FA+
Shop
Commissioner's Trust and Artist Reputation.
2 years ago
In recent times, I've been noticing an increasing number of stories about artists failing to deliver the work they were paid for. Some may take a long time due to their art style or perhaps because they have a primary job that takes precedence or a busy family life – all of which are reasonable excuses within certain parameters, of course. However, I've also come across quite a few artists who claim their commission queue goes back over a YEAR.
I will NEVER understand why an artist would take weeks or even MONTHS to complete a commission, let alone a YEAR and some even fail to deliver the artwork altogether, leaving their customers in the dark. Yes, I understand the concept of a commission queue, and I acknowledge that some artists have waiting lists, especially those with a larger following. My response to that is simple: don't accept payment until you're ready to work on the commission. At most, consider taking a 5 to 10% down payment to hold someone's spot in line, but never take someone's money and fail to deliver the product.
Here's the thing: commissioners place a LOT of trust in us as artists. Just think about it – they're sending their hard-earned money to a person they've probably never met in real life and know only vaguely online. There's very little reassurance to keep them from fearing that we might run off with their money. Therefore, it is crucial to uphold and respect that trust above all else. It's not only the professional thing to do; it's the right thing to do.
Furthermore, you must consider your reputation. A single dissatisfied customer can cause serious damage to your standing as an artist, especially if you've taken their money and failed to deliver the commissioned work. I understand that life can get in the way, and your health, family, and job are undoubtedly your priorities. If that's the case, issue a refund. If you can't refund the money, first of all, why did you spend it before completing the job? Secondly, communicate with the commissioner. Be honest about what's going on, inform them of your situation, and above all, be sincere. If you don't think you'll be able to complete the job within a reasonable timeframe, work on providing them with a refund.
I want to clarify that I'm not singling out anyone in particular. I'm merely expressing that when these situations arise, it makes it harder for other artists, especially smaller ones. If a commissioner comes to the conclusion "If a more renowned artist with a larger following can let someone down, then surely a smaller one with less to lose can too." So, I implore you, let's all act professionally.
I will NEVER understand why an artist would take weeks or even MONTHS to complete a commission, let alone a YEAR and some even fail to deliver the artwork altogether, leaving their customers in the dark. Yes, I understand the concept of a commission queue, and I acknowledge that some artists have waiting lists, especially those with a larger following. My response to that is simple: don't accept payment until you're ready to work on the commission. At most, consider taking a 5 to 10% down payment to hold someone's spot in line, but never take someone's money and fail to deliver the product.
Here's the thing: commissioners place a LOT of trust in us as artists. Just think about it – they're sending their hard-earned money to a person they've probably never met in real life and know only vaguely online. There's very little reassurance to keep them from fearing that we might run off with their money. Therefore, it is crucial to uphold and respect that trust above all else. It's not only the professional thing to do; it's the right thing to do.
Furthermore, you must consider your reputation. A single dissatisfied customer can cause serious damage to your standing as an artist, especially if you've taken their money and failed to deliver the commissioned work. I understand that life can get in the way, and your health, family, and job are undoubtedly your priorities. If that's the case, issue a refund. If you can't refund the money, first of all, why did you spend it before completing the job? Secondly, communicate with the commissioner. Be honest about what's going on, inform them of your situation, and above all, be sincere. If you don't think you'll be able to complete the job within a reasonable timeframe, work on providing them with a refund.
I want to clarify that I'm not singling out anyone in particular. I'm merely expressing that when these situations arise, it makes it harder for other artists, especially smaller ones. If a commissioner comes to the conclusion "If a more renowned artist with a larger following can let someone down, then surely a smaller one with less to lose can too." So, I implore you, let's all act professionally.
