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Artist MIA
13 years ago
I know I don't have a lot of people following me, and I wonder how many actually read journals on this place (I know I'm pretty bad at reading a lot of them), but I figured I might as well throw this out there and see what comes up.
I had commissioned an artist back at the beginning of FC to do a piece for me, which he said would be done in about a day. When I went back to check the next day, he was still working on the previous log of badges, and said he'd definitely have it done the following day. When I went back again, he paused for a moment, and then apologized profusely, because as he checked back through the information I had given him, he had accidentally marked my commission as being done. He said that he would start on mine next, and I offered that he could just send it to me once he had a chance to do it when he got back home (he had a lot of badged he was working through, and I knew that if he did mine that he'd end up having to do these badges after the con, which inconveniences a lot more people, so I might as well just wait.)
Well, I sent him a note a few days after the con, and he was still decompressing from everything that was going on, but he was good about communicating back. I checked in a week after that, and he said he was going to get me a sketch in a few days. Now it's been 2 weeks since I last heard anything from him, and I have tried to contact him about 3 times on here, and sent a copy of one of the messages to his g-mail account, but there's just silence. When should I start worrying.
I had gotten this commission for a friend as a gift, and while I didn't tell the artist right off the bat I was going to give it to someone on a specific day, I did send him a note about 9 days ago that I was hoping to at least have a sketch to show them.
Am I being too pushy? Should I worry that something has happened to him? He's a really awesome and nice guy, and it seems like he takes on a lot more than he probably should since people love his art and he seems like the type that wants to make everyone happy. Could he just be burned out at the moment and he will likely get to my stuff later, or should I be worries that I have fallen into the cracks?
I'm interested to get input from the artists out there, and also if anyone knows if there are other avenues to try and reach the guy, since I don't think he's getting my notes, or he's not checking them.
Everyone's input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and I hope all of you are having a wonderful Friday!
-overzen
I had commissioned an artist back at the beginning of FC to do a piece for me, which he said would be done in about a day. When I went back to check the next day, he was still working on the previous log of badges, and said he'd definitely have it done the following day. When I went back again, he paused for a moment, and then apologized profusely, because as he checked back through the information I had given him, he had accidentally marked my commission as being done. He said that he would start on mine next, and I offered that he could just send it to me once he had a chance to do it when he got back home (he had a lot of badged he was working through, and I knew that if he did mine that he'd end up having to do these badges after the con, which inconveniences a lot more people, so I might as well just wait.)
Well, I sent him a note a few days after the con, and he was still decompressing from everything that was going on, but he was good about communicating back. I checked in a week after that, and he said he was going to get me a sketch in a few days. Now it's been 2 weeks since I last heard anything from him, and I have tried to contact him about 3 times on here, and sent a copy of one of the messages to his g-mail account, but there's just silence. When should I start worrying.
I had gotten this commission for a friend as a gift, and while I didn't tell the artist right off the bat I was going to give it to someone on a specific day, I did send him a note about 9 days ago that I was hoping to at least have a sketch to show them.
Am I being too pushy? Should I worry that something has happened to him? He's a really awesome and nice guy, and it seems like he takes on a lot more than he probably should since people love his art and he seems like the type that wants to make everyone happy. Could he just be burned out at the moment and he will likely get to my stuff later, or should I be worries that I have fallen into the cracks?
I'm interested to get input from the artists out there, and also if anyone knows if there are other avenues to try and reach the guy, since I don't think he's getting my notes, or he's not checking them.
Everyone's input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, and I hope all of you are having a wonderful Friday!
-overzen
You could try posting something somewhere public, such as a shout on his FA page (if he has one) - that at least sends a flag to other commissioners that this guy has unfinished work out and puts him in a position where he's obliged to respond and hopefully follow through.
But more typically (in my experience) is that either when he does get back it's only to make more promises which aren't fulfilled, OR there never is any response, and the person evidently abandons their account/username entirely (making off with your money and that of any other unlucky commissioners.)
I'm thinking I may need to me a bit tougher in when I want it, and I did send him notes and e-mails about wanting it by this Saturday. But if he's not reading his notes or checking in here, then I guess it's like talking to thin air.
And he has done stuff for me before, which is why I wanted to commission him again. I just worry I may have fallen into this limbo since I offered to let him finish it at home, instead of displacing other people's badges at FC.
Ugh, I'll keep at it, and see if I can find him on other places. I kind of get the impression he doesn't look at this site too often. I'll keep you informed as to what's going on.
I know the artist you're talking about, not too personally, but I know who. I also have work to be done by him but that was more of my choice to wait cus at the time I wasn't sure what I wanted but knew I wanted something and as he only takes Commisions in person I gave him the money wih the promise of an IOU.
Anyway. All I can tell you is that he doesn't check this site very much so you may want to find some other means. I too have been trying to get a hold of him with little luck.
The unforetunate truth is you may have to wait until you can find him in person again and simply tell him you need the piece.
While its nothing against this particular artist, as I know him to be a great guy and as you've said a guy who likes to please his audience, I've learned here through a number of these happenings that I'm probably never going to take another "out of con" commision again.
As for your particular scenerio I can tell you this guy will be good for it...but at this moment its going test your patience.
It's a matter of respect and service quality.
I know for experience that sometimes it's really hard to communicate with all the commissioners, follow the payments, do sketches and so on.
But part of a well done job is KNOW when you can't take anymore.
If you promise a pic the next day and you get it a year later, no matter how great you are at art, you're doing something wrong.
It's not fair to make commissioners anxious and make them feel like shit because they're scared you're gonna forget about them or steal their money.
Personally, I'd ask for a refund and make a biiiig deal out of this thing. I'd be raging if something like this happened to me.
On the other hand, I'd have made sure the commission was done before the end of the con, when I could still get a hold of the guy!