My WORST Art Commission Experience!
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- Опубликовано: 23 авг 2024
- This is my worst commission experience, an actual horror story. Here is today's Temi's Tirade, a series where I come on here on a Tuesday to rant about different art topics.
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Wait wait wait. I just got it. Temi’s Tuesday Tirade.
... I love it.
It’s all the tea tea tea
Alliteration
"You're the one insulting your own face because that's what you look like" lololol I lost it! Your work is amazing, that person was never going to be satisfied.
My father was an artist. Once he did a picture of a man as a gift for his mother. Well, the guy kept wanting changes, even straighten his nose, do not show a scar, you can imagine. Comes the day the guy gives the picture to his mother. She says, Well, it is very nice, but it does not look a thing like you. The story of "Sara" sounded so much like that. People have no clue what goes into work.
This reminds me a story about the king who had one eye, shorter leg and a hump, I think. He hired an artist to paint his portrait. The artist painted him exactly how he was, with all the deficits. The king looked at the portrait and said: "You cannot portrait a king like this," and he had the artist executed. So the second one came and the corrected all the deficits - he painted a longer leg, second eye, etc. The king looked at the picture and said: "This is a lie" and the had the second artist executed. The last one came and he arranged the king on the horseback - so the shorter leg wasn't visible, from the profile, so the blind eye wasn't visible and he put the sword to the king's hand, so he masked the hump. And the king got a portrait where his deficits weren't visible but also a portrait which wasn't a lie. (I hope I remember the story right, it's been a long time since I've heard it, but the most important is the point and that I remember well).
Of course an artist cannot do this, if all they are given is a reference picture. If someone wants a portrait based on a reference picture, then it's there responsibility to choose the picture where they look as they want to look at the drawing/painting. If they choose to insist on changes, then they can very well end up with a portrait of other person just like in your story and they cannot blame the artist for it.
For anyone who is doing commission-based work (portraits), try drafting a contract detailing your creative services, deadlines (flexibility section), professional boundaries (no harassment and your preferred method of communication), pricing, refund policy, and artistic limitations (ex: stating that the results will vary depending on the reference photo sent/used and that you will or will not make any creative changes to the reference: all photoshop changes will be extra $), etc. Send the contract to the prospective client in the consulting phase or prior to establishing a definitive business relationship and see if they'd still consent (agree to terms and conditions with an electronic signature) to working with you (the artist). A contract protects the artist (financially) and clearly communicates to the client what services to expect and what product they'll be receiving.
the contract does not have to be sent to a lawyer for review (to clear up any legal loopholes/ add legal jargon). If you have the funds to do so, getting a lawyer to review it would be ideal. Otherwise, you can draft an original contract (do not copy ones from Google or other professional's drafts) in Microsoft word documents.
Also, there is no harm in referring a client to another artist if you are unable to satisfy a prospective client's demands (this reduces your anxiety and saves you time, resources, and $).
Lastly, to generate fair pricing consider cost of living, material expenses, framing, shipping, handling, delivery services, skill & experience level, level of education if you have a certificate or art degree, the time it takes to complete the project (hourly wage can reflect wages in your area or the rate of other artists + the amount it would take to make an actual profit, state and federal tax %, etc), etc.
P.s. Always be sure to do your research as these are just a few helpful business tips.
This was very helpful, thanks!
I like this response a lot, I'm thinking in similar terms.
This is what I do. It works really well. I am still tweaking what’s in the contract but eventually you figure out what needs to be in there based on the type of work you do.
Incredible advice, thank you for sharing!!
Thank you very much!!!
You can’t expect designer level artwork with a Tesco value reference picture.. PERIODTTTT!!! 😂😂
hahaha! when you said that i laughed soooo hard! mannn i cant stop laughing! 😂
same!lol
Preach it..... to all those at the back
Every little helps. 😂😂
What about Lidl quality? XD
The client was definitely unreasonable, but like you said she probably didn't understand that you draw from reference, as opposed to glamourising mundane photos. If you ever wanted to do commissions again you could show your art next to the reference photos on Instagram to secure realistic expectations.
Temi: “I’m not at that level yet”
Me: 👀 Eyeing that $million dollar worth painting in the bg
I know right!
When she said that, I was like “what are you talking about”. Lol
always room for improvement 🙂
I'm not an illustrator or artist I'm a graphic designer, and this brought back some nightmares from the past for me lol
Hahaha #triggered
Yes! I ended up resenting my career choice.
Fellow designer! We are definitely artists! Just a different flavor! But yeah, same lol
I’ve just started my Art Journey and I’ve already decided I’m not doing commissions, I’m drawing what I want to draw and I’m not going to let anyone disturb my peace In my passion,
P.S Your art is amazing and your tutorials are really helping me.. Thanku! 🎨💕
Can I see?
Same here
People should not expect you to produce different aspects to the portrait when it’s understood you actually just copy the referenced photo. A portrait from life is very different Normally there are many sittings to thrash out changes and detail.
It is extremely emotionally draining to produce commissions a an artist. I found over time resentment towards my field because of the “ugly” request being made by individuals who had no concept for the principles of design.
I draw for fun. And I have never sold a picture in my life, and not really going to. But once my (former) friend asked me if i could to draw her a couple of insta-stories icons for her commercial project., for free, of course. So i agreed, and started to make some then i realise she actually wanted from me the whole graphic work for the account. I said cool then, you owe me ( and it wasnt about money). After work was done, she started to recommend me to ALL of her influencers-friend, as an artist, which I never asked for. And i got 2 messages from the girl who runs a witch-tarot-mystic insta page ( stuff i would never support as i blog cause i think that is scam). And that witch asked me to make a sticker pack for her and products she sails. I offered her 50 back for 2 day work aaaaand......she never answers, and called me toxic the she talked wit my friend. So I was really upset ( because that girl sails wooden neckless with witch kinda small drawing for 100 backs, and i know for sure they cost like 1 dollar in some china market place). So my friend said “ what would you expect , you have no cases and you are asking too much” well tell me about asking too much then next time you do some tarot forecast for 30 backs. Second offer was about girl whos worked as a designer in insta shop she wanted some insta stories icons. I asked her first about the amount of work and she said its about 25 original pics ( what is huge) the i tell her i will do it for 40 backs ( see? I already tried to make my work value less, as my friend wanted) and she never text me again. And that girl is taken about 80 backs and tells you what is wrong with your insta. And i am a toxic who wants too much. And at the end my former friend said to me what although work was for free and she owns me at least one favor she will not do it cause you know, it takes too much time ( i asked to send me couple of books I BOUGHT to my town)
I am sorry for huge comment, and I will never ever tell someone i draw again. And never work with your friend ( or at least money first).
This is sad and I feel bad you had to deal with this.
See this is exactly what makes me cautious of doing commisions, at the end it's your time and skills that have to be respected and paid acordingly, you want a certain service you pay for it, idk what makes people think art (and music) is an exception.
Please include the topic of " Temi's Art process and evolution" Talk about what you learned, where you learned, How you kept patience to get to this point, What motivated you, How did you maintain your confidence and more. Pleaseeee do this topic on temi's tirade...I would love to listen to it🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 Pweaseee
I deal with commissions all the time and these changes, I hate to tell you, are common. Your lucky that you don't have to deal with this all the time, but sadly, some do and have to deal with the stress. But yeah- those requests and changes are very common.
In your shoes I'd have told them 'My time in nonrefundable and I'm not able to refund you. I will not be communicating further.' You have to put your foot down on things like that. You can't let people like her walk on you.
The Naija girl jumped out when ranting!!! yess sis love your art and seeing you in the art community online
Hahhah I couldn't hold it in 😩😂
@@TemiDansoArt 😂 l really love the way you talk 😊and your art works
Clients like that made me quit photography... so I can completely relate 😂 They were always angry that they didn't look like the models in my portfolio... but what am I gonna do about that? 😂
“From reference pictures I found In the rubble” hahaha I dunno why that made me lol 😂
I seriously had a client like this. it pissed me off when people do see your style , through your other works, and when you make something for them, the same, they act like what is this. Your art work is amazingly beautiful.
I have never felt such empathy pain in my life. Especially with "I know I said the reduce the head size but now it's too small". Good for you not doing this stuff anymore
I am going through this situation at the moment (laughing emoji). she asked me to draw her smiling in the painting first of all (she had a straight face in the reference photo), then she wanted me to give her more eyelashes, change her hair and eye colors, reduce her cheeks and give her high cheek bones..... like bro? and that isn't all the changes she requested toooo!!! i literally redid the portrait five times before she accepted it. and guess what, she vanished after i sent her the low quality photo of the finished piece. she hasn't paid the 50% that is left. commissions are exhaustinggggg but for now i guess i have to deal with it
People have no respect for art.
Chilee! That’s why I planned to do tos! And having clients to pay upfront!
Some people are very entitled, learn to say no
wow… does she know how hyper realism works? you’re supposed to use a reference photo. no shame in it.
@@user-rx9zl7iz4d are you asking me?
Oh my gosh, you had so much patience with this client. I would’ve been a box of nerves too. I had to look up what Tesco was. Americans like to say “you can’t polish a turd into a diamond.” As a photographer, I understand that the reference photo matters so much. If someone uses a phone flash, they won’t have their portrait with a glowy “soft box/beauty ring light” feel to it. It’s just the facts!
*Sarah is the mix of a person who always wants free art and a person who always finds a problem with the art*
I had a similar situation years ago when I started selling my art on Etsy. It was an effing nightmare. It’s given me so much anxiety about commissions that I, too, won’t take them on again! Once in a while,for a friend...but it’s super RARE. Thanks for sharing- it’s good to see another creative who really *gets* it! 🙊
I was doing commissions up until recently but the stress it gives me drives me insane. Being expected to draw a detailed face the size of a €1 is not it
same, i always charge about only 2 gilders for all my drawings, if i ever higher the price or something, people in my class think its overpriced.
@@bovisqui fax
@@shawneywaney9927 yknow what I’m going to higher the price, people don’t understand how complicated it can be to do digital art, the people who want to buy it buy it, the people who don’t, they don’t.
€1?!!!!
I had a similar experience some years ago: someone from a facebook group asked me to paint a picture with acrylic colors, to give it as a gift for her mother. She sent me a photo that showed her and her dog and it took me 6 hours to finish the painting. I gave my best and I think it turned out quite well ... but when I showed it to her she was super unhappy with it. I asked her what exactly she didn't like about the painting and she complained about the proportions being wrong - even though I had traced the rough outlines to get the proportions right. Then she showed me a perfect pencil (!) drawing of a horse and told me that it was made by her friend, who was a hobby artist too, and that she expected something similar from me. And then she told me to destroy my painting, but that she would pay me anyways. It hurt me so much that I refused the payment and I stopped painting for many years :(
Sounds like you were dealing with a narcissist, just like Temi. Narcissists are never ever satisfied and they get a kick out of making you feel like crap because it makes them feel powerful. Narcissists are an artists worst nightmare, they prey on your emotions and empathic nature.
Bruhhh, that’s fucked up man. People really look down on artists 😮💨 I think it was great that you didn’t take the money, better off than taking $ from trash cans 🤷♀️ Don’t be demotivated though, I experienced a similar client and I got pissed af.
I even texted thanks to end it off well, she completely ignored me lmaooo
4:14 was not expecting that 😂
8:14 noooooo 😂😂😂
When you request a commission from an artist, it's because you admire their work and style. I cannot fathom asking an artist to honour such bizarre changes. You get what you get and you don't have a fit.
Im just shocked someone would even do that 😯
I had a similar client who sent me an abstract piece he wanted me to recreate. I did almost the exact Thing to the extent that I tried placing random dots where they were. First of all, the piece is abstract, secondly, how can I recreate random dots. After creating the piece, and sending the photo, This client sent the photo back with circled parts saying some of the Random dots weren’t There and that they looked too “systematic” I still don’t know what he means till date. 😂😂😂. Ever since then, I don’t accept abstract commissions that aren’t created in my own style. I can’t kill myself with “systematic” dots 😂😂😂
A common scam I noticed a lot of commissioners run is along the same vein of what 'Sarah' did:
Commissioner asks for a piece of art, agrees to x price.
Commission complete and sent.
Commissioner /CLAIMS/ to be "unsatisfied" with the image, either refuses to pay or settles on paying less for a drawing they apparently arent satisfied with and will say something like "at least you are getting paid something for this drawing I dont even like, I'm the one losing here".
They save the image you originally sent them, the one they claimed they didnt like, and they walk away with a commission they got at a reduced price.
Of course a way to prevent this type of scam is watermarking etc, but sometimes they don't even care that its watermarked and some watermarks are easier to remove so they'll just do that and go about their day.
Ooo! Spilling some hot tea here!!!
People just don't understand how important reference photo quality is to their commission. I do pet portraits. I state that to a client - over and over and over. If you want 3 dogs in a painting, please take a series of photos of all 3 dogs in the same setting under the same WELL LIT conditions. I get a dog sitting in the shady back seat of a Jeep. Half (!!!) of another dog on the steps in a Christmas outfit. The third dog is sleeping in the sun in a muddy garden. This is not an uncommon or outrageous example. These are the types of photos I'm sent. I want to scream at clients. Last week I put a commissions closed notice up. I'm done. I like what you said in another video, "Commission work doesn't meet my current artistic vision." 🙀
I love your videos! It's so nice to hear and art guru be open-minded and supportive like you, unlike many other art group RUclipsrs who want to tell everybody how their drawing is wrong and they need to draw like they do. It's so nice to hear somebody open-minded for once :-)
Hey, recetnly found your channel and love your stuff, keep going!! :D love it all
Thanks so much, welcome aboard!
I knew what was coming. I work in ad-publishing and I've dealt with so many clients like this over the years, the micro-managing clients, the fussy ones, nit-pickers, downright rude, nonchalant .... you name it. I feel your pain though, I've had people ask to change an image in their advert, after the publication they're appearing in is already on sale! P.S. You're very talented.
I've just discovered your channel, and it's really motivating to listen to you- even when you're discussing negative experiences!
I'm at that stage of finding prices I'm comfortable with for my art... I would say your work is definitely worth higher end prices for sure. I love how you work the light and shadows 💕
I just found you like a few minutes ago, and I subscribed just to give you support, but I'm glad I did because your videos look very useful me, things that I want to hear about, love your personality and your ideas! Keep it up!
I had one like this recently. Looked worse than my normal work because they wouldn't let me suggest any composition/stylistic choices and they were STUCK on what they wanted. They nitpicked choices down to the miniscule detail and the piece suffered for it because the composition was awful. I tried to do my best with what I was stuck doing but when you're locked into a super strict "this is what I want and exactly what I want" you can't really polish a turd too much. They also flip flopped on what they wanted constantly. I got so frustrated.
The classic request ‘ can you make my brows thicker?’ ‘Make my hair longer please?’ ‘ the drawing you did of that lady can you make me exactly like that please?’
Me: errrrrrr.......no ma’am!
Better yet can you leave alone please? God bless you
I’d say “ sure, it keep in mind that every change will cost $$$$ ( insert amount here )” . I’d bet the requests for changes stops …or at least there won’t be so many once they know they have to pay for each and every change!
That thumbnail tho haha
I always look forward to seeing these!
Hahah that was RUclips's default before I got the chance to change it
i love these story times and you talking to us on tuesdays, keep going!
Came across your video today and was curious about your commission nightmare. Wow! I can totally empathize! After years of experiencing the same kinds of frustrations, I gave up on painting commissions completely! The main reason I don't do them anymore is that there is a reference photo out there somewhere that people can place beside your work and spend the rest of their miserable lives picking your painting apart. Keep painting what you love. The work speaks for itself, and if people want it, they will pay the price you ask.
I normally don't comment on post, but you are hilarious 🤣🤣🤣.
Nice to see another Londoner doing her thing. Your artwork is amazing by the way.
These videos are amazing! I love these rants! When I work on videos for my channel/editing I listen to these. Lol! Btw when i watch these sometimes I’m to distracted on the masterpiece behind you😍🤪
I'm glad you like them!
@@TemiDansoArt ok
I have similar stories..
Once had to draw 4 A4 and 1 A3 graphite pencil drawings, all containing between 2 to 4 faces, within 4 days. The day before the deadline, I finished with 4 already, sent the person pics of the completed drawings. The person hated all of them, did not want me to fix any mistakes, called my work bad and refused to pay anything. It was such a confidence knock.
I absolutely looove the videos like this when you're chatting and giving your personal experiences, their a different style to the videos I've seen before here and I love how diverse the range is on this channel! I also adore how it's a great opportunity for viewers to see more of that personality 😍 Love Simran xx
I do commissions for water bottle art and I can’t imagine what you went through, I’m so sorry 😂. Btw I love your accent
What's that?
@@MASTEROFEVIL I’m gonna guess it where she does artwork on the water bottles xx
@@Lauraandpont Oh
this is why i don’t think i can do commissions i mean if a friend asks me to draw them something and i’m getting credit (it’s not about exposure it’s about i drew this i’m proud of it and i’d like my name attached to the image because my entire life my hard work has been claimed by others) so yeah
You know… some of these things are easier in digital painting. With Traditional art commission, you need to be upfront with your request from the beginning to avoid stress
I ran with a customer like this, so I feel you, girl. I had to put strict rules to avoid this sort of experience. Once I start colouring, there's no turning back. Even with digital art, an experience like this is just HORRID.
That drawing that she referenced about the makeup-that is my favorite!!! 💘the gold bg pic too!
I came back to this video after I watched it last year because I just experienced the same. The client demanding changes like changing the pause the photo had and giving me a reference photo of another person's pause.
Hi Temi, thank you for sharing your experience! I did a coimmissoned portrait of my neighbour and last week he said he liked the panting, and that he will pay me the upcoming days. Today I asked him about my payment and he told me that every infant could paint better than me and he wouldn''t pay the agreed amount because of my "lack of skill." He refused to give me a reference in the beginning and told me to paint what I want. If people don't know what they want, no painting can satisfy them. I won't do commissions ever again, this is the second time I got scammed.
Girl, your art is AMAZING!!! And you are so professional and gracious in the way you handled that nightmare...
ive discovered your videos just yesterday but i gotta say i really enjoy them! i like binging them and your art is really really really amazing, keep it up
You can’t re-do it bc that client will clearly never be happy … she acts like that w everyone. No worries. They know you, and people know her, too.
I feel like every artist in their personal journey encounters..."the commissioner". The person that makes them either swear off commissions entirely or realize they need to set hard firm boundaries and higher prices. It's a lesson we're warned about from others but sometimes have to experience ourselves. My first ever commission was to make business cards...I work mostly in watercolor illustrations and polymer clay sculpting, what the heck do I know about graphic design and business cards? But it was a family friend and family friends and family see "artist" as a blanket term. (Seriously I had people asking me to do a baby shower cake..wth? I'm not a baker?). But I digress. She asked for about 50 changes, (can you move this to the left? hmmm can you move it back? ehhh I like it better when it was on the left) and in the end I got $20, a headache. I was young, 20 for a commission seemed like soo much money. Never. AGAIN. Value your time, work, and mental health fellow artists!
Agree agree, everything u said hit hard and right on the spot oofff. That experience be shit but it’s great for us as artist to learn to be tougher and bolder 💁
I think it’s a hard space for an artist that’s so good at realism, like you are, to do commissions. Like you said, the photos in your portfolio are probably already heavily edited before you get your hands on them to use as a reference. This client wanted you to be photo editor AND commissioned artist.
Do you think it’s easier for artists that are not into realism/have a specific art style because their portraits are never going to look exactly like the original in the first place?
Oh my gosh I love your accent your so pretty! I love this art! Keep making art!
I’ve always been afraid of something like this happening, so I always try to send progress shots, including a detailed initial drawing, then if they decide they don’t like it in the very end, I’m not liable, because they never asked for changes XD commissions are friggin hard tho I don’t blame you for deciding not to do them! Especially when your work is 100% based on photos, bc most people don’t get how hq the photo needs to be for a proper drawing 😩
I was thinking of doing commissions but maybe not lol! 😂
Hahah no, still try it! It might work for you
“what do mean reduce somebody’s HEAD SIZE??!!”
🤣😂
4:22
I had a job from a client who is working on her teaching course and wanted me to help her design a teaching model/programme. Meaning she wanted me to do an original character mascots, a whole interface design of the model and basic coding to help with the prototype. She said she leave it to my creativity but each time I sent her a copy of my design for her to check and give me feedback and she would simply say she is OK with whatever design I'm doing as long as it follows her teaching program "storyboard". After working on it for months and asking her to double check on everything. I sent her the final product and she was very happy for about 10 mins. And then started nickpicking everything and anything under the sun even though she had see all this designs before. Not only that she isn't willing to pay extra for all the things she wanted to add on. I had to design, code and edit audio... Basically everything in order to create a complete working product. But in the end she kept asking me to keep making changes because she wasn't happy with something and trying to add on more and more designs that wasn't in her original "storyboard" proposal. I finally had enough and told her to pay me in full or I will not provide the final product for her presentation. She paid me but after a week kept asking me to help her with another project which I flat out refuse because... I was so overwhelmed and demotivated after working with a client like that. This is not my first time working with people who refuse to pay me for my services and I stopped taking commission and client request.
I had this guy want me to draw him and all six of his relatives all sitting around in a circle playing different instruments All in photo realism that I had to create myself with all blurry photos and he wanted it 11x14 for only $100.
when temi gets frustrated... its just-😂😂😂😂
I always expect to hear an American accent, then I hear a British accent, and I’m like “WHAAAT!”
Most artists are British on RUclips
@@glowcute6234 very true
@@glowcute6234 most RUclipsrs are British
Their accent is cool so why not?
@@talonstride her accent is amazingggggggggg
But for some reason I expect to hear an American voice idk y lol
I have patients like that-especially if it is in regard to one of their children. I have had to tell a few I think they need to find a medical provider that is more in line with their philosophy. I did a gift for a family member of his bosses dog. He gave me a horrible picture to work from. I told him I could not do it after really giving it a try. He said “ work your magic.” I did. Of course he was critical of it. His boss loved it. Never again from a bad picture-period.
I'm two years late but for others looking to do commission or freelance but always include a max amount of revisions that you will provide. Always get paid half upfront for your time, resources, etc. Because if a person decides not to pay you, you already got half your pay.
And ALWAYS use a contract that details what you will provide, how, when, etc.
I'm not planing on doing commissions, but when thinking about I would be straight forward about that there will be an per hour rate +flat fee's for added details, larger size, extra objects, time consuming detailed work. Regarding the per hour expected cost for a piece, that'd require I already have a decent idea of how long different sizes would roughly take me to do, so that I can communicate to the client what type of total hourly fee they can be expecting for the piece they want.
I'd charge the client with 80% of the entire expected cost before starting to work on their piece, and charge whatever is left of the actual total cost before shipping (here is the margin for actual amount of hours spent +the fee to ship to them).
I would not refund a client if they were for some reason unhappy with the final result. The hours spent are the hours spent. It's not a charity.
Reminds me of my last commission, they wanted the one guys face lightened as he had a sunburn, change the tilt too he was leaning to much, maybe a something else, but you got it way worse than me.
No more commissions! I stopped painting for 10 years! I just started back up again and I am getting contacted for commissions, logos and art contests. I said I do not do commissions or logos as my art is my logos and they are not for sale. Also I do not enter art contests as I find them devaluating. And I don’t sell my originals just prints and merch.
Gosh sorry bout the bad experiences you've had! Honestly love your work and as an artist understand that customers just blow
Just watching this video scares me-
Little Tip, increase the price and those that will pay will pay. 🙌🏾
Your rant videos are amazing I love them so much! I cheered with you when you mentioned 21st June as well 🙏
I’m a digital artist - Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. you’re describing the same kinds of change requests we get constantly. Some of them are pretty simple. Sure, I can adjust a hair color easily, whatever. But then you have the people who don’t understand how digital art is composed. I’ve had people ask me to do extreme body shaping (no head swapping, actually reshape their bodies), to change their photo to another gender, and my favorite - to turn the person facing away from the camera around so we can see her face.
I got so tired of doing 30-minute telephone lessons on basic Photoshop that I just stopped working with consumers entirely and went solely BtoB.
This is exactly why when people would ask me to draw tattoos for them, I would say no. I have a specific style. Whimsical and fantasy. Especially fantasy. I’m JUST learning through YT how to do hyper realism as I want to expand and develop new art skills. In art HS in Manhattan I had ideas stolen on me. Art school students ( especially high school) are notorious for that and I was discouraged from art. So because of all of these I took years Hiatus from art up until recently due to an injury keeping me home.
Yes, same here! I am an artist and although I have had some learning doing commissions there are always clients that do not respect the work and there are so many things that can go wrong. Some clients do not understand that artists are not monkeys, they have a vision and that is why you are buying, the vision of the artist, not whatever the client imagine in her head. This is why, when you have a commission, not just you have to make sure that you have a clear developed portafolio of what your art is about and what is your style is like, you also have to make sure the client does like and respect your work. The client has just two chances to say yes or no. First you show them a sample of how you work; from sketches to a final piece. Then when you listen to her wishes based on your portafolio as a reference, you work on the first two sketches (only two or many choices will confuse the client) and they should be only in ink or pencil to see if they like the composition and concept. When she decides one of those two, you do that sketch in color in digital or some dry media so she can see the color palette. When she finally agrees on the palette you are ready! By then the client should agree to pay the full price of the piece, based on that sketch and based on the size of the piece and how detailed will be. They should pay you half the price for now not only because you already worked doing the sketches but because it is official that you have what you need to execute the work. Now when you give the final paint it shouldn't be a massive surprise the outcome, but if the client despite all these steps dislike the piece for something that you can totally change or something you can redo on a different piece, I am personally willing to do a second piece for her or to fix the one I made. After that she has to pay full price, period!. Legally that is why it is a commission! The client and the artist are entering to a verbal agreement based on trust and risk from both sides! You can even make a contract where they sign on all these steps before they happen. I personally charge more for commissions because it is very demanding and a lot of work to educate the client and work together in a way that both parts feel respected and appreciated.
This is why you ALWAYS take full payment or a 50% deposit up front. And also tell the clients that each minor adjustment costs an additional £50. Has saved me from a lot of headaches and timewasters in the past. NEVER refund. I have T&Cs on my website stating that all payments will be retained to cover the cost of supplies and labour time should the client wish to cancel halfway through the work. Don't forget this is your business, YOU set the terms of service.
Wow, what would I do? You had some ugly problems. I think I will stick to making my own pictures for my stories. Thank you for sharing. You make beautiful work.
I don't do commissions yet but some policies to keep be shared with the customers are; 1) receiving at least half the payment before getting started, 2) customer should have clear reference photos and a clear picture in mind of the finalized work (minor changes are acceptable) and, 3) Having the complete power to reject or stop working on a project if things go south like what happened in your video. If they can't agree to these conditions then might as well not take up the commission work.
I definitely understand why you don’t want to do commissions anymore. And this is why I don’t do portraiture because it’s so personal to the person commissioning it. It may be as easy for me to say because I do know how to use Photoshop, but I would honestly run their reference photos through Photoshop and get it up to snuff and then paint from that. That way you can approximate color changes, proportion changes, set up a grid if you use that etc. I currently work with a client whose main subjects are animals and frequently they asked me to add features to the animal that just isn’t there. Sometimes I can sneak it in by transplanting features from other animals and then tweaking it, but this isn’t always possible. But I would say to anybody out there in a similar situation, you probably would be doing yourself quite a large favor by learning even basic photo shopped techniques. Everybody always wants to look like an Instagram model but not everybody has an Instagram model photographer on hand.
As someone who currently does commissions, your story is TRIGGERING! I feel for you!!!!
This bought back some of my nightmares from commissions 😂
Hahah sorry for bringing traumatic memories
“HOW YOU GETTING ON? HOW YOU GETTING ON? HOW YOU GETTING ON? I’m getting ON FINE!!!”
you are hilarious thank you
6:43
My view upon this; i think we, as artists, should not do realistic portraits for people who have issues with their own faces. If you do not have the confidence to look at yourself in the mirror and say you like how you look, i have doubts you'll find it in your portrait. This is my really harsh opinion, but it only counts for realistic portraits. As then you'll always find something picky about it if you lack the confidence or selflove.
The way that I communicate with my clients is that I give regular updates throughout the drawing process. I do digital art, so I have different levels at which point the client needs to "accept" and "lock in" the work that's been done. I ask my client to confirm that the line art is good, that the flat colours are good, and that the shading is good, before sending them the final drawing.
So, for example, if they've already confirmed and accepted that the line art is finished, I won't make any significant changes to the line art without charging extra. I make sure to get their confirmation IN WRITING. This can be either through DMs or E-Mail, etc.. That way I have written proof that the line art is contractually finished.
The point at which you accept money for a commission varies between artists, but when I send a screen shot of the line art, once the line art is confirmed I accept the full payment at that point. That way the client gets a firm idea of what the picture will look like before it's coloured. And by sending a screen shot, they don't get the full resolution image so if they repost it somewhere without paying, it'll be pretty obvious that the visual fidelity isn't that great.
I want to note that this process only works well if I myself, as the artist, am forthcoming and communicative about what I'm currently doing and what my workload is. So, if I were to goof around for a week and do nothing, and try to fudge things and tell my clients I'm working on their piece, the process that I've explained here won't work. This process uses transparency as a tool and creates a paper trail of what's been agreed upon by both parties.
The downside is that it's difficult to accept 100% payments up front if I wanted to do that for some reason, and it's difficult to accept more than 5 commissions at a time, since I'm basically having to stagger the commissions in a serial fashion (i.e. I do one commission at a time, in order, instead of whichever is easiest to do first).
Anyways, that's just my 2 cents. Hope that's informative to somebody.
You got me on the floor at reduce the head size 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
This made me remember a really sad incident that happened to me today so basically I posted something on Instagram yesterday and one of my FRIENDS started commenting "😂😂😂😂" so I just couldn't control myself and I had to text him and roast him but what happened was I got even more irritated after I texted him then I thought to myself that why does that person's opinion on my art matter to me it's just total crap so I started ignoring that person when I go for walks and stuff and today he said "YOUR ART IS VERY BAD" I just ignored him and said to myself that his option doesn't matter to me.
Omg i cant stand it if customers start a seperate email thread 😖😖😖😖😖😖
I no longer do commissions mainly because I can't find it in me to be passionate about using my talent to create someone else's vision. I have creative ideas I am eager to express, and on top of working two regular jobs, cooking, cleaning, laundry, family, my spiritual life, etc., to do commissioned artwork that may take 10-40 hours that most people only want to pay $50 to $100 for is more of a burden than anything.
Ur voice is calm and relaxing :0
I had 5 percent but i was so keen to watch this video i made the most of it 🤣 . An idea: you could if u like create and art contest( not with real prizes ur choice lol) just and idea ...
LoL
My favorite part about these tirades is your accent! 😍
This is why I don't do people haha...they are too vain. I stick to doing pets. You still get some picky ones but i know this would always be far worse when doing portraits of people. I've had people asked me if I do people but watching this just reminds me why I should continue sticking to pet portraits.
I think with all the ridiculous changes she asked for, I would not redo the portrait unless she paid enough to compensate for it.
Lol, she should have asked for all this before you started... Also she thinks its Photoshop were you can just move buttons around and not worry about an eraser ruining the paper.
God, I gave up on portrait commissions a while ago. Nothing brings out a persnickety entitled attitude like illustrating someone's likeness.
I had a short stint in illustrating wedding portraits and my GOD never again. The brides were very sweet but so picky. Nearly drove me nuts.
I still do commissions, specifically furry/anthro and cartoony characters. Furries get a bad rep for being weird or whatever, but they can be some of the most enthusiastic, passionate, (sometimes) easygoing patrons of the arts you'd ever work with. Depending on the character and style, you're often given a lot of freedom in making creative decisions. I enjoy drawing it and apparently a lot of people enjoy my art, enough to pay for it. Long time clients have saved my butt during many a freelance famine and a few I now call my friends (who don't expect a "friend discount").
Like you mentioned, your demographic demands the same quality as your work referenced from highly manipulated photos. You ain't gonna get that from some janky polaroid. You made the right decision escaping that madness!
Watching this video, the Nigerian in me is also coming out 😂
Contract contract contract. take 50% upfront and if they don't like it, they don't have to pay the remainder, but they aren't receiving any product from me!!
I love this I’ve been doing commissions for only a short time and have had the same experience, so glad I’m not alone lol there is not enough money in the world to deal with that lol you handled it well . Glad I found your channel 🤣❤️
Temi I found your channel today and you make me laugh so much! :) Keep smiling!
Ahhh I can not wait to watch!!
Hope you enjoy!