Artist Beware: Chesta

Christmas was coming around and due to financial troubles, Chesta wanted to take emergency commissions to earn a  bit of cash to spend on her three children.

Proof of commission: https://sta.sh/024qbp1cjo2s
Proof of purchase: https://sta.sh/011ldghfgpgk
https://sta.sh/01wplj8ap2b3

She did have a lot on her plate, so I didn't worry about it. However, she has a Trello and didn’t update it often, so if anything, I was a bit nervous that she forgot about me. But a simple reminder should do.

I noted her in April 2018 (forgot the original day, sorry) and asked if I could get my name on the Trello and was giving her a gentle poke in that direction. Sadly, no reply. I tried again, copy paste the original note on June 2018. Still no reply.

Getting a little nervous, I wrote out another note on July 12th 2018, asking about my commission and expressing my understanding of the hardships she’s facing. However, I did mention, since it has been 6 months since the original commission was paid for, I was debating to get a refund. I was practically begging for her to reply to my notes. She did...telling me that I wasn’t forgotten and she doesn’t update her Trello enough to be reliable.

Proof of unopened notes: https://sta.sh/0rx20svjd58
Proof of reply: https://sta.sh/0cqypc2a1f6

It wasn’t until November 2018 where I was knuckling down on this. I want my art and she’s not delivering. Not even WIPs or personal updates to me. Her situation is getting worse and she’s constantly taking on more and more work.

I gave her another note, trying to get her to be honest with me. I wanted to help her. I was trying to be good and understanding because of my own experiences. I was giving her the benefit of the doubt.


Proof of conversation: https://sta.sh/0urchox90qe (1)
https://sta.sh/0x1byin29n2 (2)

5 days after this conversation (11/13), she wrote a PSA about explaining her actions (please note the comments are disabled). Sadly, she only refunded a handful of people (questionable) because she “is already working on the other commissions”. I was not refunded, because she claimed that she was working on my commission...but still no WIPs to defend herself.

[Cut by mods.  The journal is really personal.  It should be noted that very personal information is being shared to clients who have been waiting for commissions.]

The end of November, she gave out her email to everyone because she disabled her notes since they got too overwhelming.

Proof of journal: https://sta.sh/0d2xvgeg56f

I emailed her, laying down the line because I was losing my patience. More or less, I said, “Art or refund.” She pleaded with me to wait a week because she would finish my commission within that time frame. Allowing her one last chance, I agreed. It was November 30th 2018. The completed time would be December 7th 2018.

Proof of email: https://sta.sh/013d1a9hxz8s (1)
https://sta.sh/01954getkwvv (2)
https://sta.sh/01yutosn7v2e (3)

It’s been one month since that email.

It’s now the New Year and I emailed her one last time, demanding the art or I will inform Paypal of fraud. She is telling me that she has it...but must wait until she gets home.

Not since she got her internet back up (which was apparently on the 7th of January), she’s been radio silent on my commission. Yesterday, she posted only one commission; a more recent commission that she took on a month or so ago. I’ve had enough of this waiting game and pulled out the big guns.

I filed a dispute with my bank on January, 9th 2019. Hopefully, I’ll get good news.



Proof of email: https://sta.sh/02fzg9vaz8ds (1)
https://sta.sh/0100d5wwgzxl (2)

Proof of bank dispute message: https://sta.sh/01foihsglonb

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s been a month since I’ve heard back from the bank, still left in the dark. So far, nothing.

Chesta finally got some motivation to do some commission work and is actually posting again. She then did note me, asking for “certain” details on my OCs

Proof of notes (NSFW!!): https://sta.sh/0cr9d1o5n36

However, despite this, I’m still posting this Artist Beware. If I FINALLY obtain the commission, I will update this Beware and say, “It is finished” and call it resolved.

Edit update by Celestina:  Chesta's response.

https://sta.sh/0e408suwx31

Edit 2 update by Celestina:

My bank got back to me two days ago, unable to help without "contacting the merchant".  After today's journal, I know she will not take kindly to any pressuring for either commissions or money.

She did make a new journal today...but more or less, it's another copy/paste job of pity, saying far more personal stuff and how she's sorry that she's slow and disappeared and "should be coming back soon."

https://sta.sh/01icefwqiixy