So this is the first time this has happened to me, and I wanna yap a little about it. I recently gained a new client who was friendly and seemed like they were shaping up to be a new regular. They had already commissioned two drawings from me, and the other day we were discussing a third—possibly even a fourth one.

After everything was said and done, the order was a three-panel comic page. First panel: two characters, cel-shaded, with a background. However, I decided to only charge them for one character in the first panel simply because we decided that instead of a second character, there would just be a disembodied penis. Second panel: two characters, cel-shaded, with a background. And finally, the third panel would just be one character, cel-shaded, with a background.

With my prices, it would have been:
1st panel – $65
2nd panel – $80
3rd panel – $65
Total: $210.

After I quoted the price, they went offline. Now, I know this person lives somewhere in Europe because I remember them telling me it was past midnight where they lived when it was 3 p.m. for me. So I figured, “Ah, they must’ve gone to bed,” since it was probably around 9 or 10 p.m. for them. I went about my day, not thinking much of it.

A few hours go by, and I’m scheduling some art to be posted later. As I’m setting up the X post for one of their commissions, I notice I can’t @ them. Turns out, they blocked me. I checked Discord and, sure enough, they removed me there as well.

I was a bit taken aback because I wasn’t sure why they would do that. I spoke to my good buddy about it, and he basically told me not to worry—people are weird like that. Just move on. And for the most part, I have, but I still felt a tiny bit blindsided. Not because I felt entitled to their money or anything (though I was kind of counting on that commission—but I’ll live). It just made me feel like maybe I’m overcharging or something for my art.

Which I know I shouldn’t feel, because several clients and fellow artists have told me they actually think I undercharge for my services. So I don’t know. I’m fine and I’ve mostly gotten over it—it’s just a bit discouraging, is all. I don’t like parting ways with people like that, and it’s the first shitty experience I’ve had with a customer.