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Why I Don't Want to Do Commissions Anymore
11 months ago
I know a few of you have been wanting to commission me, and I'm really sorry that I've been closed for so long. I've been burnt out on doing them for so long, and with the break up and my life changing plans falling through, I lost all motivation, and never found it again afterwards. Now, Patreon is taking up my time, and I don't want to take on more work than I can handle.
I've always been hesitant on sharing my horror stories on doing commissions because I didn't want anyone ousted, or scare anyone away. I'm not exactly popular with a huge line of people wanting to commission me. But now that a lot of time has passed, and I don't exactly plan on opening fully in the near future, I think it's time I shared probably the biggest reason I'm done with commissions for the time being: Burnt out.
First off, I want to say that I don't mean any ill will towards any of these people, but please understand...you didn't make it easy for me either. I'd like to think I've bent over backwards and made so many compromises and gave small discounts and free edits to warrant some venting after all this time. If any of these examples seem familiar, just remember it's all in the past, and I'm only giving these out to fully explain why I'm so burnt out.
I have far too many stressful commissions than pleasant ones. The worst one was someone wanting me to do well over 20 edits, one by one (meaning they asked for a single edit every time I changed something and sent them), wanting me to do an alt to which I made, canceled the alt when I said it would cost extra, and then wanted me to stay up past the time I sleep so I can post at "Pique hours". I even explained to them that I'm usually asleep at this time, but being a people pleaser, I didn't protest after he insisted. All of that, over the span of 2 days...i get a $2 tip.
I've had a lot of people just not understand what they're wanting. Wanting a 60ft macro stuck in a 7ft doorway, confusing poses that were hard to (if not impossible) to pull off with bigger characters, constantly changing ideas completely while in the middle of sketching the previous idea. Always telling me to draw bigger when that's as big as I can make them without changing the entire composition.
I've had someone leave out important details (such as backgrounds they'd want), making me redo the entire thing over, and they got mad when I wanted to charge a little extra and even blaming me for messing it up. I've asked someone to give me their idea 3 times, and wouldn't. So when I drew a sketch with their vague idea, they THEN decided to fully tell me. They were happy with the new sketch, not so with the finished product, and gave a refund. Honestly, i wasn't happy with it either so I don't blame them on that one.
But what wore me out the most was people constantly wanted multiple characters with fully rendered backgrounds time and time and time again. I just wanted...NEEDED a break with a single character or something, but that wasn't happening.
And again, with my life changing plans falling through, I just...broke. I couldn't deal with having put on this friendly facade and bend over backwards for people anymore. I absolutely appreciate all the commissions I've gotten, it's absolutely mind blowing to me that anyone wanted to pay me any amount for me to draw them something. I don't have any skills aside from doing art, and it be good enough to have people actually like it that much is incredible to me.
I know I'm being an ungrateful asshole with this journal, but as I've said before, this isn't meant to harbor ill will or anger towards past commissioners. I tend to be transparent with everything, so this is to only explain why I'm not taking commissions anymore, at least for now.
I've always been hesitant on sharing my horror stories on doing commissions because I didn't want anyone ousted, or scare anyone away. I'm not exactly popular with a huge line of people wanting to commission me. But now that a lot of time has passed, and I don't exactly plan on opening fully in the near future, I think it's time I shared probably the biggest reason I'm done with commissions for the time being: Burnt out.
First off, I want to say that I don't mean any ill will towards any of these people, but please understand...you didn't make it easy for me either. I'd like to think I've bent over backwards and made so many compromises and gave small discounts and free edits to warrant some venting after all this time. If any of these examples seem familiar, just remember it's all in the past, and I'm only giving these out to fully explain why I'm so burnt out.
I have far too many stressful commissions than pleasant ones. The worst one was someone wanting me to do well over 20 edits, one by one (meaning they asked for a single edit every time I changed something and sent them), wanting me to do an alt to which I made, canceled the alt when I said it would cost extra, and then wanted me to stay up past the time I sleep so I can post at "Pique hours". I even explained to them that I'm usually asleep at this time, but being a people pleaser, I didn't protest after he insisted. All of that, over the span of 2 days...i get a $2 tip.
I've had a lot of people just not understand what they're wanting. Wanting a 60ft macro stuck in a 7ft doorway, confusing poses that were hard to (if not impossible) to pull off with bigger characters, constantly changing ideas completely while in the middle of sketching the previous idea. Always telling me to draw bigger when that's as big as I can make them without changing the entire composition.
I've had someone leave out important details (such as backgrounds they'd want), making me redo the entire thing over, and they got mad when I wanted to charge a little extra and even blaming me for messing it up. I've asked someone to give me their idea 3 times, and wouldn't. So when I drew a sketch with their vague idea, they THEN decided to fully tell me. They were happy with the new sketch, not so with the finished product, and gave a refund. Honestly, i wasn't happy with it either so I don't blame them on that one.
But what wore me out the most was people constantly wanted multiple characters with fully rendered backgrounds time and time and time again. I just wanted...NEEDED a break with a single character or something, but that wasn't happening.
And again, with my life changing plans falling through, I just...broke. I couldn't deal with having put on this friendly facade and bend over backwards for people anymore. I absolutely appreciate all the commissions I've gotten, it's absolutely mind blowing to me that anyone wanted to pay me any amount for me to draw them something. I don't have any skills aside from doing art, and it be good enough to have people actually like it that much is incredible to me.
I know I'm being an ungrateful asshole with this journal, but as I've said before, this isn't meant to harbor ill will or anger towards past commissioners. I tend to be transparent with everything, so this is to only explain why I'm not taking commissions anymore, at least for now.
So I will say that if I mess up and forget to add something, I WILL correct MY mistake(s). I'm a big boy and can admit when I miss something or mess something up. But if it's something they failed to mention in the first place, then that's on them. I don't do edits unless I truly make a mistake.
Even moreso, I don't do art in others' styles. I do MY OWN style. If someone wants me to make art in someone else's style because my prices are cheaper, I tell them to "take a hike" and instablock them, lol.
And yeah, I don't take commissions off of FA anymore and instead do so on social media. It's less stressful that way.
Your art is still amazing to this day, and nobody forces you to open your comms again. If Patreon is good enough for you to live, stay on it. And maybe if you ever re open comms, put a "No more than 2-3 edits in the sketch phase" rule so people won't abuse it. Trust me, you wouldn't be the first one, nor the last one to do so.
Anyway, hope that writing everything off of your chest has been good for you, and I look forward to more of your art! You're still one of my favorite artists out there! 💚
I get it.
I stopped doing Coms/Trades for the public, with a few reasons similar to yours; then did Patreon instead.
And I still do Coms/Trades with Friends, even gifts sometimes; as it's a much more enjoyable feelings to do something with someone who I know won't be that kind of asshat.
https://files.catbox.moe/t0qmte.PNG