reply-"i don't know"

my reply-"I sent using the email name@lj.com"

his reply"let me check"

my reply."ok"

his reply-"what email did you send it to?"

my reply- "hisemail@yahoo.com"

his reply-"did you use an lj email address?"

etc. it just took forever to get a response from him due to his curt short replies.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Did he give you a timeframe when you commissioned him? Because unless he specifically said "This will be done in X number of days" I think you haven't got a leg to stand on here.

A month is much shorter than most art commissions take. If you'd been waiting four or five months with that little communication, I'd say you have a problem, but as is, chill, quit bugging him, give him time to respond before you bother him again, (and "time" is not a few hours, "time" is a week,) and give him time to draw too!

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

very true but I still find a month for a sketch or any WIP is slightly aggravating.

[maui-dolphin.livejournal.com]

As far as I know he doesn't do WIPs
He's just a kid like they said and it's far to early to go complaining
I personally have issues with him as a person, but that can't be used to judge this situation.

[tiger-melanie.livejournal.com]

Any good/professional artist wouldn't sit there & say "well, they didn't set a deadline, so I can take 3 years"

Just because there wasn't a set date doesn't mean the person can just take off with the money & not provide any information on the status of the commission

[notveryathletic.livejournal.com]

Personally I did 2 with him, the first one took a couple of weeks, the second took him a few months to complete.

Give him a little while longer I say, but I guess the best thing now is to see what he says in reply to your last note and take it from there.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

ok thakns

[teekachu.livejournal.com]

I have to agree... a month is not a very long time at all. Just be patient, send a note once a week or something asking for an update, or use EMAIL (it's a little more reliable than just DevArt note system). Most of the entries on the community are people that have been waiting for months or years, so... just have some patience.

If you don't get any responses, good luck... doing business with a minor is kinda... a bad idea, in my opinion. Can't legally pin anything on them =/

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

thanks

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a month isn't very long. Give em some more time, I say.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

i know a month isn't a long time for a completed commission- but it's a long time to go without even letting someone know what's going on.

[xianjaguar.livejournal.com]

Agreed with everyone else.
You're being a bit impatient right now... a month isn't long at all for commissions.
It's rather premature to be posting in Artist's Beware at this point.

I'd just wait a bit longer...even another month or so isn't unreasonable.

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

1.) The kids 16. I wouldn't touch somone that young for commissions simply because they're not an adult yet, they have school, they may work, they're going through hard times (All 16 year olds do it seems!) and I don't think somone that young should be bothering with commissions right now. So maybe you should have taken a little more thought to the matter of having a child work for you.

2.) A month IS NOT VERY LONG. I've waited several months, some of my clients have had to wait several months. It could have taken him 2 weeks to start the commission, then 2 weeks to really work on it, or hell, maybe he hasn't had the time to start it. He should have updated you on this however, again, he's only 16 years old. He will be irresponsible, without a doubt.

3.) You never gave him a deadline, and he never gave you a timeframe. Kinda you're fault there...

4.) Before you take ANYTHING up with paypal you need to talk to the artist first. Paypal will literally laugh at you, if you havent shown them proof of trying to dispute this with the artist. Plus if you run to paypal and cry for your money back, that'd seem pretty low down considering the artist may not even know the extent of your anger or impatience. You need to make it VERY Clear to this kid that you would like some progress shots on the art, but also make it clear you understand he may have life-issues. Because it really is up to the client to do research on their chosen commission artist, and if you *havent* done that, this whole thing can be turned around to make you look like a bad client to work for.

and Lastly. 5.) You may have just pulled the ever popular "Intimidation" factor on this artist. Noting him over and over, then showing him proof of payment (When im sure the kid did get it) may have somewhat pushed him away from wanting to do your art for you. I know that whenever I've had a client that was impatient who noted me daily, or messaged me every hour, it certainly didn't make ME wanna do the art more. It made me a little standoffish and turned me off of working with them. I notice this a lot in young artists, you gotta be patient, and kind and they will return the favor with pretty art.

Can't emphasize this enough. He's 16. Please don't forget that, and give him a chance!

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

well the noting was not the constant- you done yet kind of thing- it just took forever trying to get an answer on whether or not he got the payment-

I'm not expecting a fully done commission in a month- but a month wiout even a sketch? no updates? not even an email saying- hey i haven't started yet, but it's next on the list.

I'm not mad, just concerned as to whether this was a take payment and run kind of thing.

[gymnopedie.livejournal.com]

personally, I think a WEEK is too long to wait for a SKETCH.
even thumbnails for approval before moving into a sketch, then over to a full blow piece.

again, it's personal opinion... but you might want to remind him that he should probably at least show you some work because you DID pay him in advance. Yes, he's 16, but if he's taking commissions, he needs to be responsible about keeping up his own reputation.

I just finished up a commission myself, though it was on the 250 dollar scale, so there was a slight bit more 'pressure' ;)... I sent her a sketch, she sent half the money.. did more sketches.. showed her, THEN I took a month without showing her anything because the way I was working, the painting was always wet ;) But I sent her updates "about 50% done, I did this and this and this".

I think before you go and reverse your money order, you contact him via email and tell him basically that you paid him, you need proof that he just didn't walk off with your money and no art.

Again, I don't work schedules of people that posted above me, but I agree 100%. ONE MONTH is TOO long to wait for just a sketch.

[gymnopedie.livejournal.com]

*adding

walk off with your money and no art. and give him a "Can I see a sketch by sunday, please?" kind of a timeline. or two weeks or what ever.. but START a time line with him and if he fails to show you work, THEN refund your money

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

THANK YOU! I'm not saying "he needs to cough up a 600DPI pic in two days" but a month is too long with no response as to whether or not he has even
started it. Thank you for seeing what i was getting at. I just wanted to know what i needed to do considering he hasn't said anything on the status of it- as far as i know he hasn't even started it- and 40 bucks is a fair amount of money- I can commission a traditional artist like moonfeather or someone else, i mean 40 dollars for a digital commission was a stretch- savce for an amazingly detailed mood theme, but I like his style so commissioned him.

[gymnopedie.livejournal.com]

yea.. 40 bucks is a lot for me too. that's half of a weeks worth of foodshopping and I just dumped 500 bucks on fixing my car :x

no responce is just unprofessional and a very bad habit to get into.. even the store that I'm working on getting a contract with fire off a "hey, I'm going away for 2 weeks, sorry about not replying to anything you may send" and they're not even commissioning me yet, we're still on the 'talking' phase.

just be as nice as you can.. he could have had some problems, but from what it seems from those notes, he's just being lazy/procrastinating.

for me, a month is a very, very long time without any communication, even if it doesn't involve any work being passed back and forth.

[theassassinnox.livejournal.com]

Looks like folks are on the same page for this one. I'm going to throw my $.02 in here as well.

Email him. A politely worded email is far better than several short notes on some third party page. A direct email asking if payment was recieved and trying to get an idea of when he will have time to work on your commission is not out of the question.

Waiting a month then plastering the guy's name on this community is not only premature, but in bad taste. Yes, he should work better with his communications, but you should make an honest effort to get in touch via email before you start mud slinging names into this community. A post here can be very damaging, and posting prematurely like this can hurt folks (especially young ones who are not yet established business wise).

As for the paypal thing- wait! You need to email th artist and talk to him before you take any actions like that.

Just try to contact him and be patient.

~S

[frisket17.livejournal.com]

I'm with what everyone else here. A month isn't a long time at all. I'll be frank, there's times I wait on commissions due to inspiration. I'm an anal perfectionist when it comes to working.

I can give quality or quickly. Very rarely both.--But ya. I agree with others. Patience :> -- and it's a bit harsh to slap his name up here already.

While $40 is a lot, in the grand scheme of things with him being a 16 year old kid, being only a month.. it was a bit inappropriate to put his name up here already :/

But I -do- understand how you'd be concerned.

Usually when I do my sketches, the final image (or at least the linework) is guarenteed to pop out. I don't do a ton of random sketches - not many people I know do...

[neolucky.livejournal.com]

I know noone who does a "ton" of pre-sketches. Infact, the most I hear about in my circle of people is about 2-4 tops, and even then thats always after payment, never before. I personally only do 1-2 sketches, but almsot always the first ones enough and the client says just go with it.

However that's not knocking those who do many pre sketches. To those who do, you're definatly better then I! I think if I did too many pre-drawings, I'd get pretty tired of the commission and then my add-like personality would find something else to doodle.

[frisket17.livejournal.com]

Yep. Exactly.
Normally when inspiration strikes for the commission, there's no need to do pre-sketches.. only the sketch skeleton for the art :)

And I'll admit, sometimes inspiration doesn't come :/ ...takes a bit. art isn't a switch to turn on (I wish though. Save me stress n' time) ^_^
Hate it when you're so revved to work on a commission... and yet nothin' comes out right. O_o;

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

i have tried contacting him via email- the only response I can solict from him is using notes through dA. I am not mad in any sense, just a little concerned about whether or not he has even started it and since there hasn't been any contact save for what little curt response I get from dA notes, I am a little uneasy about the whole thing.

[theassassinnox.livejournal.com]

I'd send one more email, and another note talling him to please check him email.

Beyond that, there isn't much advice I can give. Folks here know what their talking about.

~S

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

thanks

[dirtylittlelie.livejournal.com]

Sometimes it takes me a month or more (as some people on my commission list must know), but I do keep in touch with my commissioners. Most of them are (well...were. I finished most of their commissions) on one or another of my messengers and we talk every so often.
I don't think I've ever gone a month or more without at least letting the commissioner know what I was up to in my life or at least...you know...that I hadn't started it for one or another reason and hoping they wouldn't be angry.
And I never, EVER ask for money in advance. If the commissioner wants to pay me in full or just half beforehand, that's their business. Usually, I ask for payment after the sketch is done. That way, I don't have to hound after people when I'm finished for my money or for the other half.
Annnnnnd most of my commissions are very much under $40 unless the commissioner buys more than 3 things. :/ I don't think I undercut myself, though.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Funny.

Normally we see these events from the other side of the story when the artist posts about how this crazy customer sent over 10 notes in 4 days and is demanding a refund because he was unable to show a sketch in 20 days after payment.
The kid is 16, maybe he goofed and his mom took away computer privileges for a month. Maybe his scanner's broke and he's waiting to tell people until after it's fixed. Maybe he's busy with school.

Maybe your ADD/ADHD/bipolar-ness is making you impatient, take a chill pill.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

i know you want to voice your opinion as much as anyone and you have that right and I am not saying you don't- but that snide remark on my mental disorders was below the belt. my ADD and all that makes me have a short attention span as well as a horrible short term memory- it's lucky for me I even remember commissioning him at this point. There was no need for that last sentence in your comment.

Maybe your natural ignorance is making you short sighted, take a minute to learn about disorders before making assumptions, k?

[thaily.livejournal.com]

I know about disorders, I know people who have those disorders.
I know none of them flaunt their disorder and don't use it as an excuse for poor behaviour.

So, right back atcha about the assumptions :3

[zoom-gas.livejournal.com]

http://lougaraswifthrt.livejournal.com/145121.html
THAILY I THINK SHE WANTS TO KILL YOU.
BETTER WATCH OUT.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

obviously you don't- you don't suffer from one and obivously you don't know that a mix of different disorders can affect an individual differently according to chemical make-up of the brain or body stature and so forth.

Why don't you just go back to drawing oversized genitalia to appeal to your masses of 40 year olds who can't get laid?

[gothwings.livejournal.com]

At the end of the day, people have a life and, although my artwork is my main income at present, for most (even professional furry artists) it would appear that artwork is something they do *in their own time*.

Regardless of age, location, personal situation etc, one should always be courteous, patient and sensible about commissions. Sending money before any work has been done on a piece of art is always rather silly as far as I'm concerned *unless* there are expensive materials involved (such as is the case for fursuits) in which case a deposit for those expenses should be agreed upon. But that's a different matter.

I think that were I him, with the attitude you've struck of "a month is too long" I'd be rather annoyed and probably frustrated. He's probably at school right now and you must bear in mind that the hours he'll be putting in to attend school and do homework is in some cases more than a full time job.

As everyone here has said: give him time. I make only one controversial statement: Regardless of personal illness, I dislike individuals that use it as an excuse for unprofessional conduct as a customer or artist.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Seconded on the latter statement.

[ellychan.livejournal.com]

A month is nothing. Have you taken art que into consideration?

Is he working on more commissions than just your own?

If he's got an art que, it could very well be that he hasn't even started to sketch for you because he's got people in line infront of you.

S'like the DMV, take a number and be patient.

[penguin-boy.livejournal.com]

TRYING TO MATCH THE SIZE OF YOUR MOOD ICON

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

very funny

[penguin-boy.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I thought so too :3

[birdrock.livejournal.com]

IAWTC