Beware Shon Howell/Shaun Howell/King-Cheetah/Marmaladejane/Jigsawman/Salmon Dave

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

WHO: Shon Howell a.k.a. Shaun Howell a.k.a. King-Cheetah a.k.a. Marmaladejane a.k.a. Jigsawman a.k.a. Salmon Dave.

WHAT: Refund for unfinished traditional art sketches.

WHEN: My dealings with Shon began in June 2010, when I commissioned him for 10 adult sketches. Over the next two years, I gave him a huge volume of work, but it never seemed to be a problem, as he always got the job done, often completing his work next-day. Even advance payments weren’t a problem, though it took him longer to complete work that was paid ahead of time. The trouble started on January 31st 2012. Shon asked for a $400 advance to get started on a few image sets, as well as an additional set of 12 pics for free (http://imageshack.com/a/img837/7815/pjrd.jpg). No big deal, he’d made that kind of offer before. Then, on April 24th 2012, he sent a request for an additional $400, citing rent problems. While he hadn’t yet completed any of the work from the initial $400, he was mostly caught up otherwise, so I decided to advance him the funds, though I let my hesitation be known (http://imageshack.com/a/img41/3731/v1xd.jpg).

PROOF: See below. Shon’s name is public, but mine is not, so that’s the one that has been censored. Also, the specific subject matter of the pictures, as well as some personal chatter and information which is entirely irrelevant has been redacted.

EXPLAIN: Since that point, I didn’t receive the vast majority of the work from Shon, though he frequently mentioned that he was working on it. I estimated that he had completed $100 worth of the original $800 advances. Four months passed. August 27, 2012, I lost my job and found myself strapped for cash, and having grown frustrated with Shon’s apparent lack of progress (the longest period to my memory that he had gone between him receiving payment and my receiving a finished product), I asked for a refund (http://imageshack.com/a/img41/5049/ic8q.jpg). Following this, conversations between Shon and myself were sporadic at first. I spoke to him twice since asking for the refund. Once on Monday, September 3rd (http://imageshack.com/a/img822/5186/0sme.jpg), and again on Wednesday, November 7th to explain my situation. Since August, I had gotten my job back, so the refund was not AS crucial a priority as it had been, but I obviously still expected to be refunded. (http://imageshack.com/a/img856/8628/7xgx.jpg).

As of May 7th, 2013, I had heard nothing from Shon, and, worrying that he may have taken “time isn’t a factor” to mean “I don’t want you to pay me back,” I sent him an email (http://imageshack.com/a/img89/5848/7df9.jpg), following up two months later on July 5th, 2013. Shon did not respond to either email.
On August 28th, 2013, a year and a day from the time I had asked for the refund, I emailed Shon again. This time, I received a response, stating his intention to discuss the matter via AIM. Shon never showed up, and offered no follow-up email or message. Two months later, I replied thusly (http://imageshack.com/a/img835/817/xb1k.jpg), to no response.

On December 17th, I noticed a post on Shon’s Tumblr page asking for all commissioners to get back to him regarding work owed. I emailed him back, and after receiving no response, emailed again, a little more harshly as I was getting fed up at this point (http://imageshack.com/a/img835/1248/9it8.jpg). Getting no response to this, I emailed him on January 13th, January 28th of 2014, receiving a PM via FA on February 3rd, 2014 (http://imageshack.com/a/img824/6902/7zh4.jpg). No response to my reply for three weeks, so on February 26th 2014 I sent him one final email, which was the last activity.

At this point I don’t have much hope that Shon will ever pay me back, but this is pretty much my only alternative to rolling over and allowing him to take my money with zero consequences.

Comments

[thaily.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that happened to you, $700 is a huge chunk of money :/

I wonder what happened that made Shon such a flake after doing good work for 2 years, and presumably before then as well? I wonder if anyone else is having issues with him.

[alcyione.livejournal.com]

I don't know any of the details, but I do know that he has owed a good friend of mine some artwork for quite some time now. I'll see if I can get him to post here.

[dustmeat.livejournal.com]

I used to live in the same town as Shon and my friends were his friends. So I can speak with some authority that his apartment is not expensive so I am not sure what rent problems he has. Pretty sure that he is the one who got my table and chair set when I left Texas.

Shon is a very productive artist, but if memory serves he is Bipolar and has huge mood swings- if that helps explain why he took so much money up front and then did not complete the work. Maybe he feels bad about taking such a large sum, and overwhelmed by the work load.

[petercat.livejournal.com]

As one of my professors in college liked to say when students asked for extensions on due dates for papers for some reason, "That's an explanation, not an excuse." The way you eat an elephant is one bite at a time, not by letting it sit there getting rotten.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not sure as to the reasons, but I have to conclude that there's at least a little bit of ill intent involved on Shon's end. The list of excuses he's offered myself and other clients over the years strains credibility to say the least. I could elaborate, but I'm not sure if that violates the "no drama" rules.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

He seems pretty active on tumblr, have you tried to reach him there?

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

I don't have a Tumblr account, but the problem isn't getting in touch with him. He's clearly seeing that I'm trying to contact him, but ignoring it.

Case in point, about five days ago I left a series of shouts on his FA page, asking for contact again. The next day those shouts were deleted.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

he keeps peddling his zip folders with art for pizza money, among other things, on tumblr...


Actually, hey mods, got a question -- is there an artist_beware tumblr page? would you guys consider creating one? since you can tag your post, if someone search for a particular artist, they might come across that artist_beware post.

MOD COMMENT

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

We're trying to avoid adding more workload for ourselves if not absolutely necessary. Remember we're unpaid volunteers and almost all of us work fulltime jobs, it can already be hard to keep up with AB's constantly filling queue as it is since many posts require discussion.

If a user wanted to make a tumblr version of AB and copy the posts over, I don't think we would mind* AS LONG as they made sure to state that they are not officially affiliated with us somewhere easy to see on the blog itself. But it isn't something we're willing or able to put on our plates at this point.

*And it would probably be better to not use the exact name, so as not to confuse people who may assume it's official. We don't want to be held responsible for someone else's tumblr.

Re: MOD COMMENT

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. I just wondered if it had crossed your minds, seeing how tumblr can have a bigger outreach than LJ these days.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

The frustrating thing is that some of the art he's re-selling is the art that he did for me prior to going AWOL, so he's effectively double-dipping on his income without producing what he owes or settling his account.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

Well, I do kind of think it falls under his rights as an artist. Although most artists do ask for permission from commissioners out of politeness.

Nonetheless, I understand the sour taste this leaves considering your situation with him.

[ladysnakebite.livejournal.com]

It falls under his rights as an artist to re-sell the work if he has refunded the buyer. Otherwise it is theft, plain and simple.

If you list an item for auction (for example) and Person A wins and pays for it, you have to deliver the item or refund Person A their money. You can't just take Person A's money, then turn around and re-auction the same item to Person B for more money.

This sounds like a very frustrating situation, OP. I hope something comes of it eventually.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Err, I think they mean he's selling zip files with art kinda like portfolios and art CDs. He's selling collections of existing artwork and not editing existing and commissioned artwork for new clients.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's the case. For what it's worth, though, he's also been giving away the work I paid for (hard copies of physical sketches) as free bonuses to clients that he's currently in good standing with. I didn't mention it in the OP because I wanted to limit my post to what I can prove with screenshots (both Shon and the client in question seem to have deleted the posts from their tumblr pages). Humorously, the client didn't even want all the extra art in the first place.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

He's done that with my stuff, adn then claimed he sent it out to me.

[ladysnakebite.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. My bad.

[metallik-hasse.livejournal.com]

"At this point I don’t have much hope that Shon will ever pay me back, but this is pretty much my only alternative to rolling over and allowing him to take my money with zero consequences."

I commend you for this, so many people i know have let others do the same to them and won't speak up about it.

[mdetector5.livejournal.com]

I commissioned the guy for a couple of drawings back in 2006, and I had sent in the money and everything. I knew he worked fast and did some pretty nice work, so why not?

I waited a few months, and he posted a lot more stuff in the meantime, so I figured he must've been busy with other stuff that came his way. I had to remind him about it a few times, and only after I went to a friend of his (who I also know) about it, did the work get done.

He's a decent and VERY prolific artist, and he seems like an alright guy, but I think his business practices need a little improvement.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't know how to feel about him. Right now he owes me nearly 200 dollars in work, mostly inked stuff. It's nothing to complex. The problem is, it's been nearly a year and 2 months since it started. As it stands, he sent me a handful of stuff, in particular he sent me a book and a couple comics. Stuff he didn't have to draw. He also sent me a handful of random sketches, but none of what I commissioned. Furthermore, I've seen a lot of what he claimed to be sending me up for sale or such. I'm exceedingly agitated by all this. The guy seemed reliable and now I'm left high and dry. He refuses to talk to me, and just give me any sort of information about anything I commissioned. It's nice he sent the bonus stuff, but most of it is poor sketches that are entirely random.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

If he comes through on your work, my advice is to sever completely. It's not worth dealing with his head games.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

IF being the operative term. I'm not holding out. But I hope so, I really do. It was a nice mix of things. If he does, I'll be done with him.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

By the by, does anyone seem to be able to get in touch. I've honestly tried through email, FA, and Tumblr.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

Good luck reaching him through FA now. Yesterday he threw a tantrum over some artist getting a 30-day suspension and left, saying he was going to delete his gallery. He'll be back in a few months but he'll very likely delete his inbox and remove all of his shouts without reading them. For those keeping up with my case, I tried asking about my refund in his ultimatum thread announcing his "departure," but he deleted the thread a few hours later, before I could get a screenshot

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

I saw that. As soon as people started to ask about the stuff that is owed to them he deleted that pic/thread.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

I'm still working on it, got in touch with him for a bit like 2 weeks ago, and he basically admitted to not having my stuff, though he never officially stated why, implied that he shipped it and it was lost, but I saw some of it being sold and given away. Either way, talked, and he said he won't do the same type of stuff, but asked me for a new list of stuff. Gave it to him, but he hasn't responded since then.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

He's been through that song and dance with me a lot. In the end I think whether or not he comes through on the work is dependent on if he thinks he can make any more money off of you. I'm not saying this to bum you out or put a pessimistic spin on the situation out of spite or anything, but you shouldn't fall into the trap of trusting him. This is a person that has lied to my face frequently to buy time (and sometimes for no logical reason at all).

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

Anybody else get blocked from his FA account? Says he "voluntarily disabled access to his user page" but he may have just blocked me and that's a catch-all message.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

No he's actually not doing any private messages through there. Not really using it that much from what I've seen. I've managed to keep in contact with him and I'm working on getting something from him.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

What, if you don't mind my asking, did he tell you that leads you to believe he'll come through for you?

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

Honestly, my faith isn't restored. But he's communicated so that's a step in the right direction. But yeah, basically just some evidence he's drawing again.

As I said, I'm not crossing my fingers, but I'm at least getting more consistent communication. I'll keep y'all updated. And once all is said and done I'm done with him, but there is a glimmer of hope.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

Well I got something. Random recycled traced pictures with white out on them. And photo copies of shit, bad photo copies. None of what I commissioned. I don't get it.

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

What were the photocopies of? Its baffling that he owes you $200 worth of work, but thinks sending you random things is worth $200.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

Mostly random stuff. To be honest, I'm giving up. He's sent me plenty of stuff, it's just not what I paid for originally, that stuff went to some other folks honestly. I know I'm not gonna win, the more I push, the bigger the bad guy I become, and I can see that his fans may come at me. I just don't understand why he won't tell me the truth. Even admitting he fucked up, forgot, and sold the art off would be better than lying. Or maybe he isn't, but then how did other people get my art. Honestly, I'm done, gonna cut off contact with him soon enough and just forget all of this. But yeah, he's not worth dealing with, because honestly, he may be good at a single pic, but you try and get a bunch, and he loses everything. And now I'm the bad guy because once more I've called him out on all the random shit.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

Just pointing out that he's active again on FA.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's been active on inkbunny the whole time to. Sent me some shitty copier pictures and shit. He's literally sent me plenty of old shit that wasn't mine. He takes an order, ask what you want, then ignores it and sends random crap instead. So yeah, I'm done dealing with him, he's not worth it.

But a warning, don't deal in anything more than one or two pictures, anything more and he loses it, and by lose I mean send all of it to other people and then try and give you half assed copies of your own work.

[zackfig.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, that is horrible~!!

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

Eh, it sucks, but nothin to do. I'd commissioned him via an alternative method. Bit me in the ass. But what can ya do.

[mathew kilbourn (from livejournal.com)]

Been owed 2 pieces of art from his massive adoptable sell off since June. He's not even bothering to read any of my notes on either FA or IB, just said screw it and filed a claim on Paypal.

[miacorestal.livejournal.com]

Oh hey, I still have an account here.

I don't know how people have been so patient. I paid for one $25 picture on August 16th this year, after having been given the okay by king-cheetah on August 15th via FA note, and then checked back every other week or so with zero response. I had two shouts deleted during this time along with a lot of other messages asking about their commissions.

On October 5th I got a public message saying I would get a sketch "by Tuesday." No follow-up, and another shout deleted in the meantime.

He just cleared all the shouts again, so figured I'd post here for the good it does.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he's still quite popular. Cause he does get commissions and such out, if he does them right away. But don't do anything long term. Doesn't matter how much. It may never get done. Or may go to someone else, he's got some preferred clientele it seems. I dropped everything and just sat back and left. Like I've said, none of my commissions got done, just, sketches and random crap. If they did, he never got'em to me. There are better artists out there anyway (Or at least my opinion stands there), more reliable.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

Update: As of a few minutes ago, the artist has repaid the last increment of the $700 owed.

mod comment

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

Is that all you are owed? May we mark this as resolved?

Re: mod comment

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's resolved.

Re: mod comment

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

fantastic. Went ahead and marked it resolved for you.

[ked62688.livejournal.com]

I'm not entirely sure how to get mine fixed. Because of the fact that he accepted alternate payments with me, and that he sent me something, just NONE of what I commissioned, I don't really know if anything can be done. Not to mention that we stopped conversing on less than ideal terms and I'm not really sure how to bring it up without him slipping into another breakdown.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

I couldn't give specific advice without knowing the specific situation, but I would try to keep a level head. Distance yourself from the situation so you won't get emotionally invested. Pretend you're a third party being contacted to mediate the situation.

[atung59.livejournal.com]

I do have 8 pics owed to me by this artist, but I'd rather have him get my pics done over time than going on to other You Finish It (UFI) pics which he's had no problem finishing, none of them being mine.

I sent him email, FA notes and got nothing back from him concerning this matter.

[spekkio2.livejournal.com]

I know, it sucks, and I sometimes wished I had some kind of window into his thought process when it was me at the other end of the hook, but his actions are so bizarre from an outsider's perspective that they may as well be random. He may do your work, he may refund you, he may just continue to ignore you. There's really no way to know exactly what he'll do. My advice would be to request a refund if it's been a significant amount of time since he contacted you last.