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Artist Red Flags - Compilation.
5 years ago
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Hola! For a little thing I want to do I want your help with input on unprofessional behavior from artists that signal potential risks of problems ahead in a commission or any form of transaction with them.
To keep it simple for now I'll only list the issue, but I won't include a description for why each point is a potential red flag or how high the risk is over each entry yet, because of course each specific case has reasonable caveats and exceptions. You can go in as deep reasoning as you want in the comments for your point, though.
Here's some I've seen, though not really experienced myself since I'm here making content instead hiring artists to draw for me. (Thus why I need your help with this list xD)
Try not to name specific artists, just share what was the bad experience and the hints they let out of what was going to go wrong.
The artist:
Doesn't have a public commission progress list.
Doesn't readily offer alternative methods of contact.
Doesn't have a public price list.
Doesn't have a public terms of service document.
Deletes public shouts, comments, feedback or critique that is not offensive.
Goes by multiple names.
Takes more commissions before completing the ones in line.
Has unreasonable completion time since payment has been made until artwork is delivered.
Is repeatedly asking for donations because of different tragic events.
Doesn't facilitate communication during the transaction.
Declines making small adjustments and modifications to the early phases of a drawing.
Adds unreasonable sudden extra costs.
Refunds without explanation.
Increases prices and drops/refunds works already in line, or attempts to charge the increased prices for them.
Refuses to show progress updates.
Adds intrusive watermarking.
Asks the client to bypass proper transaction methods and documentation. Asks you to send the payment as donation, as family/friend.
Asks for wishlist items as payment without the option for a regular transaction.
Doesn't offer refunds over any circumstances.
Spams, solicits about their services.
Is new/has only a few works published.
Has inconsistent style or large variations in quality.
Isn't proficient in any of the languages you are.
To keep it simple for now I'll only list the issue, but I won't include a description for why each point is a potential red flag or how high the risk is over each entry yet, because of course each specific case has reasonable caveats and exceptions. You can go in as deep reasoning as you want in the comments for your point, though.
Here's some I've seen, though not really experienced myself since I'm here making content instead hiring artists to draw for me. (Thus why I need your help with this list xD)
Try not to name specific artists, just share what was the bad experience and the hints they let out of what was going to go wrong.
The artist:
Doesn't have a public commission progress list.
Doesn't readily offer alternative methods of contact.
Doesn't have a public price list.
Doesn't have a public terms of service document.
Deletes public shouts, comments, feedback or critique that is not offensive.
Goes by multiple names.
Takes more commissions before completing the ones in line.
Has unreasonable completion time since payment has been made until artwork is delivered.
Is repeatedly asking for donations because of different tragic events.
Doesn't facilitate communication during the transaction.
Declines making small adjustments and modifications to the early phases of a drawing.
Adds unreasonable sudden extra costs.
Refunds without explanation.
Increases prices and drops/refunds works already in line, or attempts to charge the increased prices for them.
Refuses to show progress updates.
Adds intrusive watermarking.
Asks the client to bypass proper transaction methods and documentation. Asks you to send the payment as donation, as family/friend.
Asks for wishlist items as payment without the option for a regular transaction.
Doesn't offer refunds over any circumstances.
Spams, solicits about their services.
Is new/has only a few works published.
Has inconsistent style or large variations in quality.
Isn't proficient in any of the languages you are.
I almost entirely avoid artists for major pieces of they dont have a public queue that is clearly up to date
Probably fits under the increases prices part, but there have been a couple of times when an artist has opened for commissions at one price range, then quietly deleted that journal and opened for commissions at a higher price without bothering to acknowledge those who had already asked for a commission at the lower price. Artists can charge whatever the please, of course, but it was the lack of courtesy in not even replying that upset me.
For example, I don't do a public progress list because:
1- It allow anyone to know how many commission you are working on / who is commissioning you. So if someone commissioned you anonymously, then it's busted.
2- For artist that work at their own pace. I just can't work constantly I only work when in the mood, which sometime can be everyday and other not for an entire month.
For the point above I generally try to always stay fair. I never give approx date because I know I risk to not keep them in case of a sudden drop of mood, but if the comms goes for an unreasonable amount of time (aka a simple thing that could be made in less than a day took months), then depending on where we are in the payment schedule, I offer either refund or just to not pay the final payment at all.
I had a third point but I forgot ;-; I'll write it if I remember.
So yeah :)
Or if it's about working only when in the mood, I have been for the longest time one who works only when in the mood, the flag is the lack of transparency about it. The work list being public has no effect on working only when in the mood, though if I understand correctly you don't want to deal with the pressure and that's okay, it's understandable.
If you have any of these flags doesn't mean YOU are a bad artist, it's just one risk that people should consider. It's one risk that if it's the only one it's not so crazy to chose to take it as a client.
It's about making a decision after assesing the risks. 👍
Like, I've gotten friend who said my work can easely value more than 20$ (CAD) but in the end never got paid more than 10$ for a comms beacause I just don't feel like it's fair yet it should. Really I think I'm way too kind with them and should probably up it & be more severe about it. I have literally no income so this is possibly my only small income I can have.
Being a career artist also sort of requires the discipline to work at times you may not be in the mood. But as long as you’re up front about your turnaround times, for some people that’s not an issue.
But if a commissioner asks for a small change that can be done in just a minute or two... It really can suck to have the artist come back with questioning it and initially not wanting to do it. Like, look, at the end of the day I am paying for it, please don't make me feel like I'm inconveniencing you just by doing the normal thing you're supposed to do ;3; It's only happened once and I'm certainly not about to call anyone out, I love and respect all artists I've worked with. Buuuuuut I did really hate it lol
Another exception could be that the artist's experience tells them that the requested change might make it worse, and in that case it would make sense to argue over it if the client insists, because the artist would want to keep their standard of quality specially if they are are proud of the image/brand they have built.
But yeah, in general not cool to have to fight the artist to get a few small harmless adjustments at the start of a project.
I just checked and their name changed and the queue also changed sites again.
When I paid for my commission they linked me to the queue and it had over 50 people. Didn't see the queue before because it's not on their profile and was only on deviantart in some random buried journal. I would've been less pissed if at least they made me pay when they got to the commission. :T
I guess it took so long they also forgot about a major detail I asked and they approved because it's completely missing which is very disappointing and honestly I don't wanna ask for a change and wait like 2 more years.
Massive queue = big no no