Is there any comeback when you commission a piece of work?

boccy23

Hi All

We commissioned a portrait artist to "paint" a caricature of an uncle of ours based on a photo. This was a present and was coming from all the family. It was also going to be a surprise for our uncle so we sent him some photos to use.

We sent the photo approx. 3 weeks before it was due but when we rang on the Thursday before it was due, it was soon apparent that the caricature was not finished.

We met him in a public area on the Saturday to get the work and it was clear that it was not acceptable. However, we paid him as we needed to show everyone involved.

When everyone looked at it, it was clear that the caricature was nothing like our uncle and was worthless as it stood. We challenged the artist that it was not painted and that there was very little likeness to our uncle.

He said that the picture we sent was very blurry, he had never had any complaints before and he never said he painted these caricatures. It was our fault for thinking that and that all of his work is done on a computer.

If the photo was not acceptable, should he not have said in the intervening 3 weeks?!

We asked for our money back and he has refused.

Is there recourse open to us to recover some or all of the money?

Is the small claims court an option?

drunkmonkey

Smalls claim court is an option, you could always cut your losses and spend a fiver on this guy http://www.fiverr.com/ryadavpali/make-your-caricaturecartoon-and-portrait

slimjimmc

When you initially approached him did you check his portfolio and view any examples of his work as a reference to what to expect, did you discuss what he was going to do. It seems that you may have just assumed it would be painted.