I usually work in animation, but I also do illustration commissions. A friend who is an up and coming model asked me to produce an illustration to post to her followers as a birthday gift.
Client: Can you draw a picture of me, one like the one you drew of yourself?
I produced a rough ink drawing. It’s not cartoony (like mine was), but I had a hunch she would prefer a more realistic drawing. Considering her modelling background, I didn’t want to be unflattering. It looked good.
Me: Ok, here’s a drawing I did of you. I hope you like it.
She uploaded the illustration.
Client: so when are you going to draw that picture for me?
Client: No, the real one. Like the one that you drew of yourself.
I end up working on another, much more time-consuming piece. I ask for the client to provide photo reference and even pose reference of how they would like to look (since I know that they’re particular). I work on a more stylised drawing.
Me: Ok, here are a few sketches. Choose the one you like most and I’ll finish it.
Client: It doesn’t look like me. Can you make it look more like me?
Me: Less cartoony? More realistic?
I redraw the drawing in a more realistic style. I produce two un-rendered pieces to choose from because I know that my client is particular.
Client: You used the wrong photo. I’ll get you a different one.
Me: You gave me both of these photos and I drew both of them for you. Are you telling me they’re both wrong?
Client: Yeah. Let me get you another one.
After one ink drawing, two sketch drawings and two renderings I am actually tracing the photo by this stage. Shame on me but I am mad and not getting paid.
Me: Here is your drawing.
Client: It doesn’t look like me. Can you make it look more like me?
Me: This is actually traced directly from your photo. This is how you look.
Client: (a long silence) …Ok just change the eyes to look more like me.
I change the eyes to look less like her.
Client: It’s great! I’m really close to reaching my new follower landmark on my main page. How soon can you finish it by?
Client: Yeah, like, with color?
So now, apparently she expects me to color it. I move around my schedule to get it done, and hand it over. I say that I don’t have any more time for any changes the just have to have the piece as it is. I’m done. After a few days, I get a message from my client.
Client: The picture’s great! I’ve uploaded it now.
I check to see if the post got any attention. As it turns out, she uploaded the piece to her Instagram story. The piece is online for only 24 hours (less time than it took to draw it) and if they click her story, and then it disappears forever. It took me longer to make this piece.