I bought a reference sheet from an artist, and King21 traced it to fill orders and sell them as original pieces.
My reference sheet
The reference sheet they sold the first person
The reference sheet they sold the second person
Proof that they actually uploaded it, meaning that someone had bought the art from them. (paid $$$).
On Patreon, too (1)
On Patreon, too (2)
On Patreon, too (3)
Patreon post 1
Patreon post 2
Proof that it's almost a carbon copy:
Superimpose (front)
Superimpose (back)
Superimpose (second sheet)
I put them on top of each other and decreased the opacity. Surely you'd agree that they traced my bought work, right? Sure, they changed some proportions like the ears, hand/paw, eyes, etc but that's very easy to do as an artist once you have the base. Hell, I could do it, and I have zero experience in art.While they aren't scamming me directly, I feel like they're scamming other people who are expecting original works, so that should be enough?
At the beginning of 2018 I took Codeine up on a deal. She was to do me a couple's sketch page with flat colour for a grand total of $200. As of now, it is still ongoing and I have two basic sketches (not-coloured) which was shown to me at the end of April 2018. (I'll come back to this later.)
Proof of Purchases
From the initial purchasing of the commission to the first sketch update, I always had difficulty communicating with her, whether it was due to no replies on Discord or her emails. This is a long running trend that is still happening today. She has said multiple times that she has personal issues going on, some to do with mental health and some to do with money. I have tried my best to be cordial and to respect the time she may take as I can understand is can be difficult. But even after a year there really has been no progress on my end all the while she still accepts more and more commissions without ever really seeing them be uploaded. (Of course, these people may have very well gotten their work done, but Codeine told me something herself which makes me doubt that.)
Large and Unmoving Backlog
She told me once that she had a backlog of near 100 people but only works on those that continue to pester her (like myself). Obviously at the time of hearing it, I thought it was a little peculiar and borderline scam-like but I tried to stay positive and said at least it lets her focus down on 'urgent' ones and such.
I'm fully aware I could considered mean or inconsiderate to go back on my word of not outing her, but at this stage I feel like I want to get the word out. With all the hubbub of Jailbird working up a backlog and constantly taking more made me think of it, and if I can stop people from falling into this pit like me, then good. From the horse's mouth the artist has a fairly dodgy work ethic / professionalism since it seems a lot of people's money has sunk into the void.
Potential Attempts at using my wallet more
I would take this one with a grain of salt, but it also showcases the long periods of time I would often have to wait for any kind of communication. She once drew to my attention an adopt for a character going and she started out by saying how much they liked drawing my character, and if I were to buy this adopt for her, I'd get a steady flow of art with them together. To her credit she said it was quite a selfish ask and didn't seem bothered by me declining. However it was followed by a particularly long period of time without any word from her after having finally just been in regular contact with her.
Her initial proposition on Jan 17th.
A period of time without contact from the 17th of Jan to the 20th of Feb. (Now, I personally feel this was because she failed to get the character out of me BUT I am happy to be proven wrong and to state that as more my opinion than anything else.) This further shows poor communication on her end, creating a frustrating time on my end.
Combinations
As time went on, I foolishly continued buying smaller things from her which also were never completed HOWEVER she did offer to combine them into the price of the sketch page. With everything said and done, she dropped a few patreon rewards and sketch slots I purchased completely in order to put more detail into the page. This included a piece of work that she left as flat colours instead of finishing, saying that would go into the page as well. We ended up basically having her owe me the same full sketch page but fully coloured, fully shaded instead of just flats like we originally settled upon. (Which I was happy to accept, of course.)
Recent Endeavours and Attempting Refunds
Lately I've been asking her for refunds on the page. Since its been so long since I've had an update, and trying to get into contact with her was a trial within itself, I started talking more about simply putting it to rest and getting me my money back. There are many things I'm still due from her but have stated I'm perfectly happy to just focus on the very original $200 and forget about the extras added on and the little sketches I bought on the side. Just the other day she responded and tried to say that the amount of work she's already done is worth $260. Even though she had this to say about the original.
This was the picture in question that I asked for price on.
This image, flat coloured would be worth $200 in her own words, that we settled upon and I paid.
Compare that with what she had managed to do for me in one evening that she is saying is worth $260.
We since moved to Twitter to speak, since I generally found better success getting her there, and I could see whether she read my messages or not. She said it was worth $260 because she has apparently done more work on it since (That I have not seen so I haven't been able to even approve it.) though I can't help but imagine she will quickly draw something up or colour a part of it to show me when she next gets back into contact with me. (Which to be honest, if she does then fine. I won't want money back for work that has been done, that's the whole point.) But as it stands, that's all I have to show for my money.
Conclusion and where I am now
4 days ago Codeine explained to me she was away from home for personal reasons and assured me she'd be away for 3 days max and would be home to talk with me further about all of this. Obviously, she has not but has read a post I sent to her earlier today. (Still past the 3 day limit she set.) I have essentially been left on read at this point in time.
The blue tick means someone has seen your post. Grey is the opposite. These were from today. 8 hours ago and 52 minutes ago respectively.
I ultimately didn't want to make this as I hoped we could come to an agreement and I could let it all go. But after constant delays to periods of time she comes up with herself, I promised to myself I would write this up and be done with it if she failed to meet the next deadline. (Yesterday.)
Even if my own issue never gets resolved I hope this might at least make a few more people aware that it might be best to steer clear from this one until her backlog seems to be more under control.
Before I begin, let me reinstate that I wish no ill will or harm towards DaskerLizard or their business. I am simply posting my experience about my time with Dasker so that others my avoid the negative experience that I have had.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I contacted Dasker/BlueFoxFursuits the morning of June 16th, 2016 via email asking if it was okay for me to order being 17 (turning 18 within the next few weeks) and what their payment plans looked like. I was responded to 4 days later with both my questions answered. Given the okay to order, I then submitted a application via their google docs quote form. I was responded to almost immediately with the approximate due date and how much my suit (which was/will be a partial) would cost. I responded back within a few minutes saying I would like to go ahead and reserve my spot within their queue. After a few hiccups, (me paying in the wrong currency), I finally had paid off my deposit and had a reserved slot for May 2017. I paid £190 ( $287.16 ).
A few emails from me about what furs they will use for my suit were exchanged so I could order a bodysuit to match with no problems. I have since received my bodysuit from another maker.
The real problems started when it finally reached the due date for my commission. I was struggling for with money due to unforeseen car problems, so I emailed them on the 15th of May, 2017 and asked for an update on when I would be up so I could prepare on when I needed to pay/how much to put aside. They replied telling me they had to "do a lot of shifting around in my queue due to confuzzled suits overrunning" and how they had injured their back moving fur supply boxes and that they will be "starting up the queue again towards the end of june when I'm back from confuzzled, and also back from visiting family for a late birthday meetup". I was both upset and relieved on how I would have time to save up further and put aside my money problems, but also a little sad considering they had taken more con crunch commissions and put them ahead of other preexisting commissions.
The next time I contacted Dasker was 5 months (October 9th, 2017) past the given completion date of end of June 2017. I simply stated how I had not received an email from the regarding my commission and how the queue was looking/when I would be up. I was then informed unknowingly that I had been once more pushed back to February of 2018. At this point I was rather upset, so I did not reply.
I emailed them ONCE MORE on July 21st, 2018 (another 5 months after the due date they had given me had past), asking what the wait time is looking like since my slot had been missed once more. They responded a week later on July 28th, 2018 saying they had moved and had eurofurence deadlines to focus on. Again, putting convention crunch commissions ahead of regular commissions. I was told that I would have my commission and "all older orders out by jan-feb next year". Again, moved another year back. I did not reply.
After waiting so long, I then took it upon myself to contact Dasker one more time on January 8th, 2019. They replied saying that it "should be february". Seeing as it was the beginning of the month, I was VERY excited to finally get around to getting my suit. That is until as of late.
On February 17th, I contacted Dasker after finding out that they had once more opened for more commissions. This has had me extremely worried that my commission from 2016 would be pushed back once more to make room for other, newer orders. I asked them if there was a problem with my character and asked that if they did not like the character given, that they would tell me and refund me my deposit instead of pushing me back over and over. They then confessed to me that I am not the only person who has been waiting since 2016 for their suit and that I should have my suit by March. I was upset by this information considering how I am 1) not the only one going through such an experience and 2) my slot had once again been pushed back.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To reiterate, I am a very patient person. I from the above evidence, it is obvious I have only emailed one to two times a year asking for updates, often waiting months after the date I was told to contact them. To put it into perspective, I ordered when I was 17 years of age, I am now not too far off from turning 21. I have given Dasker the benefit of the doubt one too many times, and I can say that I am very unhappy and disappointed with my experience so far. I only paid the deposit needed to reserve my spot, but I have had the rest of the money needed within my Paypal for up to 2 years now. They do not email/contact commissioners when they come upon hard times, leaving one to basically chase them to get a vague answer on when your commission will be started. Dasker seems like a nice person, they not once seemed rude and often replied in a very professional manner. However, it seems their queue is VERY disorganized and unprofessional. At the moment of writing this, I still do not know what spot I am in their queue and do not recommend working with DaskerLizard/BlueFoxFursuits. I will update further when/if I receive what I have paid for or if anything else unfolds.
If you see any inconsistencies within my writing, please let me know and I will fix them!
July 4 2018
Tolwulf posts an advertisement on a unofficial Anthrocon Telegram page for badges to be completed and picked up on Friday, July 6 2018
Following this advertisement, I replied asking for a badge upon landing at the airport in Pittsburgh. Payment email had been sent, and they received the amount of 30 USD. An invite link was provided to a group chat where progress on the badges would be delivered to those who commissioned him.
July 7-8, 2018
An update on badge progress was requested. He replies that it will be completed by Sunday at the latest.
July 9, 2018
No progress had been made in regards to the badge. In a face-to-face conversation, he mentions the badges will be shipped out post-con. This was later confirmed in the aforementioned group chat.
August 7, 2018
TolWulf sends some messages explaining how he's been busy and is currently working on the badges. I reply back. There was no reply for several more weeks.
October 15, 2018
The artist reiterates that he's busy, and adds that line work has been done for the badge. I ask for WIP pics to see if there is any truth to this statement.
November 2, 2018
After asking once again for an update, and mentioning the possibility of requesting a refund, TolWulf replies once again, and no WIP has been provided, claiming they are currently busy with other work. I inquire about a potential deadline.
November 28, 2018
Following a brief conversation regarding MFF, TolWulf replies saying he currently has completed the badge and mailed it and the other incomplete badges to the Hyatt (no idea why he did this). He says he will send pics of the completed work upon arrival to the hotel.
He continues by saying he will ship the badge from MFF. I mention I will send him my Canadian home address when I see the completed badge.
January 15 2018
No updates have been given. I give a final warning. As of today (February 16. 2019), the message has still been left unread.
To sum all of this up, there has been a lack of prompt communication with the artist. If at any point there was a reply, TolWulf would continuously claim that work had been done, but not provide any evidence to show for it. A dispute has been filed with PayPal, but was instantly denied, given the claim was made 180 days past the transaction date, leaving me short of a refund and no foreseeable badge in sight. I will post any updates when and if I hear back from the artist.
**THIS BEWARE CONTAINS NSFW CONTENT**
Commissioning Lenex
I have commissioned Lenex in the past and was very happy with his work. His work is high quality and he’s very reasonably priced. I bought my slot in May of 2017, Lenex was very fast responding to my emails and after I paid Lenex told me the slot was mine.
Proof of Lenex confirming my slot: https://i.gyazo.com/8146060f8528ebf0b5d6b23f0c4b3777.png
Proof me paying Lenex: https://i.gyazo.com/b8870641506f235efbda00f96d828201.png
No Contact and few FA updates.
After this...Uploads on Lenex’s FA began to slow to a crawl. I would see maybe one finished commission a month posted. This was often backlog from 2016. The only updates I ever saw from Lenex were him often opening his queue again. Explaining he needed rent, understandable. But after taking another bulk of comic commissions, Lenex would seemingly vanish for another month. He did this every month. Open the queue, vanish, open the queue vanish. And so on. This behaviour started to concern me, but I tried to stay positive.
One of Lenex’s last major updates was him asking if anybody would be willing to ‘float’ their commission. This meant they would be willing to wait an undisclosed amount of time for their product. I opted for this, as I felt sorry for Lenex’s heavy workload beginning to get on top of him. I'm afraid I've no proof of this beyond an email I sent to Lenex confirming I am willing to wait. At one point, Lenex even asked some people to opt for refunds rather than getting their work. He admits both will be timely processes though.
Lenex taking on more commissions via journals every month: https://i.gyazo.com/9959aaf4e22c36efa121511417e829ea.png
Lenex asking people to be refunded instead.: https://i.gyazo.com/7f8fa0b5aab76a24c961aaab0634c0c0.png
My email to Lenexwants: https://i.gyazo.com/72dd9e553fb0b9f6412b5d0bfc8ba864.png
Lenex cancels all Commissions
In June of 2018 Lenex posted an update informing everybody he would be transforming all commissions into artistic freedom, or receive a refund. This was due to Lenex no longer wishing to draw graphic artwork featuring non consensual acts. This upset many people who expressed their frustration at this sudden change. Nobody had been given any notice nor would their old commissions from 2016/17 be honoured despite being commissioned before this sudden change of ToS.
At this point I was tempted to get a refund. Even though my commission would not be affected by this new change of ToS as it did not contain noncon/gore. I decided against this as judging by the few updates Lenex posted to FA were money worries, I felt a refund would be more tedious than waiting for my product. I filled in lenex’s new commission form and sent my email. I was put back into his queue. After this update, Lenex ceased to post all together.
Lenex's new commission form (warning: contains NSFW imagery and mentions of fetish): http://www.furaffinity.net/view/27543789/
Lenex apologises and retracts his new rule.
3 Months ago, after 5 months of further silence on his FA. Lenex posted a journal apologising for his lack of organisation and handling of commissions. Lenex at this point had responded to a note I had sent him asking for a previous commission to be removed for personal reasons. This was the first time Lenex had spoken to me since first buying the slot in 2017.
Lenex disabled comments on this journal admitting in the journal he didn't wish to get any kind of backlash.
A link to the journal: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8933648/ (in case of deletion, a screencap) https://i.gyazo.com/e143de4d13d211b43d5eec992b3aaf4d.png
I cannot provide proof of the note as the account I noted Lenex on is disabled and I've since lost my credentials to it I'm afraid. If Ican break into it I will post it if mods deem it relevant.
No contact still
On 20/1/2019 I sent Lenex an email asking for an ATA on my two year standing commission. As of 12/2/2019 I have still had no response from him.
My email to Lenex: https://i.gyazo.com/c50b3b3eaa404ff98ff8467b62af06ea.png
Final comments
I feel saddened it has come to this as I have been a fan of Lenex’s work since 2014. I do not like writing complaints. I feel I've been more than patient with Lenex but now I feel myself and many of Lenex’s customers have simply been used as loans to pay for rent and put onto uncertain waiting lists with no communication and now Lenex has taken on far too much to handle. While I do feel for Lenex who clearly has had some hardships the last year or so, the complete lack of communication between both myself and all his other custom has pushed me to write this as a warning for anybody interested in this kind of artwork.
I didn't really want to post a beware, but after 8 months, I've come to hate the piece I got, and remember how horribly I was treated when I asked for a refund regarding it. So, here it goes.
Also if I leave anything out, my web browser ate my first typing of this post due to a misclick, so I shall attempt to properly add all the information once again.
So back in June I saw the artist hosting a YCH, and given prior business transactions went by smoothly and with great turnaround times, I quickly grabbed a slot.
NSFW YCH: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/27646358/
Proof of Payment: https://prnt.sc/mjumqe
So payment was sent, and then began the wait time.
Eventually after some time had passed without a WIP, I poked the artist asking if they had started one, and if not, I wanted a refund. This was after 2 months without a single update. When I did so, I was soon met with a rather rude, defensive approach and the artist claiming they did "no refunds" and that I should have known given it was in their ToS (mind you not once during any of the prior transactions did the artist provide their ToS, and had I known this was a part of it, I would have never commissioned them). They also blamed personal matters for the delay, and blamed my lack of knowing they were away (apparently they made a journal which I didn't see/missed in the mess of 200+ other journal notifications) as the reason for the delay. The artist also claims I had been pestering them since I got the art for updates, which is a blatant lie.
I had asked for an ETA for the completion of the artwork, seen here:
The next time I asked where I was listed in their que, which was 1 month later:
Finally I asked for a WiP after 2 months without a single update and if one wasn't provided, that I wanted a refund (I cannot find if I told them if I didn't get one I'd open a PayPal claim), this is where the hostility happened:
The one thing that should have been my red flag was that first they said they hadn't started, then suddenly they had a WiP to show once I asked for a refund. I was provided the WiP, asked for updates, and approved the WiPs then after:
Eventually I got my art, but not in the professional manner I should have gotten it
Unknown to me, the artist finished the art, uploaded it, and I went a week or longer without knowing. The only way I found out it was even done is when I saw the uploaded finished piece in my submission notifications. The artist failed to note me the link, and I had to ask for the finished file to be sent to me:
Now 8 months down the road, I'm looking at the piece, and finding compared to other artwork done by the artist of the same style, my piece is lacking. it clearly was rushed, the quality is poor, and the more I look at the piece, the more I come to find myself wishing I had just pushed the refund via a PayPal claim and not accepted such a terrible finished product.
This is what I received:
NSFW: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/28596438/
I should have posted a beware back when this first happened, but given I got my art, I didn't think it would be approved. Back then too I was just glad to have even gotten the piece. However, I'm wanting to now warn others of this artist and their means of conducting business.
I just want to warn people of my experience with this artist, in hopes that no one else ends up treated like I was or in the same situation I am in now.
Incident 1: November 2016
In November 2016 I commissioned Graviilean for a fullbody traditional piece (digital copy only - the physical copy was for her school Portfolio). Around January 2017 I sent a note requesting an update. Graviilean apologized and offered a free sketch, explaining that she forgot to scan the original before mailing it. I asked for updates on either piece around every 3 months - until October 2017 when Graviilean asked me to accept a refund for the order, stating she had never done the extra sketch and didn't know if she would get back the portfolio.
Incident 1 Proof: https://sta.sh/2kna8yk4e4i?edit=1
Incident 2: March 22, 2018
I ordered a fullbody digital commission and paid $70. On June 14, 2018 I received a notice of a refund (no other contact from the artist until this point). The artist did comment with a reason afterwards (illness/emergency).
Incident 2 Proof: https://sta.sh/26b16j5xup8?edit=1
Incident 3 and 4: July 5, 2018 and September 13, 2018
I ordered a fullbody digital commission and paid $70. For those wondering, I tried again because I decided to chalk up the first two experiences as bad luck and bad timing respectively. I had also messaged her prior to ordering to be sure she would actually do the commission. At the time of ordering, Graviilean stated it would take about 3 weeks due to character complexity. I had no problem with the wait. I received a rough pose sketch on July 26. While waiting, Graviilean opened some headshot sketch commissions and I ordreed 2 ($40) because it seemed she was getting through them quickly. In October, Graviilean posted some journals explaining that she could not work on anything digitally** and needed to raise $2,000 for a new tablet and refunding old commissions. I was upset so I commented, and I will make no excuses for my rude tone at that time.
Graviilean assured me that my commissions would be done by the end of October. November 4, 2018, after Graviilean ignored my notes requesting an update, I posted a PSA about her continuing poor performance, including proof of her opening commissions to refund older commissions she never did, along with posting statuses for new commissions/asking to raise large ($400+) amounts between the commission journals.
Two days after posting the PSA, Graviilean found out and messaged me "How will I sell commissions to refund you now?" I offered her another solution, to draw my commissions traditionally (she claimed to have broken her tablet). November 18, 2018 I offered (requested) that Graviilean finish my commissions traditionally since digital was out of the question. I informed her I would file a chargeback December 31st if I had not received either the art or a refund. December 30, 2018 (a day early due to a family trip for New Years, where I would be without internet access) I opened the chargeback. Graviilean left a final status message stating she was abandoning her account and encouraging those who could to chargeback, as she had no interest in dealing with it. She refused to communicate with me through Paypal and forced me to wait the full length of time for Paypal to close the case.
** Special note - during my PSA updates, it was brought to my attention that Graviilean had a side account Graviinator (DA) and Facebook where she was posting digital art during the months she stated she had no way to draw digitally, along with opening commissions through that account. Proof of this - https://sta.sh/2twj39et8et?edit=1
Incident 3 and 4 Proof: https://sta.sh/2s2oveupup9?edit=1
Graviilean Status and Journal Posts (offering comms to refund comms) Proof: https://sta.sh/2z1vtwgq09d?edit=1
Graviilean final "Go ahead and chargeback" status: https://www.deviantart.com/graviilean/status/15992687
Summary / End Notes:
Beginning in November 2016, I have attempted to commission Graviilean (DA) 4 times. My orders have been "done but lost", refunded due to "illness/emergency", and finally just simply not finished. I had to file a chargeback as Graviilean would not give me specific dates for the refund on my final 2 orders ($70 fullbody and $40 for 2 busts). In a final Status update on DA, Graviilean stated she was abandoning the name/account permanently and would move on to "better things". She stated those that could, should file a chargeback.
She has moved accounts to https://miau124.deviantart.com (DA) / MiaU (FB) / MiaMatsuno (Twitter) (WARNING: NSFW Twitter account) and opened up new commissions and posted digital artwork (during the time she stated she could not use her tablet)
MiaU / Graviilean + Graviilean final status- Proof: https://sta.sh/0dvuzxgi1kp
https://sta.sh/01798pttiofh
(In case it is unclear from her art style, several of the "fake screenshots" are posted on her Graviinator (DA) side account and now on MiaU124, along with the same character name and bio)
So Let me start out by saying this could likely be cause for a full beware. But I actually quite like this artist, and as this is the first time i've ever had problems with them (I've commissioned them in the past) I decided to go with a caution.
Back on January 16th 2018, I commissioned them after they posted [this post], showing discounted commissions.
they noted me, saying they didnt want it to be public but they'd let me buy one even though at the time I didn't have enough.
at the time I had 13$, but I eventually got more and could pay them 18. they were fine with this, because I was a repeat customer of theirs.
I paid them the next day.
On Febuary 15th, I asked how it was going since it had been a month. They replied, saying life was stressful and shit. And I was totally cool with that, I understand what thats like.
On March 28th, they messaged me asking for a new ref since they lost the old one, saying they were starting the commission. I was cool with this, and provided them with a new reference.
Then, lastly, on April 30th 2018 I messaged them informing them me and my, at the time, Fiance had actually broken up and I'd like the art to be of something different if they hadn't started already.
They didnt reply. As of today, they have not contacted me since, they haven't been active on Furaffinity since March, and most of their other social medias are completely dead with no activity or are deactivated.
I'd really like this resolved, not just for my art or for a refund, but to see if they're ok. Since i've commissioned them before and they were fine, I don't feel a full beware is necessary. But definitely be a bit cautious if they're still active anywhere and you happen to of commissioned them.
Our entire note history is below. The only thing crossed out is their email, as it's not publicly accessible on their page.
On the 18th of October, 2018 I commissioned morvin for a flat colored icon/headshot, gave them my character and paid on the same day. On the 3rd of November, I asked for an update and then contacted morvin again on the 5th to give a redirect link to my character. Please note that my original question for an upate went kind of ignored by them.
On the 3rd of December, I asked for another update and got a traditional sketch WIP on the same day which I promptly approved. On the 29th of December I asked for another update, voicing my displeasure about the long wait time and minimal communication, which was responded to on the same day, telling me to wait as they (assumingly) had quite a queue on their hands.
On the 10th January, I gave them a deadline of 2 weeks to deliver the art, again voicing my displeasure and distrust in them. They responded on the 14th with their own deadline and asked me to wait until the 25th which I agreed to. On the 27th, I told them that the 25th had passed and I gave them a quite lenghty message, asking them to refund me until the end of the week. I recieved my refund in a quietly manner on the same day (27th January).
I'm posting this caution/beware as it was kinda stressful dealing with them, though I wish the best for them to better their customer communication and queue management for the future~
