Don't Piss Off the Artist

[Kristev]

Yes, it is nice to find artists who will, say, draw your madeup characters from scratch. It's hard to get people to do this.

The artist I hired did, for books 4 and 5. (I didn't meet her before then.) The first time, she got it wrong. The second, however, she was much more accurate.

[unholypet]

Thank God for punctuation. I thought I was gonna have to change my opinion about you.

Well, there goes my peanut butter sandwich all over the monitor

[crashhelmet]

...No drawing, painting, scarification, scabbing, carving, or sculpting. Poop.

Thank God for punctuation. I thought I was gonna have to change my opinion about you.

Bravo on the pwnage! Creative dry spells always suck. Especially when you've got customer sand deadlines waiting. Let's hope it doesn't last any longer than it has.

CH

[Magpie]

I'm a believer in giving as much detail as possible about anything I care about, and saying absolutely nothing about stuff that I either don't care about, or can't specify to my liking. Therefore no one ever has to figure out which of my insane instructions to ignore.

[Tama]

Yes, it is nice to find artists who will, say, draw your madeup characters from scratch. It's hard to get people to do this.

[Pairou]

It's great when the person isn't too worried about what it'll look like. But it'll save a lot of both sides' time if there's more detail- I don't read minds so if you don't like it, it's more work for me and a longer wait for you.

Unless of course the person really doesn't care too much what it looks like, then I get to have fun with it. c:

[unholypet]

Yup. Include any and all detail that you possibly can.

That way, you're more likely to get something that looks like what you thought it would, and the artist doesn't have to worry about whether or not the artistic license they're taking will cause issues.

Yes yes yes, please...

Even if you think that the suggestions or requests are bothering them, it is YOUR money to spend on something the way you want it. Always being upfront before the actual art process is started is the most awesome thing you can do.

[Andara Bledin]

Yup. Include any and all detail that you possibly can.

That way, you're more likely to get something that looks like what you thought it would, and the artist doesn't have to worry about whether or not the artistic license they're taking will cause issues.

^-.-^

[Gravekeeper]

Anytime I've commissioned something I just tell the artist I'd like a drawing of this character of mine, show them the reference images, and leave it at that. From there on I see it as the artist choice on anything that happens.

Quite the opposite actually. Commissioning art is the same as comissioning any other product. Be as detailed as is humanly possible to the artist about what you want. It will be far less headaches on both sides and far less potential disappointment.

[Netrogo]

Sucky customers in stores I can somewhat understand, I still think they're idiots, but I understand their mentality. They've been raised thinking the business in question will do whatever they want or they get fired blah blah blah. However a direct one on one with another person, especially an artist, seriously if you're to the point of ordering an art commission you HAVE to know they are not freaking Failmart. Anytime I've commissioned something I just tell the artist I'd like a drawing of this character of mine, show them the reference images, and leave it at that. From there on I see it as the artist choice on anything that happens. The closest I'll come to input from there is the rare time asking something like "Oh could you maybe make the shirt red? Could you make the cybernetic eye an outside model instead of inside (don't ask) etc..." If the artist says no, then to me that's no. Art = You'll take what you get and like it and I'm fine with that.

[Gravekeeper]

Damn, and I thought some of my customers were...bitchy.

But yeah, I don't think I'd have let the drink toss slide.

Though I am perfectly capable of destroying my own artwork provided I'm allowed enough time to self critique it after I'm finished. >.>

[unholypet]

But, personally, I'd have broken his jaw if he threw a drink at me.

Good job on restraint. Can I see some of your work?

Much as I would have loved to, the local police department frowns upon it =/

You can go to my public profile, and on the right is a small sample of some slightly old works.

[GreySergal]

Hmm

As a writer, and someone who has worked with artists in the past, I understand how people can get pushy about their art. I have been (usually after a wait of more than a month without, you know, contact).

So I agree with you about getting pwnage over this guy.

But, personally, I'd have broken his jaw if he threw a drink at me.

Good job on restraint. Can I see some of your work?

[protege]

People like that are exactly why I don't build models for people. Well, that and the fact I can't lay down a decent paint job without a crapload of polishing...but that's beside the point. Although, I did have someone notice that I had a Bugatti EB110 kit in my stash several years ago...and wanted to pay me...if I was willing to. I turned him down, since (at the time) the kit was a bit rare, and what he was willing to pay me...wouldn't have been worth it. I don't work for free, nor are the materials and tools that I use to build such kits.

[unholypet]

Hey! Sammich making can be an artform, too!

I totally agree. Even placing the meat or veggie in a certain order completely changes the taste/feel of the bites.

We have people who order, that INSIST upon the "correct placement" of their food items. Not so bad if we're slow, but geez do they hound us if it's busy >_<

One fool burned his fingers because he was pulling everything apart (including the bubbling gooey cheese) to "fix it."