Beyond Redemption

I was chatting with someone about this and I just have to weigh in on it. First of all, the artist, purchaser, etc, will remain anonymous, and I assure you that it is NOT me. I, for one, have never had an issue with any of my artists, which is why I’m a repeat customer. My ladies, whom I lovingly refer to as “Kiki’s Angels” (Watches them strike a pose with guns n’ shit) are fabulous artists and even better friends and I know that when I seek them out for a commission, I’m going to be wildly happy. 😀

Now, back to the story. Basically, this is it in a nutshell: Someone I know commissioned art from someone and was completely dissatisfied with the transaction. First, after paying in full upfront, they never got a rough draft. That, to me, is outrageous.  If your commissioning something from someone, shouldn’t you get a draft before it’s colored so that you can approve the final project? In my experience, that’s when you let the artist know if you’d like any changes -before they spend time coloring it. And if you do want changes, you work together until the purchaser is satisfied. What is the point of buying art if you don’t like it?

Then, once the art was done, the artist didn’t notify the client. They simply posted the art to their public gallery without so much as a heads up. No note, or anything stating that the art was ready. Again, outrageous. If you’ve noticed, my commissions don’t appear on any of my ladies’ galleries. I let it be known from the start that what I commission is for my websites and I don’t want that work associated with any other site but mine. That’s what I’m paying for when I commission and they’re okay with it. 😀

When the client asked that the art be pulled since they bought it for a reason and not to be on display for anyone to take, use, etc. (like they do with so much created art that is tossed onto all of these sheezy art type sites), the artist balked and said, in so many words, that the art is theirs and that all artists do this.

By this, I mean accepting payment for art, but still retaining all rights to it, and being the one to decide whether or not it can be posted at all, including by the person that commissioned it.

o.O WUT?

So, the artist wants to accept payment for a commission, but still have the right to decide where the art ends up, still has the right to post the art wherever they like, and also have the right to decide if YOU, the person that paid them, can do something with the art?  GET BENT.

As the one that paid for the art, YOU own the art. Period. If you don’t want it posted anywhere, that is your right. The commission wasn’t cheap, so the argument about “I worked really hard and I want it posted on my site” doesn’t fly. The artist was paid for that effort, were they not? They didn’t turn on photoshop for free, now did they? If they accepted a fee, they are now drawing for a client, not themselves, and they do not own the art unless they plan to return the fee.

Imagine you’re the owner of a company and you pay an artist to design a logo for your business ad. Now imagine that artist telling you that your logo belongs to them and they want to put it in other places where it can possibly be used, and they also will let you know if you can use it in your ad. Hey, they may let you, they may not, but it’s up to them to decide.

Can you see the fucking absurdity in that?

I’ve been blessed with knowing some really fantastic artists. They’ve given me giftpics, allowed me to commission them, the works. I appreciate them to a ridiculous degree, not only because their talent is awing, but because they’re sharing it with me. When I receive art as a gift, I don’t bat an eyelash when they post it to their public galleries. Why would I? They gave me a gift and it’s not my place to make any demands of any kind. In fact, I post it, too, and sing their praises to anyone that will listen.

However, when I pay for it, that’s my art and I’m within my rights to ask certain things of them especially when those requests are not unreasonable. I’m not trying to claim their art as my own, and I credit every artist and graphic designer that I use on my websites. I never, ever attempt to take credit for anyone’s work. So if I ask that the art I bought not be listed in places outside of my network of websites, I don’t think there should be a problem.

So, I guess the moral of the story is that when purchasing, the buyer should work out everything to the last detail before laying their cash down. If the artist thinks the art is still theirs, even if you’ve paid them for it, that is an artist to avoid. If you don’t want your art posted in their private and public galleries, say so, and if they balk, walk away. It doesn’t make sense to shell out money for something that isn’t really yours, does it? Besides, there are a lot of artists out here that would appreciate a commission; you don’t have to settle.