Now, my friends, it has come time to relate to you a very serious matter. Please take a moment to read all the way through, for this is an issue that affects just about everyone on this site. What I am going to be talking about is the matter of communication between the artist who has been commissioned and the commissioner. Now, anyone who has ever been on either end of this process knows that communication is key, all the way through the entire process. Generally, most artists will send periodic updates, asking about any changes that need to be done.

This picture is a sad result of what can happen when that does not occur. The cat in this picture is supposed to be my main fursona, Lightshade. "But Shade," I can hear you telling me, "that looks nothing like him! His coloring is completely off." My point exactly.

Now, normally, I stick with commission artists on FurBid, FurBuy, and FurAffinity. It's just easier for me and all parties involved. But there is a webcomic I like to read, which I am a big fan of. When the artist's tablet broke, she put up some commission slots on her Deviantart page, which she rarely does. I was so excited to get one. She has a very good style and I'd been such a fan of her webcomic for so long. It even has an anthro cat already in there, so I figured she'd be able to nail Lightshade.

I sent her a description and pose idea, since at the time, my reference sheet was not yet done. The description I sent her is the one you will find on the main page and at the bottom of each journal entry. I'd like to think it's thorough enough. She said thanks, that it would be done in about two weeks. A month and a half later, it was done. She never once sent me a note asking any details, any updates on the progress, or even one to let me know that the commission I paid for was finished. This was the result.

To say I was mildly shocked was an understatement. This was NOT my character. Nothing from the fur color to the tunic were done as I had asked for. Entire details like his facial markings and tail ring were completely left out. How she remembered the axe was a miracle When I pay for something, I expect to be the way I want. I sent her a note stating politely that while I thanked her for a very lovely picture, it was not what I wanted, and would she be willing to recolor? A month later and she still hasn't gotten back to me. I've given her up as a lost cause.

I am sorry if this sounds bitchy. Almost every artist I have ever commissioned has said in their Feedback on FurBuy that I am a nice and generally patient person. But I take things very seriously when I pay money for them. In everything from food to art commissions, I expect them to be done the way I want them to, whether it's a simple pose or my character getting fucked up the ass by a dildo shaped like a giant pineapple.

Here's what I DON'T want you to do:
Don't go "Cool story, bro."
Don't leave a comment going "TL;DR."
Don't track down the artist. The point of this is not to start shit.

What I DO want you to do is take away a valuable lesson in communication. Artists, if you need to ask a thousand times what a character's eye color is because you're not sure you're getting it right, DO IT. Commissioners, if it's been a while since the last update you had on your commission, ask for a new one.

Soapbox rant done.