client beware Beware: Cobalt SCW and Clutch Wolf

This is merely just for the sake of having my side written down and documented. 

I want to warn any artist to not work with either of these two. They are very demanding and impatient (and dont like to pay artists).

I was first met Cobalt at Furlandia 2025 since they were the artist alley lead that year. 

August 14th he reaches out about his badge being shipped, I mention I was at a con and had a foot injury but the badge just needed to go in the mail. He mentions his friend wants a commission of a digital painted headshot.

I will admit, he got this discount because I forgot to update my prices on my website, so I agreed to do the price listed at that time for my own mistake. He sent stickers as references to this character and each one slightly inconsistent from the others. He also sent the reference on the expression the client, Clutch Wolf, wanted. Since I had just been at a con I did have a queue and I figured since Cobalt was the lead at a con he would understand that. 

September 1st Cobalt reaches out again to ask for an update from me. I mention that I had work that had a deadline before Denfur so I didn’t have a chance to start it before Denfur.

September 9th he messages me with a message from Clutch. He was getting worried on the wait and stated that he would request a refund if I didn’t have any progress for him within two weeks. I mention my queue, and I mention how long the painted headshots take since they are more detailed than my usual work. I sent a sketch and from that point on it was a lot of back and forth with edits.

There were some edits that were literally me adding fur in a spot where he asked to remove it, and I would follow the redlined pieces to make sure. I did forget one edit, but that comes into the conversation later. After all this back and forth I finally mention that I followed his notes and mention that if this keeps up I will start charging for edits. Around this time as well I was on vacation to get married, which I sent a message to all my clients stating where I would be. 

Around October 4th Cobalt reached out for an update. I mentioned that I hadn’t worked on it since returning home, but it was on my list. Then on the 8th he messages me again asking about it. At that point I was working on it little bits at a time while doing the kinktober challenge. Then I send him an update, even stating much hasn’t been done, but it’s being worked on.

October 12th is the same as the last few times, but I mentioned being at BLFC for the week.

The next day I get a call that my grandmother passed away. After giving myself time to calm down, I notify all my clients about the situation, including Cobalt and Clutch. The next morning I wake up to a message from Cobalt that made me angry and upset. He claimed to be sorry for my loss but proceeded to say that his friend would force a refund if he didn’t get his commission completed soon, preferably that Friday. I reply back in the most professional way I could at the time, but starting to defend myself. At this point I felt like I was being taken advantage of and I was just getting tired of how I was being treated, especially after that message. This is also when I start to remind them that my Terms of Service states that I do not do full refunds past the sketch stage. I didn’t message them again until I finished the piece.

I send the full res files and I am immediately met with more edits. Since this edit was one I overlooked I offered to do it for free, then he threw more at me. I mention that the other edits will need to be paid for, but I will do the one I said I would. He offers me $10 which is honestly laughable. He mentions that Clutch doesn’t pay for edits on things and I gave him the decision. I get $25 and do the edits, or they just use the piece I sent over.

October 24th he sent me an image that he took my art and fixed everything himself. Yet another devastating message he sent. I was away for the funeral of my grandmother and I was just done with all this stress. I tell him that I will not approve of him drawing over my art to fix up what he refused to pay me for. I also mention that it’s a huge no in the art world and it’s the fastest way to anger artists. He claims to be sorry, and I had to mention my price again for the changes and I am not entirely sure what Clutch had to say, but I am glad it wasn’t said at that time. The day I return home Cobalt messages and says that they are still requesting for his modified version to be approved, like what I said before was some sort of joke. At my wits end with this, I finally (and still somewhat professionally) speak my mind. Cobalt then tried to throw the blame on his friend but it was both of them. I told him he was part of the problem and before blocking I stated I was doing that and that they are blacklisted. 

Thanks for reading all of this… I know it’s long and repetitive, and the screenshots make this all very clear, but I really don’t want to see other artists go through this nightmare like I did. I also want to mention I already spoke with the Furlandia con chair and action will be taken how they see fit. So please don’t go after the con, they weren’t involved in this.