If an artist you're commissioning says they'll be "really slow", what expectation does that set? I opened a commission with an acquaintance quite a while ago and sent a finalized description on the 28th of march. I got an message received confirmation 2 weeks later, and haven't heard anything since. I was told not to send payment until I got at least a basic sketch.
I commissioned them b/c their anatomy drawing is good and I'm too nervous to approach a stranger.