Question about etiquette... who better to ask then you ladies?
I hit up this guy on Facebook to do a painting for my mom for Father's Day. Yes, I give my mom presents and tell her Happy Father's Day since she was my mother and father.
The artist has agreed to do a custom print. He drew up the sketch, and honestly, I LOVE it! His art is so awesome.
I've made 2 suggestions... in the past 2 days to change the picture. One was a no-brainer, it looked like the girl in the picture was going to shoot her eye out.
The second was there were butterflies in the picture. My mom is not a girly type of woman, she's a tough cookie but very classy and lady. Pink and butterflies aren't her thing.
Is it rude to tell an artist stuff like that? Because now another thing is bothering me in the picture :( I don't want to insult him and honestly what I told him was I suck at art. Every time I touch art I mess it up so I'm worried my suggestions are just effing up the picture.
How do I tell him in a way to not be insulting? When does it become insulting?
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children
I think that when you commission a piece you absolutley should give that sort of feedback. Tell him exactly what you've told us. You love his work, the piece is fantastic but you have some notes. Ask him if he is willing to make changes based on your feedback. Be prepared to commit to tell him how many more drafts you expect to request. If the one other thingthing is going to be your last comment, tell him that up front.
So what is the last thing that is bothering you about the picture?
Everything the pp said except don't ask him if it's okay for you to make suggestions; just matter-of-factly tell him what you want, just as you did here: "You know what? My mom's not a girly-girl; the I think the butterflies are darling but mom won't go for that, okay? Also....
He wants your feedback. He wants you to love the final product. Independent artists usually rely on word-of-mouth for trade; he doesn't want you telling people you hate that there are butterflies on the painting but you didn't feel he'd be open to positive feedback and constructive criticism. He wants you to tell people how easy it was to tell him what you wanted and how wonderfully he complied.
He's depending on you to help him make you and mom happy so don't be shy, and don't be apologetic; you're paying him and you're the boss! A benevolent, sweet, boss.
BTW: Nice cleavage. Put the girls away. I don't know what to look at; your face or your boobs.
This is a G-rated site, you know. ;)
You just made me laugh out loud!! Well thanks, my boyfriend says the same thing!
And I love the advice. I actually just called him and told him over the phone that I love her, but just one more suggestion... before this, all of our communication was through texts.
And yes, word of mouth is important! He already knows I own another piece of his art so I'm not just jerking him around, ya know?
Quoting JonJon:
BTW: Nice cleavage. Put the girls away. I don't know what to look at; your face or your boobs.
This is a G-rated site, you know. ;)
1) I would have given the proper info before he began his work. Your mom's likes and dislikes as well as you wanted and didn't care for to be in the piece. (Butterflies and pink)
2) I would have take a hard look at the piece and ask for all the changes you want at once or at the agreed amount of times feedback was acceptable. Some artist rather you just say all at once as it saves them time and money. Others realize that you may focus so much on one detail you dislike that you overlook other stuff untill that one thing is gone.
3) I would be nice about it. Say things you like about the piece and then say but this is just not my mom. And at the end add a little $omething extra for his hardwork. That extra more than likely won't cover all the extras but shows appreciation for all the headache within the process.
Good luck and I think it is cool that you honor your mom's hardwork on father's day.
The last thing is the skeleton has Frida Kahlo eyebrows, which is actually sort of the theme. My mom isn't into Frida, but I am. I don't want to make it too "Frida-ish" if that makes sense.
Quoting Suzy_Sunshine:
I think that when you commission a piece you absolutley should give that sort of feedback. Tell him exactly what you've told us. You love his work, the piece is fantastic but you have some notes. Ask him if he is willing to make changes based on your feedback. Be prepared to commit to tell him how many more drafts you expect to request. If the one other thingthing is going to be your last comment, tell him that up front.
So what is the last thing that is bothering you about the picture?
Skeletons should not have ANY eyebrows let alone ones that prominent!
I'm glad you got it all worked out.
Quoting viv212:The last thing is the skeleton has Frida Kahlo eyebrows, which is actually sort of the theme. My mom isn't into Frida, but I am. I don't want to make it too "Frida-ish" if that makes sense.
Quoting Suzy_Sunshine:
I think that when you commission a piece you absolutley should give that sort of feedback. Tell him exactly what you've told us. You love his work, the piece is fantastic but you have some notes. Ask him if he is willing to make changes based on your feedback. Be prepared to commit to tell him how many more drafts you expect to request. If the one other thingthing is going to be your last comment, tell him that up front.
So what is the last thing that is bothering you about the picture?
I'm such a ginormous fan of Frida Kahlo. She and I are muy sympatico except I never would have had the courage to be with a woman; I happy just appreciating women for the living works of art women are.
Quoting viv212:The last thing is the skeleton has Frida Kahlo eyebrows, which is actually sort of the theme. My mom isn't into Frida, but I am. I don't want to make it too "Frida-ish" if that makes sense.
Quoting Suzy_Sunshine:
I think that when you commission a piece you absolutley should give that sort of feedback. Tell him exactly what you've told us. You love his work, the piece is fantastic but you have some notes. Ask him if he is willing to make changes based on your feedback. Be prepared to commit to tell him how many more drafts you expect to request. If the one other thingthing is going to be your last comment, tell him that up front.
So what is the last thing that is bothering you about the picture?
I would definitely say somethng now. Especialy since you are giving it as a gift and only you know what she likes. We used to go to Hershey Park every year and the first time I laid out $40 (a lot of money to us) to have our picture done as "cartoons." They looked so much like us it was awesome!! The next year I had them do all 3 of my sons together ($75, beause they usually only do 2 people per pic), howevever all 3 of my kids look NOTHING like any of them and I am so dissappointed that I didn't have to balls to say something & have them redo do it. I have worked retail for about 35 yrs and the customer should (usually) be right. I kept the pic and I have it hanging in my house, however now 7 yrs later I still regret not getting it done right at the time. Tell 'em exactly how you feel since you guys are the ones that will be hanging it and having to look at all the time. He is done with it as soon as he hands it over to. DO NOT SETTLE and regret it later. That is not rude, it is getting what you paid for. Would you keep the wrong size shoe or the wrong color dress?? Nope, same thing. Be happy with what you have bought! Good Luck!! And what an awesome gift idea!! very nice :0
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- viv212
on Jun. 12, 2012 at 10:35 PM