The artists are doing a great job. I don't think their work should be described with the term "simplistic design".
Either way, I am commissioning a lot of pics per scene. And I mean a lot. 10 pics a scene? Not even close. 20, 30, 40. It can range widely, but always goes quite up, because I like the scenes to be really elaborate. The Clawfootjob in Explore will be 26 pictures for example. I am asking a lot from the artists, so that the game can deliver the best experience possible to the player, hence why it does take longer when I commission images.
Then you also have to take into account that the artists do not only draw for me exclusively. They have their own passions and projects they want to get to, so breaks between commissions that can be one month or more are not that rare as well.
Lastly, because the commissions are so elaborate, there is a chance of corrections being made. I have to review the images and see if everything is there that is needed as I implement them. Worst case scenario, I forget something important and there needs to be something else drawn as well which takes up additional time. Not something that happens too often, but the Slitrape one that is in the works right now? It sadly is one such case that needs a few more layers.
The artists are doing an incredible job in short and there is a lot I ask of them, so that my vision for the game can become a reality. I understand the frustration, but the game is being worked on and the game will be completed, even if the pace has been more slow lately.
So I have to ask for patience. The next update will be fruitful to make up for the long wait.