MMO ART?

I feel for Gil. I don't know what's caused him to go silent - personal issues, burnout, company mis-management - but it's rough to see such a fantastic artist generate dissatisfaction from his loyal fanbase.

As an fellow artist, I know it's hard to turn away the offer of cash for art, especially when it's your main source of income. I know I don't take as many commissions as I could, but I want to be certain I can deliver in a timely manner. As a result, I try to only have 1 or 2 on my plate at a time. I've been envious of Juggertha's, Graver's, and Gil's ability to list long lines of people clamoring for their work, but I can also see how that level of committment can leave an artist overwhelmed.

Gil, I hope you can pull things together and come back in force.

From someone who's been watching this mess for a while:

If he had any sense - not just business sense - he'd refund everyone's money outright, and start fresh period.

He's known that there are issues about late art for what, 3 years? Three years and he's *still been taking commissions*. That right there is as unprofessional as you can get.

I hope he's healthy, safe and reasonably comfortable, but honestly no one should have to wait this long for anything. I've got a guy I met at the comic con last year I'm still waiting on but hopefully he'll be there again this year and I can browbeat him for it. But this is inexcusable. There is nothing wrong with admitting defeat and saying "I'm sorry".

There's no excuse for not communicating with the people he's at least taken money from, either. There's this thing it's called a "library" and they usually have computers with an internet connection. Friends have them. Businesses have them. There should be exactly nothing stopping them from communicating with those who have been waiting.

But for now, the fault and blame land squarely on an unprofessional attitude that could be changed as easily as a single post in a forum. But it goes way past that - money has been leeched from people for too long, and nothing to show for it.

It shouldn't sour people from purchasing commissions from other more reputable artists, but it should warn folks to stay alert and keep appraised of every single dollar you're spending on these things.

Shoot, I have two free sketches to do and I feel daunted!!!
I can't imagine having been paid for them!

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I've been envious of Juggertha's, Graver's, and Gil's ability to list long lines of people clamoring for their work, but I can also see how that level of committment can leave an artist overwhelmed.

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I agree. Right now, I actually have four in queue and I haven't been able to work on them solidly for a few weeks. It's why I don't take money upfront until at least the roughs are finished.

Which shouldn't deter anyone from contacting me and getting on the list! agentfoodotcom!

After about a two months of time with no communication on a commission, my brain starts in on little neurotic worrying loops. I know personal communications can be an exorbitant time sink, but it's not even necessary in most cases; being able to access a regularly updated queue is usually enough to stop my fretting.

I have commissions open with several artists atm, and if the lot of them were half as communicative and friendly to work with as Wassy has been, I'd easily have double the amount going. The frustration commissioners have after dealing with that kind of problem gets between too many artists looking for their dinner. =/

Awww, thanks. I do what I can ^.^

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Awww, thanks. I do what I can ^.^

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It's true, you were an absolute joy to work with--great final product--and giving the commissioner something they would like was foremost in your mind.

I've only paid for one other commission myself and that was Alex--and he too was great to work with, and we can all agree on the quality of his final work--I'm certain of that.

Thank you again Wassy. Your piece is hanging over my desk with my other heroes.

Part of me really wants Gill to post... so that we all know he's alright.

The other part is thinking... um... maybe that wouldn't be so good.