Advise regarding no contact from commissioned artists

[ambeebear.livejournal.com]

I have a question and I'm hoping it's okay to ask it here. It's regarding artwork I paid for and have not received.

My question is two-fold. Firstly I commissioned an artist about 2 years ago for a sketch when he was "down and out" and he kept saying he'd get it to me and never did. Finally about a year later he sent me a full colour pic that was near completion (lacking details and shadowing) for my approval. I was surprised as I'd only paid for a sketch but thought perhaps he'd felt bad and did a little extra. I said the work was great and to proceed with final details. I've never heard from him again and it's been another year. I don't really know how to approach him at this point or if I should put his name down on this group for others to be wary of him.

Secondly I commissioned some artwork from a few different artists (4 or so) about a year ago. I didn't receive the artwork from them although no time line was specified in any of the four cases. I went offline due to real life issues for about 6 months (Sept-January) and I've just come back online and begun checking up on FA again. None of the 4 have put up my artwork, e-mailed it to me, or contacted me regarding it. I don't know how to word a pm to them asking if they are still doing it as I feel bad for dropping off FA for so long. Any advise people have would be really helpful.

Thank-you, and again I'm sorry if this isn't what this group is for, please let me know and I'll remove my post from here.

Comments

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

You don't have the go into personal details. For the 4 that you were gone for, did you already pay them? If so, contact them politely and just say something like:

"Hey, I'm so sorry for dropping out of contact. I commissioned you for *insert commission here* way back on *what date you paid (take it from your paypal records)* I know it's been a while since we last spoke, I'm still interested in the commission. would it be possible to have you finish it, or if it was finished to receive the final product? If neither of those are possible, may I have a refund? Again, I'm really sorry about the lost contact."

As an artist, I might be confused, but I wouldn't be grossly upset by it. You might end up at the back of the queue though--if you did that to me it would be put under the low priority part of the list.

As for not posting, they might have had questions for you before finishing, I know I show commissioners in stages before continuing on and have personally had 2 cases with people just dropping off the face of the earth...one who paid me a lot + shipping beforehand too! Utterly confusing. It's hard with the internet though, I generally assume it was ill-health or unfortunate circumstance leading to no internet.

I'd just poke the first artist, it would not be fair for you to out him as a bad artist without either a warning first or the possibility that maybe he didn't finish because you had disappeared. I know I would take a "beware" like that with a very large and bitter grain of salt. My first response would be "you did talk to him first right?" Especially since he did the color picture, even if it wasn't finished. It sounds like bad communication on both ends, so I wouldn't judge too harshly.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Pretty much this.

I don't think there's anything to say other than "I'm sorry I dropped off the face of the planet, but I am still interested in getting my art."

Also I agree about the first artist. What, exactly is there to beware about him? Yes he took a very long time, but he's already drawn more than you paid for, since even unfinished color work is more than a sketch, so what has he done that's worth a beware? If you haven't even asked him about it, then honestly it is as much on your shoulders as on his. Sure in an ideal world all artists would remember all commissions and get them all done without any prompting, but this isn't an ideal world, and a year without you even asking means he's probably forgotten you and the commission exist at all.

[neive.livejournal.com]

I agree she should ask him about it, however he never did finished it...and also back to maybe she just wanted a sketch instead of color? I've seen people bring that up before when an artist confuses a commission or something or goes on without approval why the commissioner might be a little unhappy with it because of potential style differences. I dunno, I can just kinda see more than one view to it anyway as to why it could be bad.

And since she did give him the okay right away to go ahead and finish it before she vanished, it is kinda "Erm" that he never finished it afterward? But yeah, she definitely should have prodded again in the span of that next year.

Though overall definitely more work than paid for and something is better than nothing. :)

[stormslegacy.livejournal.com]

Totally agreed on the style thing, I left that out but meant to include it. Work should be the work agreed upon and any upgrades should be asked about first--one shouldn't just assume that someone wants something more than what they asked for.

I know there are plenty of artists where I love their chibi work or their cartoons but don't at all care for their realism despite it taking longer or being "worth more."

I didn't mean to come off as "well, even unfinished you should be happy he colored it" because that is definitely not how I feel--if someone wants a finished looking sketch and you do quickly done scribble coloring on it IMHO you've ruined the sketch if you don't finish. It's not a matter of "Oh, well you bought 2 hours of my time and I gave you 3, be happy" because the finished product is not what was agreed upon.

[punkbawkchicken.livejournal.com]

As far as the first artist go---You got more then you originally paid for and should just leave it be. That first artist is not really a beware at all :|

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

I agree with what punkbawkchicken say's about the first artist.

As for the others I would be contacting them and asking them. Assuming you paid the the commission I would be asking for the art or a refund.