To refuse to pay for this commission?

I thought of that!

Don't think he signed all like that though.

I was going to say that of course you should pay then I read the rest of your post!

She knew you didn't like or want the huge signature and were prepared to go elsewhere to avoid it but then did it anyway.

I wouldn't pay for it.

Portraits are incredibly personal and a portraiture artist will spend time getting to know both the subject and the person commissioning to ensure their style and what the commissioner is looking for are a good match. I have refused commissions when I consider my style and way of working does not suit what someone is looking for. You were very clear that you did not want a bright red signature splashed over the work. That might be appropriate for a tag for graffiti but not for a specified piece of fine art portraiture. The artist did what you had clearly expressed you did not want and has blighted the work. She should expect that to ruin the sale for her. It MIGHT be possible to paint over depending on the pigment and medium used but experience has taught me most reds can be enduring and leach through. (If you know the paint used and the exact name for the red colour I can check for you)

If I produce a finished piece of work the person commissioning is not happy about I do not expect them to pay for that. I do ask for a none returnable deposit for commissions to cover the costs of materials and make it clear that if a person does not pay for the final piece I as the artist own the work to do with as I wish it as well as the copyright.Most portraits cannot be sold on so it pays me to listen and get it right the first time around.

Earning money as an artist is a very tough hussle . You will only ever earn what the target market is willing to pay and if you do not listen to your clients and produce the work they have requested you can expect them to go elsewhere.

You being asked to pay out £200 for a portrait that has been ruined by not meeting your specification is unreasonable.

I’d tell her I’ll pay - as long as she paints the offending signature out. I’m no artist but surely that is possible?

YANBU - You had an agreement that she wouldn't put her signature on it and she renaged on the agreement.

Don't pay.

Or more like this?

I'm struggling to imagine what this signature looks like that has such an impact on the artwork yet she can't understand the issue?

She sounds a bit strange basically spoiling her own work. Tell her its not what you want and then get someone else to paint a picture for you. What an odd thing to do.

She's not meeting her market it seems, but at the same time, if she wasn't your sister, her style doesn't meet your wishes.

I think you should have just kept to your first decision and chosen an artist that you like and not expect an artist to change her style.

How frustrating.

I wouldn't pay until she's rectified it. Get it in writing. 'Signature to cover no more than a 3cm squared area.'

Your DSis sounds breathtakingly arrogant and stupid in equal measure.

I wish you could post one of her pictures but obviously you can't

Does she think she's Van Gogh

I actually think vincent's signatures are very small and subtle compared with what op describes

There are lots of talented artists out there who could do a portrait exactly how you want for £200. I’m one of them! Please consider using an artist who will treat you professionally and who takes their business seriously. It makes me so cross when people like your sis give artists a bad name.

Given the history you were extremely naive in commissioning from her.

I'm an Illustrator and I work on commissions. Your sister is being unreasonable. As an artist when you take on a commission you have to realise that you are not doing the artwork for yourself, you are being paid to do it for another individual to THEIR specifications. You have to go by the brief you are given, you cannot just go off piste and do what you like, contrary to what has been asked of you. If you sister doesn't realise that by now she shouldn't be doing commissions for anybody. As an artist working on commissions you have GOT to be flexible and you cannot be precious, you are doing a job of work for a client, and what they want is what you must produce. And if she is serious about doing this she ought to have a contract in writing for each commission. You asked her not to put the big red signature on there and she ignored your wishes - and as there is no written contract you are not obliged to pay for a piece of artwork that you are unhappy with. She ought to have done what was asked of her.

"I specifically said I did not want your signature on the painting, you did it anyway. I don't want the painting and I am certainly not paying for it".

She really needs to learn to listen to her customers rather than to her ego.

She either has a big ego to support or more likely is trying to create a following based on her as a 'brand' rather than the quality of what she produces. Tbf it is a strategy that pays well for some.

I create for a living, mainly to commission, including some painting, though rarely portraiture. Some is through sub contracting and some direct to the end client. I am seeking work and accepting payment for a piece of work I have created, not my name. My name only has any relevance where people are collecting my work, hoping to resell.
I have winced at some requests and have to make a decision to accept the requirements or not accept the work.

Similar to triballeader I have systems in place to both ensure clients are happy and that I own the piece/s until such point as they have been accepted and paid for. The last thing I want is a dissatisfied client showing my work and telling everyone how unhappy they are with it.

You have been talked into commissioning work, then ignored over something you specified you did not want. While it's a verbal contract, it still breaches that contract and you are under no obligation to accept and pay for the piece as is.

Hopefully she'll paint over the signature for you before you handover any money. It's odd that as a commission artist she would continue to do this despite specific requests from clients. I suspect there's a number of customers who've cropped the painting to exclude the signature.

Don’t pay and don’t take it off her. She can learn her lesson the hard way. Either follow the brief you are given or don’t get paid and have a mountain of pictures you don’t want stored in your garage

I presume you meant Frida Kahlo?

Freida Pinto - the original one - is still very much alive; although not especially well-known for her painting skills!!

To be fair, at least that is a photo of S E-B - and not the name of the photographer scribbled across it!

It might not have been quiiite so bad if she'd plastered 'Rover' across it in red; but everybody will be quite perplexed at why you would name a dog Laura Elizabeth Perkins

I can't imagine anybody painting over the signature is going to make it look very nice, if it's right across the middle of all the detail of the subject.

I agree with all the above, you were clear that you didn't want the offending red signature and your sister hasn't followed what you've asked for, so you need to stand firm and not pay unless it can be rectified to meet your requirements.

I may be missing the point but - I thought artists signed their work so that anyone viewing the art knew who it was painted by, or to 'add value' so that the work could be absolutely known as theirs in cases of collectibility or fraud.

She's your SISTER. So you know who painted the bloody picture, it was your SISTER. And you're not likely to be selling on a picture of YOUR OWN DOG. So those two elements can be discounted. Leaving the only one remaining - she thinks her work will one day be worth millions, only if it's signed.

In which case a small signature in the corner is generally accepted. Having her name right across the entire picture is just ego over subject. And pointless, because SHE'S YOUR SISTER.

Don't pay. Get someone else to paint your dog and hang the picture somewhere very very obvious. Because you love it and you hate the version she painted.

You were very clear.

Commissioned work = artist paints what client wants (sister or not!).

If she wants to paint to her style, with the subjects and elements she prefers, then she can do that and hope it sells to someone who loves it, but its not how you do portrait commissions, ever!

I illustrate and occasionally do commissions, and I just cannot IMAGINE purposely adding an element the client had specifically requested not be added and then still expect payment!