How can I fire this customer?

[customersruinmylife]

Besides my pub job, I also make a living selling paintings and portraits. It's going really well and I love it...most of the time. It is also worth pointing out that I have a very specific style. It's a very sketchy, comic-book style.

A friend of mine, who I barely see but is very close to my best friend, asked if I would paint a portrait of a couple who are getting married at the end of this month. Sure! That's fine. I asked him to provide me with a picture so I could get to work on it. He paid a small deposit and gave me the deadline, which was very tight but doable.

The photograph he provided was awful. It had about a million Instagram filters on it, not to mention the sun directly behind the couple which drained the image of any detail. It was hard work, but I was able to put together an initial sketch of what I was going to be painting. I photographed it and sent it to SC.

SC: Oooohh...I think it needs more detail...and what's with her nose??

I don't get butthurt over criticism, but I was confused about what "detail" he was talking about. I drew exactly what he gave me and more as I had to fill in a lot of blanks due to the massive glare from the sun in the photograph! None the less, I did some more work, adding more tone to the picture and tried to fix her nose. I sent an update.

SC: I still think it needs more detail...and the nose...I can't give her the picture with that nose on it. She will go mad!

I went back to the picture and I literally traced the God damn nose. I could see no difference in what I had drawn and the tracing. It was a sad fact: she simply had a big nose!

Before I sent him another update, I came across a photograph of the couple on Facebook. I am not friends with the couple but know a few people who are. The photograph was PERFECT. Good lighting, smiling faces and it was clear. I inboxed SC and requested to change the image as I felt I could produce a much better product. He agreed.

I am now very short on time, so I trace the outline and complete the rest of the drawing in my style, so there are no faults in the image at all. I am very happy with the drawing. It's my own style, it looks exactly like the couple and it's something I could paint easily and quickly. I send him an update.

SC: I didn't realise they were 100 years old! What's with all the wrinkles?? And I want more detail!

I haven't replied yet because I am full of rage. I have worked my butt off for this and all I am getting is criticism. For the past two weeks I have postponed several projects I wanted to do for this fucking wedding picture. I don't have a polite way of saying "I draw what I see. I'm not going to make people less ugly."

I want to fire him, but there is no way I can ever do that without making it awkward with several of my friends in the future.

And this is why I am never accepting orders off people I know again!

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Out of a cannon into the sun seems like a good bet.

[Seshat]

"Apparently you dislike my art style. I recommend that you find an artist whose style you prefer."

[Grumpy]

make him a pic of your drawing side by side with the photograph. Tell him to point out the exact, specific differences he's seeing in the two. That ought to shut him up.

[Rosco the Iroc]

Offer him the pic and a box of crayons and see if he can do better.

[MoonCat]

I like Seshat's answer. Short and to the point. I suppose you have to return the deposit, but frankly this guy sounds like more trouble than the whole thing is worth.

[mjr]

"Apparently you dislike my art style. I recommend that you find an artist whose style you prefer."

This...so much this.

I go back and forth, though, on whether or not you should return the deposit. Part of me says that you should keep it, just based upon the effort you've put into this.

[Kogarashi]

What Seshat said.

As for the deposit...I would say keep it, because it covers the work you've put into it already. Of course, it does beg the question of whether or not you have a contract (or at least the deposit agreement itself in writing) to cover you. This is why I make sure I have a contract, or at least written proof of the original agreement, even if I'm doing work for friends and family. I haven't had to use it, but I do have it just in case.

[Monterey Jack]

Before accepting any commission project, make sure to tell customers that you will not accept the job unless they provide multiple, CLEAR reference pictures of what they want (from several angles, if possible)...lots of aggravation on both ends will be prevented.

[Shyla]

If he can't give her a picture with a nose like that or wrinkles like that, then you will be happy to help him out. You are bowing out leaving him free to choose a different present.

Keep the deposit. You did 2 paintings for him and he paid you for your time.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

make him a pic of your drawing side by side with the photograph. Tell him to point out the exact, specific differences he's seeing in the two. That ought to shut him up.

THIS

"I understand you want more detail, but I need to know exactly what it is you are looking for. Let me know and I'll fix it up for you ASAP. Thanks!"

[Seshat]

I purchased a piece of custom artwork from one of our artists - one who was in this community (she isn't anymore).

1. We made certain we had a contract that we were both happy with, and both deemed fair.

2. I made certain that I liked her art style, and named one of the pieces she had previously done as the sort of art I wanted.

3. I provided two clear reference photographs, and offered more if she wanted them.

4. The final product wasn't exactly what I had in mind - but that's because one always develops a fantasy in one's mind. It WAS exactly what was in the agreement, and is a lovely work of art that I'm satisfied with. Satisfied? I'm bloody happy with it, and while I miss ElderlyCat every time I see it, it's a reminder of how happy her life was.


The reason I say this: even with someone you trust as the customer (or artist), these four factors are terribly important.

Points 2, 3 and 4 are expectation management: it's vital for the customer to expect something realistic.
They won't get their fantasy, it's impossible to communicate the exact fantasy image in your head. As every artist knows, it's damn near impossible to produce the fantasy even if you're the artist.
The customer should be expecting a piece of art in one of the artist's existing art styles. Some artists have one, some have multiple styles, but they should expect the artist's style, and explain which one if it's a multiple-style artist.
The customer must provide a clear description of what they want, and should expect the result to follow that description. Reference photography is ideal for 'from life' art. Otherwise, the result will depend on the clarity and lack of ambiguity in the description.

And contracts are extremely important - and assume that the named style, and the description and/or reference photos will always be part of the contract.


Anyway, OP? I still think you should fire this customer by inviting him to use an artist whose style more closely matches his desired artwork.
If you have to give him back his deposit to make him go away, do so. Right now, you're losing time you could be spending on more productive work.
Make a public statement about the contract, not naming the customer. Something like

"Unfortunately, I had to turn a customer away this week. My best work is stuff like <artwork 1> and <artwork 2>, and he wanted something more like Johannes Vermeer or Jan Steen."

I named the Dutch realist artists - and yes, the Master artist Vermeer - quite deliberately. It sounds like he was after a realistic painting, and it's about as far from a cartoonish style as you can get. This makes it very, very clear to your friends and potential customers that the expectation was not anything like what you do.

[Nashida]

I'm siding with what Seshat said here. Just going from my own experience as an artist (I draw big fun cartoon animals on the side, and it's great). If somebody commissions you it should be because they like your style. That's not something you can easily "fix."

Show him the pictures side by side and ask him what exactly it is he's finding fault with. I wouldn't refund the deposit myself since you've already logged time in just the sketch alone, and you need to be paid for your work. But putting the ball in his court to actually find mistakes between the two might help him see he's being a little unrealistic, and you can also stress the importance of having it done in time for the wedding. "I understand there's a deadline, so I need to know exactly what works and what doesn't so that I can finish this in time for you."

After this is over it might not hurt to draft up a Terms and Conditions page for future customers. I wouldn't do one while dealing with this guy because he'll pull the "That wasn't there when we got started" bit, and he'll be right. Here's one I had to write up for myself late last year after it took me three (3!!) months to finish a reference sheet for a commissioner who kept making me do tiny edits every.single.time.I.updated.him. It got annoying. It takes me one week to do a reference sheet with a three pose turnaround. Feel free to use mine as a base of sorts.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Ugh... I hate it when people find fault with an art piece. I'm a hobby artist; I make pixel ponies of people's OCs for free. However, I always lay down the law regarding the finished piece, namely that a) I don't do re-dos (tho I will be happy to do an OC in a different pose if the person requests again), I do need a good reference pic and since I am handdrawing everything in MS Paint, I won't do complicated cutie marks and/or clothing if I deem it too difficult. I've had people who think that just cuz I'm making these pictures for free, that they can demand anything they like and have their pic instantly.

For example; one person asked for army gear on their OC. I told them it would be difficult for me to draw, but that I could have a go. They agreed, but when I posted the finished pic, they complained about it. I told them that they agreed to my terms and I wasn't going to waste time redoing the pic to their perniticky ideal and if they wanted it done, they could either do it themselves or ask someone else. Conversely, I spent two weeks making a complex OC with lots of gradients, dithering and accessories; when I posted the finished pic, the person who's OC it was loved it and appreciated the work put in.

Bottom line is that you have to set out rules straight away whenever you make art for free or charge commission. That way, if someone demands redos or edits way beyond what is reasonable, you can simply pull the contract and fire the customer, cuz they agreed to your rules before they made their request and their demands violate said rules.

[customersruinmylife]

Thank you for your replies everyone. I sent him a side by side comparison of the photograph and the drawing. Still wasn't happy. "One of her eyes doesn't look right!" I pointed out that the piece is not finished yet but he's still complaining.

I am honestly completely and utterly furious. I've vented to my friends about this. My friends are very honest about my art. I've always insisted that they are and not sugar coat anything and they say they can find no fault. All we can think of is that he must think that the couple are much more attractive than they actually are.

The SC plays in a band and is performing tonight. I am so tempted to go and boo them.