Posting in irritation perhaps...
By
Ael Rhiana,
Posted on: 2008-02-04 04:30 in Multi-Media Fan Creations
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Well, mine's at... nine months now. Almost four months to the day since the last word I'd heard. And previous projects (not with me) seemed to be promising....
In contrast, I just got a quick note from Daggerpoint saying he'd be pushing that commission to the end of the month - my response being all of "OK, that's fine, thanks for letting me know."
It's going to be interesting to see if I can hold my tongue if/when my *severely* late commission contacts me. I got irked enough that I've commissioned someone else (totally different style, too...) to do those characters (plus one other, making it a trio) even though I wanted the initial piece... well, long ago, but I was still hoping for "Before they hit 50." Which they did last night.
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There's no doubt that some artists, being so popular are overbooked... Gil Bates, Graver, Daggerpoint... just to name a few. I think in these cases it's an unfortunate side effect of their work that a long long wait is unavoidable.
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In that situation - I wouldn't take the money until I've started on the piece.
I don't see the logic of someone paying just to sit on a waiting list.
I think it depends on the artist... if I had the disposable cash, and Adam Hughes was going to draw LJ, heck, I'd wait a year! I agree with you it's not a great place to be, and in my own defense, I tell people that it will be a short wait, but it will be worth their while... however every artist has their own terms hopefully based on what's best for both parties.
When I do commission work, I always take money at the end when I'm fully done with the work. There's no reasoning for me to take it at the beginning and that's something that I refuse to do as a customer as well.
Honestly, when I take a commission I always assume the worst. Keep in contact with the buyer, make sure that the work I put into it doesn't outdo the price I'm getting for it and when I finish the art, I *never* send a completed full size pic. I send a thumbnail of the completed art. Just enough that the buyer can see what it looks like, but too small to use or display. In that regard, I make the buyer want it even more. I don't send finished roughs in large size either. Layouts and thumbnail sketches are fine, but nobody gets a full pencil delivered into their mail.
"Look, here's a tasty art crumb! If you want the real thing, pay up."
If the buyer doesn't pay, they only get a tiny little thumb that they can try to pass off as the 'finished' piece and I put my finished work into my portfolio. Never had a buyer cop out yet.
http://www.virtueverse.net/wiki/Massacre_Melanie -the original Fire/Dark Corruptor -
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=115217
The Guide to BURN
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I think it depends on the artist... if I had the disposable cash, and Adam Hughes was going to draw LJ, heck, I'd wait a year! I agree with you it's not a great place to be, and in my own defense, I tell people that it will be a short wait, but it will be worth their while... however every artist has their own terms hopefully based on what's best for both parties.
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See, that's the thing. I've got another piece waiting with Graver. I know he'll be a while... but he keeps his queue (and DA site) updated, so I can tell with some surity where I am.
The other person... I have no idea.
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Why even take any money until you've started on the piece?
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Personally I prefer upfront because it doesn't slow the work flow... however if there is a glitch, I will tell the client how long the wait is.
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Agreed with that. The other reason most artists take money up front is because of flake outs. You even do a rough draft and suddenly they have no money, but now have some sort of pic for free. Like wise if you did up to the final stages with no money, again they get a freebie and you get nothing. Paying up fornt protects the artist from getting screwed.
"Certain it is and sure: love burns, ale burns, fire burns, politics burns, but cold were life without them." - Romulan proverb
My Characters