> What style do you like more? Cartoon or Realism? Would you like the artist to have both styles available?
That's not something you should worry about on your end. I'm picking artists for their style, not because I like them personally (that's what patreon and ko-fi are for !). If I want something raw, energetic and that transmits violence and pain well, I'll take a look at ThwillArtz. If I want something more detailed, with a ton of nifty anatomical details, I'll see if Nyhgault has spots open. I'm not going to commission one to draw in the other's style - that would be stupid.
I understand the concern, but it really shows that you're looking at commissions from an artist's point of view, because a commissioner will never think in those terms
> How should communication go with the artist? Should they be friendly or straight to the point?
I think every indiviual is different, both of them. Some like to chit-chat, other don't. If you boil communication down though, there are some universal rules : courtesy, respect and efficiency, going both ways. Don't loose each other's time with constant back and forth because you can't make your point accross or your needs and desires clear enough. Not feeling like you're being judged (especially for kinky commissions...) helps speaking freely, hence the two first rules.
Everything else, you do you.
> Do you like to get updates with your commission or just want to see the finished piece?
> How do you feel when a commission is taking longer than expected?
Putting these two in the same basket. As a commissioner, I'm only really asking for two things :
1) That the artist holds their end of the bargain instead of running away with the money.
2) That the artwork delivered meets my requests.
There's no single answer - it's all a matter of context. Obviously I don't have the same expectations when I commission a student preparing their degree and using commissions as an outlet that supplement their income VS a freelancer that charges professional rates for their work.
Here are some general guidelines that should apply to everyone though the exact numbers are my own and can vary from client to client :
-A formal update every week is expected. Nothing fancy, just "I'm working on it, thanks for the patience !" is enough. It takes two minutes and it proves to me that you're still caring and haven't forgotten (because that can happen too !).
-If you're going to be absent for an extended period of time (family issues, heavier workload, etc...) I'm expecting a heads-up and a general time frame (it can be has vague "Oh, one or two months, probably !", but at least
something).
-I'm patient, not an idiot. If you don't respond to any of my friendly reminders while still being active on social networks, churning out new artworks and opening new slot comissions while my own is still on the backburner, you can be sure your name is going to end up on all of the black lists someday and that your bank might call you soon.
In the end, it all boils down to transparency - even if it's a labor of love and trust and everyone in the furry community being friendly fluffy creatures that only want hugs... there's still a lot of money changing hands and I don't like it when my money is wasted.