How long have you ever waited for a faceup?

So you have been waiting for your faceup for five months?
that is too long. The longest I waited was three months and finally I asked for my head back blank. Then within a week I got a reply the faceup was done and here are the pics! sorry you have been so stressed out it's understandable.

 

I don't usually commission face-ups, but the last one I commissioned took about four weeks to complete. The artist even had a lot of RL stuff going on and other commissions. I know when I do face-ups for my own dolls and my friends, it usually takes about 1 week from start to finish... allowing time for sealant to dry, etc. I can do a "two layer" one in a day if requested.

Five months is way too long. That's way too long to wait for anything to be completed, even in the art world. You should definitely contact the artist and give them a deadline, and failing that request they give you a full/partial refund and send your doll back to you. :/

 

Well, I'll start by saying that I'm sorry things are going kind of sideways for you! I do hope they start to sort themselves out soon.

Personally, I doubt you're being intentionally and maliciously snubbed; I know the feeling of staring at a big project and just feeling unable to work on it at that moment, and it seems like your artist might be having a bit of that. You have probably experienced this as an artist as well!

That being said, I do think that this is, frankly, rather inappropriate for a business owner. In my opinion, you're well within your rights to send an email that politely but firmly states you'd like the artist to start working on your project and to get it finished as soon as they can. Whether they're busy or not, popular or not, they chose to enter into a transaction with you and are responsible for finishing the work in a timely manner and with work of their best quality. That's how running a business works.

I know how difficult it can be to "get firm" with an artist, or anyone else you've entered into a transaction with, but sometimes it's necessary. You paid money and you need to get what you paid for, regardless of the artist's circumstances. If they can't complete the work, they need to issue you a refund and move on. It sounds to me like you really want this work done though, so I'd make it abundantly clear (by mentioning the shorter wait times from the artist and projects getting done before yours) that you're getting impatient and feel that the artist is being irresponsible as a business owner.

I feel like a lot of people get a faceup with a popular artist and feel like the artist should be the driving force in the transaction. They don't want to say too much for fear of offending someome "popular," but being well-recieved as an artist does not render you exempt from good business practices and common courtesy.

I've kind of rambled a bit, because this kind of thing gets on my nerves... But anyway, my main point is that five months is a ridiculous wait and you should (politely) demand your due. There's nothing wrong with standing up for yourself, and it seems you've given this artist plenty of leeway as it is.

Good luck!

 

O I really feel you pain there. I sent two heads for a faceup and waited that long - but the person I sent it to was out of the country (I'm in the US and she is in China). I think the time would have been shorter if I had "got" on her about it but I didn't. It was frustrating - I asked if she received my heads on month 2 of the waiting time. She received them on month 1 but didn't notify me about it because I didn't include an "invoice" which I didn't know because it wasn't listed on her sales page. On month 3, I asked if she was able to send me pics and she said she was done with my order and will. I didn't hear anything for weeks but I kept bugging her about it until she did finally send pics on month 5. Anyway, I liked how the faceups turned out but I think she did it in a hurry because 1) in the pictures she sent me on month 5, her tools were still set out (I didn't think much of it at the time) but 2) after a couple of months I had my heads, some of the paint flaked off of one of the heads. I was just glad my heads came back but I won't be going back to that person (especially since I found a new go-to faceup painter!).

Anyway- this artist you hired. Have you had this person before? Either way though- I would confront the person (kindly, like you have been) and ask if they are serious in doing you doll's faceup. If they still are, then he/she shouldn't be snubbing you like that and putting other people before you. Even if they are popular and even if you said you're not in a time crunch - they still have to be considerate and be aware that they have had something of yours for that long. Its not right.

 

@akaisha0 I hope your artist works something out with you - keeps us posted! If you decide to go to another artist I have a recommendation

 

The longest I waited for a faceup for my dolls was about 8 months -- but it was from a popular artist whose work I really loved and admired and she kept in touch with me throughout the months. In the end, the faceups turned out great and I'm commissioning her again here pretty soon!

However, I have commissioned artists in the past who hit hard times and just couldn't keep up with their workload. Anytime that happened (or I suspected it did), I would offer that they can simply send my head or doll back as-is and not leave any negative feedback. This has almost always worked in the past; someone once called it 'extending an olive branch'. It's really hard to promise someone something then have to go back on it, you know?

In the end though, you have to be the one to speak up for yourself. You could try the olive branch approach, or just say that you've noticed X number of dolls coming and going and have yet to see progress on yours. There will not be any progress if you privately fume to yourself.

 

Of course if you end up asking for your head up you should get a refund of what you sent to the artist. I also think the artist should pay shipping back to you if they are in another country. But I understand if you don't want to push them paying shipping. Definitely don't let them keep the money you paid for the faceup!

 

O man, that is just the pits I've never have felt that strong about a face-up artist's style the way that you have. I was lucky enough to find a second artist who had a similar aesthetic to what I wanted that I didn't quite get from the first artist. It sounds like the artist you admire has a style that is not very common? I'm really sorry about the experience you are going through - I'm hoping you will be reunited with your dolls soon! Anyway, my recommendation: Mana of Memento Mori She did my lavender-skin Rosemii that's featured on her DoA faceup page. I can't stop gushing about her I think I'll be sending her any Peakswoods dolls I get that need a faceup but there are definitely other faceup artists I would love to have something painted by them.

 

If you've been telling the artist "No hurry, take your time", they may just be taking you at your word. You don't have to be confrontational, just ask them for a firm finish date.

 

I'm glad it all worked out well.

 

I've had one faceup done before and it took about 4 months, but the artist kept in contact with me and explaining why it was taking so long. I told her it was no biggie and to take her time. I know that sometimes life gets in the way and there are unavoidable delays. Besides, I'm naturally a very patient person, being an artist myself, I understand.

I currently have a doll out for a faceup and it's only been less than a month and she has already sent me pics for approval. It's about half way done. This is only the second faceup I've purchased.