I'm at a loss.

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

I'm not really sure what to do about this situation :c

Okay so a while back the artist in question was taking sketch pages, they were doing them for fairly cheap and I admired the artist's style and work, and they had been very good with commissions from what I'd seen. It was basically me paying for a slot to be done on a certain day, and I didn't have to pay until the day came around. And I was totally fine with this, I agreed and all was well, when the day got close I went ahead and sent payment, figuring the artist would appreciate my prompt payment and would be delivering the art the day it was promised, since they'd done all the other ones in a fairly timely manner.

When the day came and I didn't get the art I was promised, I didn't think anything of it and gave it a day or so...

The original note that I sent to grab a spot was sent on: June 12th, 2011
The date of my sent payment: July 21st, 2011 only a few days before the payment's due date (July 23rd)

I still haven't gotten the art I was promised, They did do a few colored sketches as an apology, and offered a refund...But I really do just want the art I was promised. And they've been polite so no problems there, but it just seems like more and more reasons keep coming up as to why it isn't finished...And it is very frustrating to see them doing other personal art and commissions when they still owe me something from a year ago...They've been taking on a lot of commissions for different financial reasons and I do sympathize, I really do, but the fact is I was promised art a while ago and still haven't gotten it.

I don't really know what to do, I don't want to make this a beware because aside from MY commission they do good work for people...But that kind of just makes me feel worse. I sent them one last note because that is all I can think to do? They offered to do a different type of commission for me on the grounds that they didn't feel comfortable with the style of the ones they were doing, and I was totally fine with that, but I still haven't gotten anything.

I'm sorry if this doesn't go here I just need advice and I guess needed to get this out...It's been bothering me for a while, my friend too, as his character is also featured in the commission.

I guess what I want to know is...Is it worth waiting for my art or should I just get a refund? I love their art and would still love to get the finished products but...I just don't know.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for any help or advice you can offer. It is really really appreciated.

Comments

[radiocatastrophe (from livejournal.com)]

Since you sent another note I'd wait until a reply was given. If they agree to straighten up and get the commission done before completed others they've taken on give them a day or so to do the sketch and anything else they feel necessary to do (like the extra colored sketches) I'd even go as far as asking for a private Join.Me session if you both can agree on a time and no excuses pop-up.

Other than that a Beware seems reasonable, even if it's a cheap sketch you've waited over a year for your commission. I'm sure there's possibly others who they are promised art to and have no delivered, don't feel as if it's only you they could be doing this to.

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

Yeah I'm probably just going to wait and see before I do anything further, I really do like her and she is very nice and polite, but it seems like I(and possibly others, I don't know for sure) have been put on the back burner, and I don't think she's doing it to spite me at all, she doesn't come off as the type.

It was actually a 25$ sketch page, and to be honest I think she might of just taken way to many at once, the list was very long but I know a majority of them got finished. But there are still a few people that were ahead of me and I'm not sure if they got theirs.

I also refrained from actually naming the artist because I don't want to do that just yet, I want to wait until after I get a reply(she's out of town at the moment so I understand the wait)I wont go the final step to making a beware until I see what happens, I don't want to do this but if I have to I will do so for sure!

[catwithpen.livejournal.com]

If she offered a refund, maybe she feels she can't do for whatever reason. I would take the money and get the commission you want from another artist.

When she offered a different type of commission, when was that? before or after offering the refund? Maybe she thought she could do it in the new style and then realized she still can't do it. Maybe it's just a really hard pose or whatever.

Also when this offer was made, did you say you were taking the offer for sure? I'm assuming you did, but it's not clear from your post if you actually took the offer, or if you just liked the option better than the refund but didn't agree on anything yet.

If she's willing and able to do it, go with that, and make sure she knows that's what you want. If not, take the refund and find another artist to draw what you wanted.

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

She actually offered a couple of different alternatives, the first one was a switch from a traditional sketch page, to digital, which I replied that I would gladly accept it, and she mentioned really liking the characters and being eager to do it, so I waited a while before noting her again.

Then the second time she offered to do traditional again in a different style she'd been having fun doing, both time I agreed to this because I honestly didn't care what method she did it in, I just wanted her to do what was most comfortable for her, I don't like making artists do thing that make them uncomfortable like an outdated style or something.

I'm patient honestly, I waited months between each note because I didn't want to push and shove, I'll accept the refund if she ends up not going through, I'll understand, I'd just like to get something out of it ;w;

[catwithpen.livejournal.com]

I honestly can't tell if it's worth pursuing or not. It sound like she's both reliable and unreliable at the same time, and I don't know what to make of that.

Try this: email her again, let her know you would still like the art, ask what style she prefers, and set a deadline of no more than a month. If she feels she can't get it done by the deadline, accept the refund instead.

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

That's honestly the best way to describe it, reliable but unreliable, because when she does reply she offers new styles and things and I agree because I want to make it easier on her to complete it, honestly I will be happy with whatever she does, and if she ends up not feeling comfortable completing it, I will happily accept a refund with no hard feelings, I thing when she replies to this last note I sent I will make this clear so she knows she can back out if need be.

[teekchan.livejournal.com]

In my opinion, you should have waited until your day, and either have contacted her, or she contacted you. She may not have wanted to do anymore of that type.

I know a lot of people claim they want something and never follow through, so I don't count anything until I have payment, and when people send stuff without me asking for it, it really bothers me.

I advise getting a refund as she probably doesn't want to do your commission, and keeps pushing it back.

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

Yeah thinking back I should have waited, but she mentioned paying a little ahead of time, I guess I foolishly figured it wouldn't hurt. And she did mention she'd gotten burnt out on them which I did totally understand, I've had the same thing happen, she made a few offers to do it in different techniques that she was trying out and I happily agreed, I had faith in her so I didn't mind any experimenting being done!

If after this last note she doesn't then I will probably ask for a refund, honestly I would have understood if she told me she didn't feel up to it anymore, but I can also understand not wanting to say that to someone, as some commissioners can take that badly.

In hindsight I should have just waited until the day and contacted her, but since I was told it was acceptable to pay a day or so in advance, I just did that :c

[cyiakanami.livejournal.com]

I actually dealt with a similar situation back when I first started FA doing commissions. I took on this commission with some characters I didn't feel comfortable drawing. When I took the commission I thought I would be ok with them, but every time I went and looked over it I would get nervous and uncomfortable with it. Finally I approached the commissioner and stated my worries and so on and offered a refund.

They said they really wanted the art and encouraged me to try again. But that feeling at the time never went away and I finally told them again I would much prefer to refund you instead and finally they took the refund.

I'm not sure why I felt so uncomfortable about the whole situation but maybe that's what this artist is feeling perhaps?

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

That's kind of what I was thinking might of happened, I would totally understand if that was the case , I actually offered to give different characters if the ones I gave weren't working, since I can definitely sympathies feeling that way.

I guess I just wish there would be more contact given, like, being told if there's a problem or something? I'll probably make mention of this when she does reply, thank you all for the help though, I've honestly been stumped about this situation for a long while ;w;

[mrst4nkr.livejournal.com]

"They did do a few colored sketches as an apology, and offered a refund...But I really do just want the art I was promised. "

It sounds like they are telling you, without actually saying much, they're having a hard time with the characters- or just creating the work in general. The apology artwork and the offer of a refund is indicative that they are not that interested in completing the work but are trying to make it right by you. Maybe the project no longer interests them, or they can't find time to finish it for you-- and they just aren't good at saying no.

Don't push the artist if they don't want to do this. Let them refund you, or keep waiting for the art you want and hope that it comes as you had hoped. Don't get frustrated at the amount of time they're taking, as they tried to prevent you from waiting by offering you something else or refunding your money.

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

Nah I haven't really been pushing I don't think? I'm actually always nervous of this to be honest...I hate contacting anyone about things like this because I don't want to stress anyone out.

Frustrated isn't the exact right word I guess, I'm not frustrated, or even angry, I'll probably end up asking for at least a partial refund, since she did do those apology sketches, and I want her to keep some for that, if she ends up doing it then awesome but if not I wont force it on her, I'm not that kind of person :c

[mrst4nkr.livejournal.com]

I never said you were pushing or getting frustrated, but only indicated that it would be a bad idea to start. :D

I hope it all works out for you.

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

Oh no I know you weren't no worries there, sorry I worded that badly, I'm honestly terrified of every being pushy to any artist, it's probably why I wait so long before contacting them about it ;w;

Looking back at the last note I sent I made it clear that she was free to cancel and give me a bit of a refund if she didn't feel comfortable with the commission anymore, I don't see myself making a beware about her as I think this is just a case of the artist getting burnt out on it!

I really love and appreciate all the help and advice I've been given though, it's really helped me wrap my head around this situation as a whole, so I thank you all for that! :D

[ocelotish]

For me it's always odd to see a beware where a refund is an option (at least without horrible behavior).

While I can understand where it's... less than desirable to not complete a art piece you took on, it's not much when you compare it to not doing an art piece and not refunding. You're not actually out anything. For me it always puts a bit of a damper on the complaint too: how unhappy are you? Not unhappy enough to walk away with the same money in your pocket you came in with. You can walk away completely square at anytime.

While it's not the position of the community, I don't think it's generally a good idea to post someone up when a resolution exists. There are exceptions obviously (if they're being a complete jerk), but this case seems like the artist is pleasant to work with and is willing to refund you if you take it.

This seems more like a situation where you have to decide for yourself how long you're willing to wait. You can set a deadline for yourself and if you have no work at that time, ask for a refund. If the artist won't refund, post them up. However, you can't make the artist work, we can't make the artist work, only the artist can. However, you are responsible for keeping this transaction open.

A solution exists, you just don't want to take it. That's fine, but it's not really a "beware" of the artist; they're not wronging you.

(frozen)

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

This isn't a beware it's an advice post.

(frozen)

[ocelotish]

Yes, and there was discussion about making it a full beware/posting a full beware (here and in the main post). That's what I was responding too. It was on topic.

(frozen)

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

The only mention of a beware in the main post is where the OP says they don't want to make one, and it will be up to the staff to decide whether the post is valid or not should one be submitted. It is against a policy of this comm to question the relevance of approved entries.

[millislim.livejournal.com]

I do think the artist should have been upfront with you about not wanting/being able to complete your art but I do think the fact that they offered a refund and free art for your inconvienence is a nice gesture. I think you should take the refund. There is nothing that will sour a commission more than drawing something you really don't feel comfortable with. It sounds like they really don't want to complete it. I'm not sure the reason why matters, but nothing good ever comes from art produced this way.

[canilupine.livejournal.com]

This sounds a lot like the problem I'm having right now... Except I'm too much of a "nice guy" to really say anything about it. On the other hand, it's getting to the point where enough is enough and I really think I need to put my foot down.

[huntydamus belmont (from livejournal.com)]

:/ If the artist is offering colored sketches as an apology, it's a red flag. Not a bad red flag, but a sign that they couldn't meet or just didn't want to meet your requirements. I would've taken the refund as soon as they offered it to me.

As for the artist, they should have been more upfront and just denied your commission for whatever reason it might be and refunded you as opposed to sketches, etc. Though the gesture is not horrible, but it's not cool to lead a customer on.

Issue Resolved

[figgetywinks.livejournal.com]

Can this be marked as resolved? The artist and I talked and decided a refund will be the best route, I know it wasn't exactly an issue to begin with since there wasn't any real beware here but...

I'd like for it the be marked if possible because it is resolved peacefully and on good terms.

Re: Issue Resolved

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Only bewares get a resolved tag generally, since the artist was not identified it's unnecessary.