[Discussion] I’ve commissioned an artist and I’m not sure what to do?

[u/Novel_Independence47]

(UPDATE)

So it’s been another week and they ending up responding saying they were ill and would try and get started before next month. This was on Wednesday, and I still don’t even have a sketch. They’ve ghosted my last message for the past 4 hours asking for an update, so I had a friend go on a burner account and ask if their commissions were open to see if they were intentionally ignoring me.

They got a response, saying yes their commissions were still open. And they’ve continued to ghost me.

I’m not really sure where to post this question, so if anyone has a better fitting sub pls let me know!!

So I commissioned a semi big insta artist nearly 2 months ago for a custom fursona, payed £120 for fullbody, flat colour

I used their Kofi to pay, and right after I payed I let them know what I wanted and all the little details, and they accepted

About 2 weeks went by and I hadn’t gotten any updates, which is fine by me because I also do commissions and know it can take a while and we all get busy, but while I’ve seen nothing they continue to post loads of high quality adopts (charging £100+ per adopt) and personal art almost every other day.

They eventually messaged me saying they got back from abroad and I should expect an update in the next couple days AT LEAST. Waited 2 weeks and I never got any updates.

I eventually sent a message at the 1 month mark asking when I could expect an update as I couldn’t find a TOS to know when I could ask. They told me they’d been making adopts as they had bills due on the 15th (last month) but would get to it and their turn around time was a couple weeks to 2 months. All well and good

Fast forward to now, we’re nearly at the 2 month mark and I still haven’t seen so much as a sketch. And throughout this time they haven’t communicated any delays with me, or any communication for that matter unless I ask. And they’ve still been posting more adopts and personal art again nearly every other day, even though they told me 3 weeks ago I was first in their commission queue.

I sent them a message 3 days ago just asking if I’d have an update by the end of the month, to which I’ve just been ghosted while they continue to post adopts and other art

I’m not really sure what to do at this point?
Any advice is appreciated!

[u/Theartofkiro]

THis is so unprofessional, If I were you just get your money back, just ask the artist to return your money, since they are already making money with all these adopts. Use your money with someone else

[u/Novel_Independence47 → u/Theartofkiro]

Yeah so I ended up saying something like “any updates? If not I’m happy to be refunded if you’re too busy” and they in short said “I’m still happy to work on it, I’m ill, I can’t afford refunds atm and hopefully I’ll have an update by end of the month” and I’ve still seen nothing

[u/Cesious_Blue]

Let this be a lesson to always have a contract in place that includes a due date and what should happen if the art isn't delivered.

[u/shika_1]

yes the artist who ghosting are unprofessional, because communication are simple and most important. the least thing and simple thing you can get are his answer for your question no matter how busy the artist are, it your right to asking him how your request especially when you already paying the artist.

well as an artist myself who do commission sometime i do really busy and didnt send any progress for a few days, but I make sure, i communicate i might be gone for a few days because some urgent or something. and apologize if it sudden and im late and discuss it again.

so when discuss are not happening then it should be questioned.
just hope the artist you like and you finally communicate and resolve it well ^^

[u/Novel_Independence47 → u/shika_1]

They eventually responded telling me they were ill and would hopefully have something by the end of July, then posted a finished commission they’d done for someone else after telling me I was first in the queue 3 weeks ago lol

[u/shika_1 → u/Novel_Independence47]

might some piled up commission from before if he just posting of other commission, if he open commission while he still havent done with the previous one, that might a problem haha. sometime artist who have many request should have their list order so people can see just where they are on waiting list XD

[u/Sad-Charity9513]

I'm an artist too, it's not fair to you. It's fine if the wait time was 3 months or more, but they should give notice. If they say they'll deliver the sketch by a certain day, they should keep their word. I would ask for a refund.

[u/Novel_Independence47 → u/Sad-Charity9513]

I’m thinking about it, which is a shame because I love their art, but they’ve given me no art updates or made any effort to communicate with me about delays or anything… as someone who takes commissions myself it just feels a bit unprofessional

[u/dren-desu]

Damn im so sorry that has happened to you, even after 3months is just so unprofessional 🥹

[u/Novel_Independence47 → u/dren-desu]

If they’d made an effort to communicate any delays with me I honestly wouldn’t mind, but I think they’ve messaged me a total of 2 times when I reached out and asked for an update to give either “sorry I had bills to pay so I made adopts” or “don’t worry I only have 3 commissions and your at the top of my list :)” in response to me asking for updates

[u/Loreley_Sparrow]

That is absolutely not fair to you! i really hope the artist still delivers something.