Should I get a new artist?

[infel]

I've been reading this threat about commissioning and it made me realize that I'm in a similar problem. My artist has done a decent deal of work, but for the past month I haven't gotten a single thing. I was suppose to do a Kickstarter but it's been delayed for a long time...I heard from him two weeks ago after waiting two weeks to get a massage from and now he's doing it again. So I don't know what to do....Should I get an new artist or just wait it out? If I do get a new one does anyone know an artist who can do something like this....

http://lemmasoft.renai.us/forums/viewto ... 16&t=30952


I know people have lives outside of Vn's and I understand. But I still need to know what's going on...Anyway advice would really help. Also if you know of an commissioning affordable artist please let me know.

[trooper6]

For some people contact every two weeks might be normal. Since your project is free, are you not paying your artist? Or would payment come from Kickstarter if successful? I would recommend sending an email to your artist laying out your expectations for contact and timelines. Ask if your artist can do this or if your artist needs to bow out. Give your artist a two week deadline to contact you with an answer to your email. And if you get no response, then maybe it is time to move on. But you should talk to the artist first with your intention to make a break if you two don't get back on a mutually agreeable schedule.

[KairuKyun]

So im guessing its hibiki. If that's the case. Wait, he is a great artist but does things at his own pace. I had him work on NOBY, and than fired him during one of his weeks where he was gone. I wouldn't change if you have alot done. Just message him and when he messages back talk it out and figure out a schedule and such. Switching art is not easy at all. I know from experience..

[trooper6]

So im guessing its hibiki. If that's the case. Wait, he is a great artist but does things at his own pace. I had him work on NOBY, and than fired him during one of his weeks where he was gone. I wouldn't change if you have alot done. Just message him and when he messages back talk it out and figure out a schedule and such. Switching art is not easy at all. I know from experience..

See, this is a situation where reviews would be useful. If there were reviews letting people know this artist is good, will eventually finish the work, but usually takes their sweet time and is bad with communication...then people could go into that with foreknowledge. Someone who doesn't mind would be able to go in that relationship knowing lack of communication doesn't mean the work won't get done. On the other hand, people who have anxiety about lack of regular contact would know this might not be the artist for them.

[SundownKid]

You could do the Kickstarter and use the art to market the game, then use the proceeds from the Kickstarter to commission a new artist?

[PyTom]

That's kind of misleading to the kickstarter backers.

[Saitoki1582]

You could do the Kickstarter and use the art to market the game, then use the proceeds from the Kickstarter to commission a new artist?

Uhm... I doubt that would work. If people is aware that currently there is no artist, they won't trust to give their money to the project, because artwork is a vital point when it come to marketing VN. And if you don't let people know that there is currently no artist then that would be misleading and could result in a lot of backlash.

[infel]

So im guessing its hibiki. If that's the case. Wait, he is a great artist but does things at his own pace. I had him work on NOBY, and than fired him during one of his weeks where he was gone. I wouldn't change if you have alot done. Just message him and when he messages back talk it out and figure out a schedule and such. Switching art is not easy at all. I know from experience..

Ah, I see. So that's what happened. I'm sorry about that =(. As you said he's talented and pretty friendly, but this has been going on for a month and a half. He had school and I understood that. I even gave 200 dollars in advanced to help him, but I don't think I should've because if I get someone new I've lost two dollars with nothing done. I don't think he's a runner at all, but I don't know if I can work with him =(. I get it takes time. In fact my Reach for the Stars artist won't be able to do my project for a while because of school and I'm okay with that because she told me. Like you I just need good communication.

[infel]

So im guessing its hibiki. If that's the case. Wait, he is a great artist but does things at his own pace. I had him work on NOBY, and than fired him during one of his weeks where he was gone. I wouldn't change if you have alot done. Just message him and when he messages back talk it out and figure out a schedule and such. Switching art is not easy at all. I know from experience..

See, this is a situation where reviews would be useful. If there were reviews letting people know this artist is good, will eventually finish the work, but usually takes their sweet time and is bad with communication...then people could go into that with foreknowledge. Someone who doesn't mind would be able to go in that relationship knowing lack of communication doesn't mean the work won't get done. On the other hand, people who have anxiety about lack of regular contact would know this might not be the artist for them.

I've been paying him and I we have talked things out a bit. I know he's working on CG's for a much bigger project and they take time to do for him, so maybe he's overwhelmed. If that's the case then I just wish he'd tell me and not leave me hanging =(. I wouldn't be angry at all if he had to stop The Rejects.

[infel]

Don't think I would do a Kickstarter for sprites. I've always believed a person must come up with the first few hundred to get the game started then do a Kickstarter once they have something to show.

[SundownKid]

That's kind of misleading to the kickstarter backers.

Not necessarily... as long as you say that the art is a representation of what the final product would look like, rather than representing it as exactly what the final art would look like. There are plenty of Kickstarters that have used temporary art to market the game. It couldn't be any worse than Mighty No. 9 marketing the game with 2D concept art and switching to 3D.

[firecat]

That's kind of misleading to the kickstarter backers.

Not necessarily... as long as you say that the art is a representation of what the final product would look like, rather than representing it as exactly what the final art would look like. There are plenty of Kickstarters that have used temporary art to market the game. It couldn't be any worse than Mighty No. 9 marketing the game with 2D concept art and switching to 3D.

even if it sounds like a good idea you will lose backers for misleading them. they are your fans so treat them like any human being, just lying makes people consider the criticality of your skills.

[SundownKid]

I never said "lie and tell backers the art will look like so and so". Just using it as temporary placeholder art and an approximation of what the final version would look like, and including a highly obvious disclaimer as such.

[Kailoto]

I think the more prevalent problem is that if you're using crowdfunding for your contingency plan, you already have bigger problems. >.>

Regarding the OP... it really depends on you want to do with it. If you don't have any deadlines you need to meet, I'd probably stick with the artist myself - it's a real pain to switch around team members midway through a project. Do have a talk to make sure you're on the same page though. Maybe set up a schedule for progress reports (e.g. once-weekly updates on Sunday) so that you actually have a tangible metric to measure them by. And if you do decide to switch artists, make sure you're on the same page then as well; communication is a two-way street, and it's generally a good idea to end a relationship on amicable terms.

[Auro-Cyanide]

I never said "lie and tell backers the art will look like so and so". Just using it as temporary placeholder art and an approximation of what the final version would look like, and including a highly obvious disclaimer as such.

I think this can be a double edged sword since you need to ensure your final art quality is as good or better than the ones you originally presented otherwise you are going to have to deal with a lot of people complaining and you'll drive your poor artist nuts trying to fix the problem.