They said art is for everyone
I joined the furry fandom almost 7 years ago, so it's been a while, but not as long as many furs of my generation. One of the main traits of this community is creativity and an approach to art closely tied to one's own identity: Everyone is represented by their fursona, an anthropomorphic character created by each individual. It's common to try to expand our character's universe by commissioning artists from the community to draw it in different situations. And yet, in all this time, I've only commissioned a total of 3 times. And it's not for a lack of desire!
Not gonna lie, one of the reasons is that autism is strong within me, and I have a very specific image of what my fursona should look like, otherwise I probably won't love the drawing. This in itself severely limits the artists I'd like to commission, but there are other reasons why I'm reluctant to take on and commission someone.
Professionalization of the Hobby
First of all, I don't blame anyone for trying to make a living from what they love, of course. My boyfriend himself is a full-time artist in the fandom, and it makes perfect sense, given how this late-stage turbo-capitalism we live in, where everything is going to shit, can push you to do it. Using my boyfriend as an example, the alternative was to find a precarious job in the hospitality industry to earn a pittance; so I myself encouraged him to try to build a career in art, and it more or less worked out. Then we'd have to talk about excessive taxes for self-employed workers in our country, but that's another topic.
All of this has a small drawback: the entire "market" has got way more expensive. Whereas asking for four figures for a commission was once an exception and something reserved for the gods of anthropomorphic Olympus, today it's not even that uncommon. The same thing happens with fursuits (roughly speaking, furry cosplay): my boyfriend bought his partial fursuit, consisting of a head, claws, and tail, for €400 about 8 years ago, an amount they can ask for almost only the claws these days. And as someone who earns a good living but finds saving the amount they're asking for for a mortgage down payment an unattainable goal, I ask myself: Who the hell is capable of paying this without considering it an excessive whim?
For me, who thinks things over five times before making an expense that isn't absolutely necessary or won't be put to good use, I have a hard time trying to justify it.
The Issue of Trust
When I go shopping at a department store, I count on consumer protections. When I buy from Amazon, the same. If I go to a local store, it's the same. Hell, even buying secondhand stuff on Wallapop, I have some kind of protection to fall back on in case they try to scam me. When you're going to commission someone, you only have their word. There are many stories about clients who have ended up with nothing when, after commissioning an artist, that artist simply disappears. This is usually resolved by trusting your instincts and the track record of the artist you want to commission, but there are other points that often make me raise an eyebrow and hesitate, especially after past experiences.
In this paragraph, I'm going to speak from a more personal perspective, as I understand that not everyone sees things the same way, but I hope you get my point.
Ordering something custom-made often means having a relatively clear vision of what you want, so you trust someone specifically to make it happen. This is discussed with the artist before starting a work, and "the more sugar, the sweeter": it's essential to get everything written down to the last detail so that the vision you're trying to capture is understood. It's a two-way deal. However... I'll be unlucky, but when I've trusted someone with this, the most common things I've encountered have been rushing, poor communication, and a desire to get the job done as soon as possible by threatening to charge extra fees for changes at the slightest opportunity. I get the feeling that the average artist in the business is looking to mass-produce to get the job done as quickly as possible and generate more income (see point 1) than to produce work that closely matches the vision of the person commissioning the project, as expected with the nature of a custom project. I see it as comparable to ordering a wardrobe from a carpenter, only to find that it doesn't quite fit in the room, with gaps everywhere or a door that doesn't close properly. After all, there will always be more furries waiting to be drawn, right?
I don't have a degree in Business Administration, but it doesn't seem like the best strategy if you're looking to make a living from it. In fact, I see the opposite situation with my partner, who strives to deliver a result that satisfies the client, and in the end, it pays off: Not only do many clients return after their first assignment, but many more come through word-of-mouth recommendations. But what do I know? The result is that, by definition, I no longer trust that, even if I take the plunge and earn a considerable amount in commission, I'll like it.
Whoever is reading this might say this text is me coping, and well, they'd be right. It's frustrating to feel excluded from a community I'd like to participate in and contribute to, but I guess that's no one's fault either.