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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To refuse to pay for this commission?

328 replies

MikStone · 19/01/2024 08:28

My Sister is an artist and I asked her to paint a portrait of my dog.

Background - she started putting huge signatures across her work in red paint - So many people have told her that the signatures are OTT and distracting and actually ruin the painting - people on Facebook, people in her art group, family members … past customers have asked her not to do it on their portraits but she always does. One person argued with her that the portrait was amazing but was ruined by the signature, they wanted some money knocked off because of it. I asked her “why do you keep doing that when so many people have told you it ruins the pictures??” And she says “it doesn’t ruin them, that’s my style and most people like it” no they don’t!!

anyway when I asked her to do mine I was actually looking around for someone else to do it and when she asked why I hadn’t asked her I told her I don’t like the huge signatures she does. She laughed and said “I don’t have to do the signature!”

So I agreed for her to do it as long as she doesn’t put a massive signature on it.

Weeks later, I’m getting a bit impatient as I really wanted it weeks ago and had I gone to someone else it would have been done by now. She sent me an update on it last week and it was looking amazing, I was so excited about it.

Last night she sent me the finished work - massive red signature across it. I replied saying “why have you ruined it with that stupid signature?! I can’t accept it like that”. She replied saying the signature was a lot smaller than she normally does them and she’s spent weeks on it and needs paying. I don’t want it :-( The agreement was so daft signature, she went against that. WIBU to not accept it?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
duckpancakes · 19/01/2024 17:37

FUPAgirl · 19/01/2024 16:42

Op, you're the best 👌 I really do hope that you frame your work 🤩

Oh my goodness! Yes do that!!!!

duckpancakes · 19/01/2024 17:37

PianPianPiano · 19/01/2024 16:32

Please PLEASE do this OP!

Thirded

MikStone · 19/01/2024 17:40

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 19/01/2024 15:56

Can you try a dachshund next please, OP?

Your wish is my command! 😂

To refuse to pay for this commission?
OP posts:
Snowydaysfaraway · 19/01/2024 17:40

Tell dsis you decided to go with a more professional artist... And you paid £400 for it... Then frame your own work..

harriethoyle · 19/01/2024 17:42

MikStone · 19/01/2024 15:01

It’s like this - signature right across the actual subject. Clearly I’m not an artist 😂 the actual dog was beautifully done (when you look beyond the signature)

Your picture has made me cry helplessly with laughter. DH thinks I've totally lost the plot. I'd definitely buy yours!

VerityUnreasonble · 19/01/2024 17:47

DSis is going to be annoyed as hell when OP becomes a famous artist, launching her career in her "signature" style from this thread.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 19/01/2024 17:48

If she's so bad at comprehending customers' requests, maybe you should consider yourself lucky that she didn't take "I'd like you to paint my dog" literally Grin

To refuse to pay for this commission?
CornishTiger · 19/01/2024 17:50

I understood what you meant from the opening posts. Your picture examples are hilarious.

The way she is signing her name is completely egotistical. It makes her look amateur and brash. It looks like graffiti.

LindyLou2020 · 19/01/2024 17:58

duckpancakes · 19/01/2024 17:34

Those aren't her pet though

@duckpancakes
No, you're correct - they're not her pet They are just examples of canine portraits I've done for clients.
And my signatures are tiny, and set in the bottom right hand corner, and I absolutely agree with PPs who feel an artist's signature should be totally unobtrusive.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 19/01/2024 18:02

CornishTiger · 19/01/2024 17:50

I understood what you meant from the opening posts. Your picture examples are hilarious.

The way she is signing her name is completely egotistical. It makes her look amateur and brash. It looks like graffiti.

That's true, actually.

Just like Graffiti artists couldn't care less about what is underneath their 'work', all they care about is seeking attention and wanting their name or tag to be noticed and recognised everywhere.

Toberlerone · 19/01/2024 18:07

YANBU as you explicitly asked for no signature and she did one, albeit smaller.

Why is she watermarking her own paintings and not listening to feedback that it ruins them?

You are, however, a good sport with your commissions on this thread and I am reminded of https://www.facebook.com/portraitsbyhercule who is also a tongue in cheek artistic genius.

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StasisMom · 19/01/2024 18:10

Er I actually like yours 😶😶😂.

alfagirl73 · 19/01/2024 19:24

It is perfectly normal for artists to sign their artwork, so their original works can be identified as their work. Mind you, Bob Ross used to sign his pieces in red (in the corner!) but there are so many fakes with forged signatures now it's near impossible to identify an original.

That aside, it is not reasonable for an artist to plaster their signature right across the actual subject unless it forms part of the actual artwork (ie that is the style of it) AND the person paying for the artwork actually wants it that way. So unless it is for the artist themselves to keep or the person commissioning the piece has requested it (or accepted that it will be done that way), then any signature should be subtle and in the corner. Some artists sign the back or the edge of the canvas or put a logo or symbol of some kind there so its marked as their work but doesn't spoil the painting in any way.

It may well be that your sister wants to create a particular "style" that she will be known for, and that is fine, but she has to accept that not all customers will want that. So she has to either make it clear from the outset that she will be signing ALL commissioned pieces in that way regardless of whether the customer wants it or not - and thus give the customer the opportunity to decline to use her artistry, or she has to accept that if a customer doesn't want a piece done in that way, then she either has to do what they want or she cannot insist on payment or the customer accepting the product.

In your shoes, you made it abundantly clear you did not want the signature and therefore you are within your right to refuse the piece until she fixes it or refuse it altogether. I don't think she's unreasonable to put a very small subtle signature/initial in the corner or on the back/edge if she wants the piece identified as hers, but nothing more.

As an aside... I think you could get yourself a cult following of your own pieces! They're hilarious - but actually - the kind of thing that would become popular in a weird arty sort of way! LOL!

Hii93 · 19/01/2024 19:29

Definitely refuse to pay for it. Their is a reason the greats signed their work small or on the back and that's because they understand that the art is the actual signature

SKG231 · 19/01/2024 19:34

She sounds as thick as mince. If she’s repeatedly been asked NOT to do the signature why is she?
I too would reject a pet portrait with a big distracting signature on.

AppaTheSixLeggedFlyingBison · 19/01/2024 19:35

Deffinetly refuse. That reminds me of watermarked photos before you paid for them. If she wants to watermark it then it should be free

Bigpaintinglittlepainting · 19/01/2024 19:37

ManateeFair · 19/01/2024 09:57

I absolutely will not rest until I have seen one of your sister's paintings with her giant blood red signature on it

Me too, I will not be able to sleep tonight

bombardelli · 19/01/2024 19:47

MikStone · 19/01/2024 17:40

Your wish is my command! 😂

Why is this dachshund so arrogant?

duckpancakes · 19/01/2024 20:45

LindyLou2020 · 19/01/2024 17:58

@duckpancakes
No, you're correct - they're not her pet They are just examples of canine portraits I've done for clients.
And my signatures are tiny, and set in the bottom right hand corner, and I absolutely agree with PPs who feel an artist's signature should be totally unobtrusive.

Oh I see! Sorry my misunderstanding

duckpancakes · 19/01/2024 20:46

MikStone · 19/01/2024 17:40

Your wish is my command! 😂

I could imagine that in some weird urban hipster coffee bar

Throckmorton · 19/01/2024 21:10

Here entirely for your artwork OP! You should branch out - cats maybe?

redheadsaregreat · 19/01/2024 22:44

She didn't fulfil the brief. If you asked for a chocolate cake with no nuts and she used nuts you wouldn't pay her would you.

redheadsaregreat · 19/01/2024 22:44

cujo · 19/01/2024 10:34

i would probably take a different tactic. I'd pay her but tell her you don't actually want to the painting and she can keep it. That its not what you agreed to and wont enjoy having it with the signature on it in your house. but if she can paint over it you'd really appreciate it and would be delighted to take it...

imo this gets the point across, without too much conflict that could blow up your family.

Pay her £200???? Don't be daft

redheadsaregreat · 19/01/2024 22:46

OP you had a specific conversation about the signature. She knew. She did it anyway.

Patchworksack · 19/01/2024 22:54

@MikStone I think you may have a promising new career as a pet portrait artist. Not being able to draw didn’t do Hercule von Wolfwinkle any harm.