FA: kreejay/foxfeatherstudios - 30-month old commission unfinished; rude responses to complaints.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

WHO: kreejay / foxfeatherstudios / rainbowtroll / bucketsoffilth / maram / yasai-kitsune

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/kreejay
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/foxfeatherstudios/ <-- has nothing to do with the artist Foxfeather!
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rainbowtroll
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/bucketsoffilth
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/maram
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/yasai-kitsune

WHAT: traditional art of custom Tarot Card, "The Fool", featuring anthro and feral versions of my OC, Haystack

WHEN: approximately 30 months ago, verbal contract.

PROOF: There is no record of the payment, because I trusted this person to do the artwork without a formal contract, and paid in cash. However, in the series of FA notes I exchanged, they basically admit that there was a transaction and that it had been paid.

Kreejay has removed both the rough sketch of what I'd commissioned and a later, unrelated piece I also commissioned to help them out in a difficult time. The link below shows a scan of the rough sketch I was given 30 months ago, which induced me to pay the $25 for the finished traditional artwork, "The Fool", which was to be part of a custom Tarot deck.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/36459762/kreejay%20the%20fool%20sketch.jpg

Here's the last note (containing all the previous ones) we exchanged on Furaffinity:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4au7vdb6asvgiw8/Screenshot%202015-12-05%2008.35.49.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gdpss1eicb0qprw/Screenshot%202015-12-05%2008.36.11.png?dl=0
(these screenshots have been edited to remove third-party information.)

To make a long story short, I had been waiting over 30 months for Kreejay to finish the art I commissioned, and when I poked them about it semi-politely recently, they were abusive, snippy, and generally unrepentant about not having fulfilled their obligation. No refund was offered. No apology was offered. There were, however, the same excuses I was given over a year ago when I last asked about this matter.

In the end, this is what I got after telling Kreejay I was done with the matter, and with them in general: (NSFW for vulgar gesture and language)
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/18281654/

(if the item noted above is taken down, you can see it here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ryj9k227301fhyu/Screenshot%202015-12-05%2022.21.05.png?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3wx2wmdcns041qz/Screenshot%202015-12-05%2022.21.13.png?dl=0 )

I am not expecting any refund or even an apology. I just want to warn you folks that you may not get what you pay for, if you deal with this particular artist.

---

EDIT: 12/12/2015, 1952 GMT -- I added foxfeatherstudios, alt/sales account for kreejay, to this beware. Also edited the title to make the extra account name fit.

Proof (please note the name tooltip in the middle of the profile info): https://www.dropbox.com/s/8rdw5e6nsbbuvx0/Screenshot%202015-12-12%2013.42.34.png?dl=0

---

CLARIFICATION: 12/13/2015, 1003 GMT -- Despite Kreejay's alt account bearing a similar name, this has nothing at all to do with the artist Foxfeather. I apologize for any confusion that might have resulted from my previous edit; I had no idea there was a separate artist by that name.

12/15/2005: 0503 GMT -- Also added note up next to the list of the accounts to make sure folks don't mistake this for the actual Foxfeather.

---

EDIT: 12/14/2015 -- Added rainbowtroll, bucketsoffilth, maram, and yasai-kitsune as alt accounts. (Please see 12/14 comments from orangemonsterco and scottalottosay for more info.)

Comments

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

So in all that time they couldn't have gone out to buy more pencils? I guess those specific ones were the only ones in existence.

Beware very well warranted in this case.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

I would have been perfectly fine with Kreejay doing this as a digital work, if only it had been offered without the bad attitude.

[shariea.livejournal.com]

wow that vent art and the response are just really really uncalled for.

Beware very well warranted.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

The vent art is what prompted me to post this AB.

I've never ever had an artist do that to me before now, and I hope it never happens again.

[duster.livejournal.com]

Vent art and venomous tone in the messages completely unwarranted. Yeesh, talk about an overreaction.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

I just wish the digital option had been offered first, without the nasty tone. The other piece Kreejay did for me -- a digital work -- actually came out looking pretty nice.

[sian tiley (from livejournal.com)]

Talk about rude.

I will make sure to ad them to my "do not commission" list.

Getting annoyed at a commissioner who has been waiting this long is just out of line , I would of damanded a refund insted of saying you don't want one though.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

The money was part of helping this artist -- who used to be a local friend, though not a close one -- stay fed, pay bills, and such. It was intended mostly as a gift, with the expectation of getting a nice artwork somewhere down the road.

I'm not really worried about the money. The hateful attitude, on the other hand, is not something I'm inclined to forgive.

[rayesesshyfan.livejournal.com]

Would've demanded a refund as well. They're very unprofessional. Never seen anything like it. Especially that vent art. Wow.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Your icon there definitely matches my initial reaction to seeing said vent art. This commission was set up mainly to help out the artist, who needed money desperately at the time. I'm not really concerned about it being paid back, because it was intended as charity.

Mostly, I'm just terribly sad things came to this. I've never felt the slightest desire to list someone here on AB, until now. There have been a couple of other instances of very long turnaround times for my commissions, but those artists handled the situation amicably and we got things worked out to everyone's satisfaction.

[marlo tiquia (from livejournal.com)]

This A Fine Example Of A Artist Lost Since they only want Money and NOT finishing Any Progress On there Commission Box this is a Fine warning to The other Artist on FA that Some artist are only Want money and nothing more but This is A Great warning To the other artist that is going on the commission basis i will keep in mind that Who i will commission in the future i will stay away From this Guy/Gal thank you for the fair warning

[haystack.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. To be honest, Kreejay did make good on the digital commission I bought, in the time between the failed commission and now.

I'm just disappointed that the same option wasn't offered amicably for the much older artwork, because I would have been happy to get a digital work instead of traditional.

[kazeno-taka.livejournal.com]

From that vent art -

"Seriously you aren't entitled to anything. If I say I am unable to do something and have explained why and you decide to be a passive aggressive little bitch about it that's not my fault.

Why why why why why why WHY why why do people think they are perfectly, entirely 100% justified in stealing a customer's money and not either delivering the commission or giving a refund if the customer "pisses them off"? It doesnt matter what they do or say to you. Refund the money, and step away from the commission if you're so offended by their actions (or in this case, committing the Terrible Crime of asking for a status update).

Refund or complete it. Your feelings don't entitle you to steal money. Ever.

[dustmeat.livejournal.com]

Agreed!

[dustmeat.livejournal.com]

That vent art was beyond rude. And public too!

[haystack.livejournal.com]

There have been a couple of other vent arts the artist has made since then. They may or may not be related to this matter.

The newer pieces are even more rude and threatening than the one mentioned here, though I am not at all sure these other ones are directed at me. Maybe... the last one came in close proximity to the beware here being made public.

[whoop-zi.livejournal.com]

that vent alone is enough for me to never want to commission them, ever. this journal is lovely, too. https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/7185468/

what a nasty attitude, yikes.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Nov 18th, 2015, 10:15 AM -- Kreejay responded to my initial note.

Nov 18th, 2015, 11:04 AM -- Kreejay posted the journal you linked above.

Here is my screenshot of said journal, in case the original mysteriously disappears:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/991wyi9naiobm5n/Screenshot%202015-12-12%2022.01.55.png?dl=0

Somehow, I don't think this was a coincidence.

[enn shaw (from livejournal.com)]

Ooooh-wee! THAT ATTITUDE.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

It's so sour, I fear my pucker will cause my face to implode with much more exposure. >:*

[darkunisha.livejournal.com]

Geez their attitude is extremely aggressive. Taking a glance at their page, just seeing the posts makes me want to go the other way.

I noticed that this was posted earlier today, maybe a few hours after this went up? https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18488986/

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Interesting. When I sent my original note, they made a nasty little journal (please look a few comments above this one), also mentioning their neighbors.

After seeing what you mentioned, I am now wondering whether "neighbors" is their personal code for "whoever is bothering me right now", or if they really do have such issues with the real-life neighbors.

[china-kitty.livejournal.com]

That vent art is just uncalled for.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Your userpic, on the other hand, is gloriously appropriate and beguiling,
and put a great big smile on my face when I saw it. thank you!

The vent art is not something I can forgive, unless an appropriate apology comes forth. I've been in this fandom for nearly 17 years. In all that time, I've never been subjected to such hatred by someone I've paid in advance, someone I've trusted to do work for me, because I considered that person a trusted friend (if not a close one).

This is not going to change my MO of paying up front, though. More than 95% of artists with whom I've dealt in this manner have come through with shining colors and big smiles on both sides.

[fastbreak333.livejournal.com]

Oh my word. That is an appalling attitude. Thanks for the warning.

[latiro.livejournal.com]

Goodness! Kreejay has an attitude of Stellary! And if that wasn't enough, the stream of aggressive vent art/journals are enough for anyone to unwatch this person and not commission them.

Beware well warranted. Holy cow.

[dirtiran.livejournal.com]

They have all this time to rant rave and draw crude vent art about this...yet cant scrounge up the will to finish the one commission it's all about? Appalling behaviour.

And seriously. While I understand good tools of the trade are best. If you cant afford the good stuff, you CAN manage to whip up some decent work with cheap pencils. Hec, ive done a few OK works in my time with the $2 packs you get at airports in a pinch. It's a pretty weak excuse.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

I use an inexpensive Monoprice tablet to do all my artwork.

It cost about $45. It's not quite as nice as a Wacom. By Jove, it does do what i want it to do, without too much fuss.

Although premium tools can certainly help, in the right hands, they aren't really necessary for folks like me who are kind of in the middle in skill.

I would have been perfectly happy with a digital work. I adored the thing Kreejay drew for me digitally about a year ago. If Kree had offered that option in the beginning, without the nasty attitude... this beware would not even exist.

[kontonakuma.livejournal.com]

If providing a customer who has been more than patient an update on a piece you've owed them for 2+ years is that emotionally traumatizing that you can't help but forget entirely how to be a civil business person and can't walk away from the keyboard until you remember how to be professional, you should stop being a freelance artist. The amount of customers you get depends on being professional and providing good customer service. What the artist did was completely uncalled for and they basically threw away their chance with any future customers.

I'm sorry you had to go through this, OP. While I understand you intended it as a gift, I still think you should seek a refund. You still bought something, and haven't seen it, nor may ever see it at this point. Not attempting to get a refund only allows them to think they can get away with not doing work for other commissioners.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think it's just not worth the bother, really. It's very unlikely I could get a refund. This was done with an in-person, cash payment before they moved out of town. No sales receipt exists.

I was indeed "The Fool" for believing I could trust them. Won't happen again, though!

[tyrano-tiggs.livejournal.com]

That vent art and those journals alone make me not want to touch this artist with a 30mile bargepole never mind the overdue commission!
I am so sorry you're having to deal with such an unpleasant person :/

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am getting over the nasty little incident, thanks to the help of kind comments like yours.

[orangemonsterco.livejournal.com]

They also have two other active accounts.
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/bucketsoffilth
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rainbowtroll
mentioned in this journal: http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6985159/

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads-up on those! I'd forgotten they even existed.

[scottalottosay.livejournal.com]

I like that his FurAffinity profile (http://www.furaffinity.net/user/kreejay - https://archive.is/BrLYy - http://imgur.com/jch7lLk - http://imgur.com/NkIbSlF) says he is mentally 8 years old. Is that a babyfur thing, or is he just admitting that he is immature? I hate that politely asking about a commission is an awful crime to a lot of artists. All you have to do is give your customer an answer. Also, it doesn't take two years to find a pencil to draw with.

And I would like to mention that he has a lot of other accounts, as stated on his KreeJay FurAffinity account, just so everybody knows. The extra links are just me proving that these really are his accounts:

https://archive.is/BrLYy - (B word, cuts, and mention of abuse) http://imgur.com/a/3vkAU
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/kreejay/
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/rainbowtroll/ (http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6985159/ - http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6985157/ - https://archive.is/740op - https://archive.is/p6YEy - https://archive.is/1wjfT)
(Warning: B word in icon) http://www.furaffinity.net/user/yasai-kitsune/ (https://archive.is/wB8QS)
http://www.furaffinity.net/user/foxfeatherstudios/ (https://archive.is/yHsSg)
(Warning: NSFW, cuts, a character tied up with rope, a lack of limbs, and abuse) http://www.furaffinity.net/user/bucketsoffilth/ (http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/6985159/ - https://archive.is/740op - https://archive.is/2vrko)
(NSFW) http://www.furaffinity.net/user/maram/ (https://archive.is/GriO6)
(NSFW) http://maramsden.tumblr.com/ (http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4114172/ - https://archive.is/dngjj)

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! I'd not even heard of a couple of these!

[shinmaxwell.livejournal.com]

Wow..beware definitely warranted. That one image is entirely uncalled for.

[nambroth.livejournal.com]

Yikes!

Just for clarity's sake, I wanted to mention that the above beware is NOT the same person as Foxfeather ( http://www.furaffinity.net/user/foxfeather).

[haystack.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I added a clarification to the OP a couple of days ago after someone else mentioned the same thing. I think I'll put another one up closer to the list of accounts, to make sure folks see it.

[metalwolf423.livejournal.com]

Ouch, that vent piece alone made me cringe a little on how bad this artist behaves. I have dealt with artists in needing of attitude checks, but this one makes them all seem saintly.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

at this point, I feel worse for them than I do for myself.

it makes me sad that an act of kindness turned out ending up so sour.

[poizenkat.livejournal.com]

i think this is quite a valid beware but im a bit confused if you could clarify for me? you say it was a gift to people in the comments, if it was a gift then how would they owe you art? I can't really see it as being both a gift and a commission since it's not much of a gift if you expect something in return.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

It was commissioned to help them out in a difficult financial situation, but I still expected art to be done at some point.

"intended mostly as a gift" and "mostly as charity" is what I wrote, I believe. Maybe I misstated that because I was half-asleep at the time, and probably about 2-1/2 sheets to the wind. :P Mainly it was to explain why I am not seeking a refund.

The artist was never told it was anything other than an emergency commission. I did not give any indication that I expected nothing in return. I hope this clears it up.

[mauscheno.livejournal.com]

Kree was once in my locale and I had become acquainted with their mate. this was back sometime, maybe four and a half years ago. Their mate had always been pleasant toward me, but I never met Kree in person, only online. However, they were always VERY vocal about their emotions, particularly in their journals and vent art. I remember them making those guro/gore art accounts and posting some very questionable, if not dangerous, content in their journal, (mentions of suicide and self-harm, that sort of thing.)

Honestly, I hate that things ended up this way for them. They've been through a rough time, but even still, a commission artist needs to be much more professional than that. That was honestly above and beyond when I'd been acquainted with them by their mate. They should put down commissions for a while, I think; you can't let business / bread earning and personal issues mix.

Still, I'm sorry for that terrible experience, and I honestly hope that things start looking up for Kree. It's all just very terribly unfortunate.

[haystack.livejournal.com]

yes, it's really unfortunate things took this turn. it's the behavior that I'm frowning upon much more than it is the person; I know Kree's been through some terrible things the past few years.

the door is always open for some sort of reconciliation, if Kree wants that. but at this point... that's up to Kree.