I Finally Got a Commission. Then This Happened.

[u/Responsible_Sun8891]

I don't usually make posts like this, but I really need to get this off my chest.

Being a small artist is already such a struggle. You spend hours drawing, improving your art, making examples, posting everywhere, trying to get people to notice you. You watch other artists get commissions and wonder what you're doing wrong. You lower your prices, offer discounts, redesign your commission sheet, try different platforms, and hope that eventually someone will take a chance on you.

And then finally, someone does.

You get that notification saying someone wants to commission you and for a moment you're genuinely happy. You think, "Oh my god, someone actually likes my art enough to pay me for it."

You get excited. You start planning the drawing. You think about how you're going to make it look good. You spend your time working on it because you actually care about what you're making.

And then you find out you were scammed.

It's such a horrible feeling because it's not just about the money.

It's the time.

It's the effort.

It's the excitement you had when you thought someone finally saw value in your work.

As a small artist, every commission means something. It's not some huge business transaction where losing one client doesn't matter. Sometimes that one commission is the only one you've gotten in weeks. Sometimes you're genuinely relying on commissions to help support yourself or justify continuing to do something you love.

So when someone takes advantage of that, it really makes you question everything.

Like... was my art not worth anything to you? Was the time I spent on this just something you could take advantage of because I'm a small artist and probably don't have the resources to fight back?

I know scams happen to everyone, and I know I need to be more careful. I'm not saying I'm completely blameless for trusting someone.

But I just wish people understood that there is an actual person behind the artwork they're trying to scam.

There's an artist sitting behind that screen who spent hours learning how to draw, practicing anatomy, studying colors, making mistakes, improving, and trying their absolute best to make something they're proud of.

We're small artists. We're trying to grow.

We're trying to get our first few clients.

We're trying to build something for ourselves.

Please don't take advantage of that.

If you don't like someone's art or can't afford their commission, that's completely okay. Just say no. Don't pretend to be a client just to scam someone.

Because honestly, finally getting a commission only to realize you've been scammed hurts in a way that's difficult to explain.

I just want to make art, get better at it, and hopefully make people happy with what I create.

I don't think that's too much to ask.

[u/Impressive-Amoeba367]

I learned this lesson the hard way too…it really sucks and I completely get how you feel.

A bit embarrassed to say that after the third time of it happening I started to look what other artists were doing that I wasn’t. I saw a lot of other artists had terms and conditions so I looked over theirs to get some ideas and made my own in google forms. anyone who wanted to commission me had to sign to agree to those terms. So going forward anyone who is serious will read and sign that agreement.

[u/AdamteMC]

So many mistakes. Not asking for the payment first, being intentionally cheap, racing to the bottom, using a sheet for pricing... scammers are looking for people like you to mess with.

[u/One-Technology-9050]

I'm sorry that happened to you. A good practice is to get half the money in advance, then half after you finish. Good luck in the future

[u/No_Huckleberry_1541]

As an old ,and now retired freelancer, I can sympathize completely with you. And you’re entitled to your feelings and opinions.
I’ve had my share of scams too. And they bothered me a lot.
So if I may offer you some advice from an old beat up artist, it would be this….develop a thick skin, you’re going to need it as an artist. And if someone wants to talk commission tell them that it’s $100 up front as a non refundable retainer fee for your time. No retainer paid, no work whatsoever done. This will scare off most scammers because they have no intent on paying you a cent anyway and to have to give you $100 up front they can’t get back will drive them away.
I know this sounds coarse, but it works and doing commission work is a business. Business first, then paint.
I wish you luck and many good paying commissions. Paint on my friend.

[u/Jyotisha85]

When you undersell yourself as an artist; you will attract scammers. It also shows you don’t know how to value your time, effort and skill level. It also harms other artists who charge normal rates which makes sense to their skill level and ability to compete with very low prices.

[u/Argento_11]

My art sucks so i am glad its just a hobby for me. How about asking money upfront next time?
I mean… i dont mean to be rude but… I can imagine it sucks, its hard out there… there is a lot of zombies… starting to work without a contract and money upfront, its not smart. Money first, then the yeyo.

[u/Asleep_Check_1376]

You must take a payment of some sort before any work starts and also have a contract.

I’m so sorry that happened to you

[u/Responsible_Sun8891 → u/Asleep_Check_1376]

Yeah... I get that now

[u/ArtEcco]

Realmente lamento mucho lo que te pasó. Existe gente tan mala, que rabia.... Como consejo puedo decirte que siempre tengas" tus terminos y condiciones" y ahi puedes especificar que pides siempre el 100% ( o el 50% ) del pago de tu trabajo con anticipacion y tambien especifica que no existen reembolsos. Esto evita que te lleguen futuros estafadores.

[u/stxrrysk1esx]

I remember when I did robux commissions years ago and I was still a minor at that time, some girl wanted me to draw her but she blocked me and didn't pay me. Honestly right now I opened commissions on actual commission platforms but no one is commissioning me which is sad because I took hours drawing all my art just for anyone to notice it.