I don’t hang out at this forum as much as I use to. I just don’t have the time anymore and I am on several forums so I have to be smart about not spending hours I don’t have online instead of painting babies. I do catch up when I can. I love this community.
I have a very nice client who has purchased a couple babies from me. She wrote to me yesterday because she is worried she is being scammed by an artists or is just having some bad luck with a purchase. She purchased a custom baby and the photos she received show what is obviously a baby done by an artists who is still learning or who is trying to pass off a doll that is a boo-boo.
There is flesh tone build up in creases and between fingers, there is a big yellow stain on the nose and face, and some of the photos she has received have been seen on other forums. The artist claims that this is what you get for the price (and it is a lower price, nice kit) she isn’t going to fix it, no funds to do that. I advised my client to file a complaint, get her money back and refuse the doll when it arrives.
I am not going to name names or call anyone out. Not my job. I don’t know what the situation is but I have now heard from a couple different people on a couple forums that this person is now known to the community.
Here is the deal, if you are scamming on purpose, not cool, this is an awesome community but it’s small, you may have noticed that word gets around quick. You might make a little money at first but you will have to work harder and harder to trick people. Scammers don’t last long in this community. We are a tight group of artists and we are protective of each other and this art form.
If you are simply a beginner, and it isn’t your intention to take advantage you are just trying to get started here is how it works. We all come into this excited, doing our best, hoping to make some good sales, collect nice babies, make friends, make some awesome babies maybe build a little business. Integrity, honesty, peer feedback, and communication are key to success.
-If you advertise to make a custom baby for someone you should have examples of your work, not a photo of a baby painted by another artists, you need to provide photos of babies YOU have painted. This way the client gets to know your style, where you are as an artist, and what to expect.
-Take a deposit, a fair deposit (30-50%). This protects your time and it gives you the money you may need to buy the kit. Make sure you tell your client up front it is non-refundable. Do not take the full payment, you do not have a finished product. Waiting for the full payment will also keep you motivated to finish the work.
-Get that baby done. Don’t sit on it for months. Make sure you let your client know up front where they are in your cue. If you have 20 customs to paint let them know, don’t leave them hanging it isn’t fair.
-Communicate with your client, let them know where you are in the process, send a quick photo. Clients are excited and waiting.
-Agree to everything in writing. If you plan to do a bare bones-for cheap quickie baby: minimal paint, bald, etc. They need to know what they are getting before hand. Put your promises and limits in writing. Clients will try to get you to make changes, change their mind, etc…you need to protect yourself. I know one artists who stripped a doll twice because the client did not like the skin tone, a lot of money was on the line, and the artist was being taken advantage of. COMMUNICATE before you seal the deal, get it in writing.
-If you make a mistake it is on you, your loss. Lets say a client sends you an expensive kit, you get sharpie on it or stain it, its up to you to replace the kit, at your loss. If it is a kit you purchased you can offer a discount or you will have to get a new kit. Mistakes happen but the client paid for a finished product and has expectations. They expect you to keep your word.
-If you are a new artist and offering inexpensive dolls to build a client base let everyone know. There are always people looking to collect emerging artists. If you have a boo-boo baby state that loud and clear, that baby will follow you forever if you don’t. Go to You Tube, people can be brutal. Remember a happy client tells two people, an unhappy client tells a hundred.
-Some clients are just not going to be happy. They may have overspent, have buyers remorse, have life issues, are not happy people. This is why you get it in writing, do your best, set boundaries up front. Document and save communications. If you are fair and ethical that person will be a blip on the radar and the happy clients will dilute the unhappy client. What you don’t want is a pattern of complaints, that means you need to just your sails and do better.
-Listen to your peers Honest critique means your peers look at your work and let your know where your strengths and weakness are. They help you do better, give you advice, build you up. You have to have a thick skin, it isn’t personal, its progress, and we all have something to learn. When someone critiques you it shouldn’t come from a place of anger, jealousy, or even preference. Here is an example:
“I really like the way you painted the hair, if you add a darker layer, not a lot just a few strands here and there it might give it more depth and look even more realistic”
Pay attention, this is a free education, valuable stuff.
We all make mistakes, errors in judgement, get a little excited…it is easy to apologize, make amends, start again. We get it. You would be surprised how awesome and forgiving people can be.
Last time I did I offended people without meaning to. So I refrain.
It’s a beautiful, tightnit community and we look out for one another. If you receive a suggestion from a fellow artist take it as a compliment that they took the time to lend a helping hand 
there are some amazingly talented artists here!! If Michael Jordan critiqued you on your layup would you get mad, upset, or feel honored that he took the time to care? 
…sure hope they’re listening!