I feel really bad about this real artists can’t get commissions because of bots and scammers. People end up with trust issues, and artists get bothered by messages like “if you’re available, DM me,” or fake payment screenshots.
@coffeeandtheton and I know we say it every week, but thank you so, so much to everyone who is reading, leaving comments and kudos, leaving comments and questions in our Tumblr inboxes. Please know that in the background, we are giggling with excitement over every single one.
and that's our wrap on May!
June is very very busy for this story, so keep your eyes out bfor some extra surprises (starting tomorrow!)
I’ve ordered custom physical pieces before. Most of them were fine. You talk to a craftsperson, agree on the design, pay, wait, get your little object, everyone’s happy.
And then there was the last one.
A couple of years ago I decided to commission a silver piece. I did everything you’re “supposed” to do. I found a girl who worked with silver and stones, sent references, gave her my broken silver jewelry to melt down, paid a 130$ deposit. We even went through a 3D model phase.
On paper, that sounds almost professional. In practice it was a mess.
There were no clear rules of how she worked, no written scope, no boundaries. When something in their render was obviously off, I had to literally draw over the image myself and explain where the proportions were wrong. Someone on their side couldn’t see what was staring them in the face — and I was the one fixing the sketch.
And then, the moment I started questioning the process, she suddenly switched into “I’m the artist, don’t tell me how to do my job” mode. No contract, no clarity, but very confident about “rights”.
At some point I just looked at this circus and thought: I don’t need this that much.
So I walked away. I didn’t claw back the deposit. I didn’t demand my silver back. I decided the price of getting my time and sanity back was higher than the price of the commission. That’s the real cost of a failed custom job when you’re an adult who can afford it but honestly doesn’t want to live in someone else’s chaos.
And this is the part missing from all those moral lectures about “support real artists” and “if you want something custom, just pay a human”.
You’re not just paying for the object.
You’re paying for:
the risk that their taste will not match yours
the risk that their communication is a disaster
the risk that they have zero process, zero clarity, and a very loud ego
If it goes wrong, the loss is entirely on you. The artist keeps the time, the experience, sometimes the materials, often the money. You keep… a story.
That’s for a physical piece. Now imagine being a broke student trying to commission digital art: 50–100$ for a book cover in a style that “kinda doesn’t fit”, hoping it’ll magically work out, knowing that if it doesn’t, you just burned a week’s worth of food money. And people seriously say, with a straight face, “if you can’t draw, just pay for commissions”.
Right. Into this environment walks AI.
Suddenly you can:
experiment endlessly for the price of a subscription, or for free
iterate until you feel it’s right, not until someone else gets bored
avoid the entire gamble of “will this stranger’s taste and ego align with my brain today”
And somehow the narrative is that you’re the villain for preferring that over throwing money at a person whose process you can’t trust.
Everyone needs money. Artists, writers, artisans — yes, obviously. But let’s stop pretending the commission model is some pure, sacred economy of “pay for honest work”. It’s also an economy of failed expectations, misaligned taste, missing boundaries and the client quietly swallowing the loss because fighting for a refund costs more energy than the piece is worth.
I’ve been on that side. I know what it feels like to decide “you know what, keep the silver, keep the deposit, I’m out”.
After that, reading “support real art, just commission someone” hits very differently.
Some of yall will probably already know this but its still very important to get out, especially for younger artists and those new to tumblr!!!!
IF YOU POST ART AND THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE COMMENTS ASKING IF YOU COMMISSION AND TO DM/MESSAGE THEM
IT IS VERY LIKELY A SCAM!!!!
I see so many bots under tumblr posts trying to get those artists to message them so they can get their money/info!!! PLEASE don't fall for these scams and report and block them!!!
If your not sure if someone's a bot, look at their account. Do they have a unique name and profile picture. Do they have a bio, pinned comment, or anything to indicate that they are a real person? Have they posted and liked anything? If they have, check those posts to see if they've left the same copy pasted comments. Careful bc some bots can be more discreet than others.
Also, practice basic internet safety. Don't post personal information like your id, full name, bank account, or really anything else that people can use to steal your identity. Be careful about what photos you post as someone might be able to track your location or steal your identity. These are ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT for anyone under the age of 18 but can apply to anyone!!!
Im not experienced in commissions to know how they exactly work so its better to ask someone with experience how to commission people and safely receive the money.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL ON THE INTERNET!!! There are so many people who'd love to take advantage of you and your info! Even if you dont believe that'll happen to you its better to be safe than sorry!
You interrupt another woman flirting with your husband Leon Kennedy at a bar.
💍 “Actually… she was there first.”
The bar is dim, warm, and loud enough that no one pays attention to anyone else — except you. You’ve been watching Leon from across the room, the way he leans against the counter, the way the amber lights catch in his hair. He’s waiting for your drinks, minding his own business.
And then she appears.
A woman slides up beside him, all confidence and lip gloss, tapping her nails on the bar as she leans in far too close. You can’t hear her words, but you don’t need to. Her body language says everything.
Leon gives her that polite, tight smile — the one he uses when he’s trying not to be rude but is absolutely not interested.
Still, she keeps going.
You take a slow sip of your drink, watching. You could intervene immediately… but where’s the fun in that?
You set your glass down and glide across the bar, letting your hips sway just a little. Leon sees you approaching, and the corner of his mouth lifts — that subtle, private smile he only gives you.
You slip between them, placing a hand on Leon’s chest as if you’re just another flirtatious stranger.
“Well hey there, handsome,” you purr, tilting your head up at him. “Buy me a drink?”
Leon plays along instantly, his hand settling on your waist like it belongs there — because it does. “Depends,” he murmurs, eyes locked on yours. “You always this forward with married men?”
The woman scoffs loudly. “Um, excuse me? I was talking to him first.”
You turn to her with the sweetest, deadliest smile. “Oh, were you? My mistake.”
Leon lifts your hand, brushing his thumb over your wedding ring — the one that matches his.
“Actually,” he says, voice low and warm, “she was there first.”
You hold up your hand, letting the ring catch the light. Leon does the same. The woman’s face goes from annoyed to mortified in half a second.
“Oh.” She steps back, flustered. “I… didn’t realize.”
You lean into Leon, resting your head briefly against his shoulder. “It’s okay,” you say lightly. “He’s very pretty. I get it.”
Leon chuckles, kissing your temple. “But taken,” he adds, looking straight at the woman. “Very taken.”
She mutters something and retreats, disappearing into the crowd.
As soon as she’s gone, Leon turns to you fully, sliding both arms around your waist. “You enjoy that a little too much.”
You grin up at him. “Maybe. You complaining?”
“Not even a little.” He kisses you — slow, claiming, amused. “But next time, just come rescue me sooner.”
You laugh softly. “Where’s the fun in that?”
He shakes his head, smiling like he’s helplessly in love with you — because he is. “You’re trouble.”
“And you married me anyway.”
“Best mistake I ever made.”
He hands you your drink, fingers brushing yours, and the two of you walk back to your table — rings gleaming, hearts steady, and the whole bar knowing exactly who he belongs to.
Bro if I get one more spam art commissions bot in my fic comments I'm going to start biting aauuughhh
I make traditional fanart of my blorbos and OCs. I'm not paying for shit. I don't post most of it publicly because I don't want my shit being scraped.
Most people can ignore this but just know I'm getting cranky about this particular thing.
The people that have reached out and said how much they love Michael and Ophelia however in earnest, you'll inherit the earth I know it :) I stg I'm getting there with more parts, I don't rush writing. Plus I like tinkering with older parts, doing minor editing fixes done
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