Advice.

[NobodyGotTime4Dat]

This is more or less similar to a previous thread I made here...it's in regards to someone whom I commissioned for an art piece. Don't want to say much about this person just for the sake of their privacy, but here's the gist of it:

An artist whom I follow on a social media platform had to move from Puerto Rico to the U.S. due to what happened there with the hurricanes. As such, commissions were obviously closed during this time. He's still getting used to living in America, but so far he seems to be in much better shape than he was when he was trying to survive during the hurricane aftermath. He now posts on a completely different (but just as popular as the previous one) social media platform.

A month ago he finally opened commissions, stating that he really needs the money after what has happened so far (which is understandable). As such, I sent him a PM and paid the invoice on April 21.

I sent him a PM a few days ago just asking out of genuine curiosity how long it usually takes for him to finish an art piece. I even told him that I could (obviously) wait by all means, I just usually ask this to artists when they don't write in their ToS the estimated/expected time it takes to finish a drawing.

He's read my messages already but still hasn't responded to them yet. At first I thought it was because he hadn't logged in to his social media for a while but he's very well active; he barely reblogs anything on his front page but going through his "likes" feed shows that he's liking multiple posts every day. I sent him another message a few days ago asking if he got my previous messages---he's read that as well but still has not replied. And for the record it never takes him a long time to reply back.

I dunno. Maybe I'm just acting impatient, but would it be cool if I sent him another message kindly asking him not to leave me on read like that, or what? I'm not trying to get him to rush on the pic or anything, literally all I just want him to do is to reply to my question that I originally had for him.

[Dethmetal]

My advice would be to just give them time, it sounds like they have been through a lot recently, and though they may claim to be doing okay now chances are that life may still be hectic for them. As for social media and such, those things are Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, just cause it says they saw the message doesn't mean they actually did. Artists are often being continually bombarded by messages from numerous people, both commissioners and not, so it is entirely possibly that your inquiry could have gotten lost amidst a potential flood of others. However, asking them to change how they use or have such social media set up could be seen as quite rude, to be honest.

My suggestion would be to give it a bit more time and if you still haven't heard back then send another message politely inquiring if they received your previous message, and briefly restating the question you had asked in it.

I'm sure that after all they have been through a little patience and understanding would be most appreciated.

This is more or less similar to a previous thread I made here...it's in regards to someone whom I commissioned for an art piece. Don't want to say much about this person just for the sake of their privacy, but here's the gist of it:

An artist whom I follow on a social media platform had to move from Puerto Rico to the U.S. due to what happened there with the hurricanes. As such, commissions were obviously closed during this time. He's still getting used to living in America, but so far he seems to be in much better shape than he was when he was trying to survive during the hurricane aftermath. He now posts on a completely different (but just as popular as the previous one) social media platform.

A month ago he finally opened commissions, stating that he really needs the money after what has happened so far (which is understandable). As such, I sent him a PM and paid the invoice on April 21.

I sent him a PM a few days ago just asking out of genuine curiosity how long it usually takes for him to finish an art piece. I even told him that I could (obviously) wait by all means, I just usually ask this to artists when they don't write in their ToS the estimated/expected time it takes to finish a drawing.

He's read my messages already but still hasn't responded to them yet. At first I thought it was because he hadn't logged in to his social media for a while but he's very well active; he barely reblogs anything on his front page but going through his "likes" feed shows that he's liking multiple posts every day. I sent him another message a few days ago asking if he got my previous messages---he's read that as well but still has not replied. And for the record it never takes him a long time to reply back.

I dunno. Maybe I'm just acting impatient, but would it be cool if I sent him another message kindly asking him not to leave me on read like that, or what? I'm not trying to get him to rush on the pic or anything, literally all I just want him to do is to reply to my question that I originally had for him.

[Nessie]

A month ago he finally opened commissions, stating that he really needs the money after what has happened so far (which is understandable). As such, I sent him a PM and paid the invoice on April 21.

I sent him a PM a few days ago just asking out of genuine curiosity how long it usually takes for him to finish an art piece.

I don't know if he is ignoring you or not but the fact is you paid the invoice and he took the money. As an artist (working for money in a totally non-fetish environment), I always let the customer know approximately when to expect it and I do have a refund policy, even though I admit I don't advertise the details of it much as it can be too easily taken advantage of in this digital age. It's more just sitting in mental reserve in case a job goes wrong somehow.

But I guess I'd have no problem whatsoever advertising very publicly to the whole world that if I didn't do the work at all for any reason whatsoever, including personal problems, I would return the money.

So I would persist in politely asking about this. You have every right to. I would also ask about the refund if he continues to not answer you.

If this was all very informal, I am not sure if there are other options to get your artwork or your money. It is up to you how much slack you want to cut him. Given the circumstances, I understand your desire to be kind and if it's not a lot of money, you could just let it go.

I guess that is completely up to you. It did, however, cross my mind that you may not be the only one.

Nessie

[Fred588]

All I can add to this is that when I do customs (and all I do is custom videos (not artwork) there is a written proposal prepared by me and approved by the client. That proposal always includes a listing of what I will deliver to the client and how and when it will be delivered. I would be suspicious of any artist who would refuse to provide this sort of information in some form, although it is true that for deals involving very small amounts of money that could be a hassle. Its easy enough to say, "A finished drawing will be delivered within eight weeks of the receipt of payment," or something similar.

[Dethmetal]

It would be great if that was how things worked with artists doing commissions online, but that rarely ever seems to be the case. :/ In most instances it falls into a Que system, with your commission essentially waiting in line behind those who commissioned before you. So if the person(s) ahead of you is taking a really long time it means you wait longer,... as well as having other factors in the life of the artist slowing things down as well. As a result of this I guess I have developed a policy of patience when it comes to having stuff commissioned, hence why I suggested such.

There is of course a limit to patience, and if the time comes that you feel you have waited far too long then it is time to pursue a refund. It has also been my experience that a number of artists have adopted a policy of agreeing to do your commission, but not taking payment until work actually begins on it, or in rare cases taking payment once the final product is delivered. Still there are a lot out there that take payment then drop you in a que to wait for your turn.

I still suggest patience and trying to contact them again, but it really is up to each person to decide what the limits of their patience is, and when it is time to stop waiting and pursue a refund.

All I can add to this is that when I do customs (and all I do is custom videos (not artwork) there is a written proposal prepared by me and approved by the client. That proposal always includes a listing of what I will deliver to the client and how and when it will be delivered. I would be suspicious of any artist who would refuse to provide this sort of information in some form, although it is true that for deals involving very small amounts of money that could be a hassle. Its easy enough to say, "A finished drawing will be delivered within eight weeks of the receipt of payment," or something similar.

[Mynock]

Demanding the full price upfront, not giving you at least a rough ETA on when it would be done, then ignoring you.......the word "unprofessional" comes to mind. Wouldn't have agreed to those terms myself.

The only experience I have with commissions is through a friend of mine who's a tatooist. For custom are she usually asks for 50% deposit and gives people at least a rough estimate on when she'll have it done.

[Dethmetal]

Heh, well, that is the thing about online commission artists, especially those on Deviant Art and FurAffinity, they are not "professionals", so they can pretty much make their own rules, and do what they want, so if you want artwork from them you have to go along with it.

Demanding the full price upfront, not giving you at least a rough ETA on when it would be done, then ignoring you.......the word "unprofessional" comes to mind. Wouldn't have agreed to those terms myself.

The only experience I have with commissions is through a friend of mine who's a tatooist. For custom are she usually asks for 50% deposit and gives people at least a rough estimate on when she'll have it done.

[NobodyGotTime4Dat]

Thanks for your guys' responses. He actually (and finally) replied last Sunday---he let me know that a rough draft of the sketch had finally been completed, though much like what Dethmetal said, it seems he didn't even know that he got PMs from me since his social media account didn't notify him of it (I wonder why it was telling me that he "read" them, then...). Only reason why he hasn't sent it yet is because he got sick, he wrote.

However, I sent him two more messages afterwards and it still says that he hasn't opened them yet. Again this led me to believe that he went inactive, but he just recently tweeted 3 new posts (one of them even being an original drawing he finished) and he's liking more posts than he did before when he was "sick".

I would completely understand if he hasn't looked at the PMs yet because he's busy IRL or something, but it honestly surprises me that he's been this active with his account just recently and he still hasn't even looked at the PMs or sent the sketch yet.