(no subject)

[foxwolf321.livejournal.com]

WHO: absinthe stellary

WHERE: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/stellary/

WHAT: 4 full colour, fullbody pictures (1 is completed) and 1 flat colour bust. traded for 2 shirts totalling 42 dollars.

WHEN: Originally commissioned June 2011, problems started 3 months later.

PROOF: http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/fowolf321/?action=view&current=page1.png

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/fowolf321/?action=view&current=page2.png

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk7/fowolf321/?action=view&current=page3.png


EXPLAIN: Commissioned her, at the time her paypal account was closed. So we traded art for shirts. She is great to deal with right up untill she gets paid. Then the real fun begins. She has already stated many times that she does not care about artist beware as it paints an unfair picture of her. Well, I suggest to anyone reading this, dont fall for it. Find another artist!


Edit: I have since been put on her block list on FA, so looks like my refund or art will be quickly coming........
Edit: hmm, not sure what this giant space down here is about, I can not delete it......

Comments

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Hi! I approved this, but could you please remove the large blank space in the entry at the bottom?

Re:

[taasla.livejournal.com]

Looking at the source code, there doesn't appear to be anything there to delete. It's like a weird glitch.

[genkigami.livejournal.com]

Good luck. She's got the worst attitude I've ever seen from an artist. Check her tag and you'll see a history of her screaming, throwing fits, and one instance of telling her commissioner to "die in a car fire" I believe.

[tunavoice.livejournal.com]

My god, AGAIN?

This is just getting really bad. Good luck getting your refund, OP. I'm very sorry you have to deal with this.

I'm surprised people are still bothering to commission this artist, as she has displayed some of the worst behavior I've ever seen.

[0acorn0.livejournal.com]

This is...what the fifth time she's been posted here? She's turning into Starfinder.

Honestly, it's pretty saddening because she used to be so much better about this. I really think she just has one of those "TROLOLOLOL" attitudes in dealing with people and she knows she can get away with it because of having good art and a highly unique style. I also think she gets herself into serious art ruts and blocks, but keeps taking on commissions, which is hurting her more than helping.

(frozen)

[leahtaur.livejournal.com]

I just want to say that I am NOT defending Stellary or her behaviour whatsoever, not a bit, that is some of the most unprofessional whining I've seen, BUT...

Assuming she wasn't lying about her father dying and having to attend his funeral, I think you were quite cruel to her when she told you she needed to take some time out for that and you threw back at her something like, "your personal life doesn't matter to me, this is business." (Sorry, too lazy to find that line again to quote it exactly.)

If we pretend this was another artist that had acted perfectly towards you other than a delay due to their father's death, your reply would be considered heartless, and I feel that though obviously Stellary is wretched to work with, there is still no excuse to sink to her level or be goaded by her attitude into telling her you don't care her father died. Yes, business is business, but you are dealing with a human being and not a robot, and a parent dying is just cause for a delay.

Now, the rest of the delay/attitude/general unprofessional behaviour? No excuse. Certainly not all of it can be attributed to family events. But that one little comment of yours stood out to me in a big way and I think you could afford to show a little more empathy next time.

(frozen)

[foxwolf321.livejournal.com]

the problem is not in the one excuse, this was about the 4rth or 5th she tried. And I am sorry, many artists don't use the death of a family member to delay art by a YEAR.

[justblieve.livejournal.com]

Just to add to this beware for everyone's knowledge, Stellary is also using the name GraveDead on sites now

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

She sure moves around fast, huh...

[shukivengeance.livejournal.com]

Do you have links?

[marus-puppy.livejournal.com]

This comment is for Stellary (because I'm pretty sure she reads these journals despite her "I don't caaaaaaaaaare" attitude.)

You have two real options that I can see:

1. Keep on this path, taking all of these commissions *BUT* (and I cannot stress this enough!!!) doing the work you take on. You always say that your life is busy, but listen - I work 40 hours a week at one job, 10ish at a second, 4 at a third, and 5 at a fourth and I still take time to do things for myself. The reason that I can do this is because of *time management.* If you need someone to help you set up a plan to follow, then do it. And then stick to it.

2. Raise your prices so that you can make ends meet with less work for yourself. So for this you did what? 2 busts and 2 full images for $40? Do the busts for $40 a piece or something. You now get the same amount of money and only have to do ONE thing.

A third option that I'm sure a lot of people would like to see happen is you stop taking commissions all together. Since your life gets so crazy all the time, then you should SERIOUSLY consider this option as well.

[familliaraver.livejournal.com]

Well here is her current refund list

http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3419402/

So...yea. Good luck with that.

I can't understand (I am not an artist so maybe it's an artist thing) why Stellary doesn't just...do the art. I see uploads every couple days. Just...do the art? Then there aren't refunds to refund.

[foxwolf321.livejournal.com]

it baffles me too. but she blocked me and never did put me on her list. (how many others did she do that too?) So I am not holding my breath ever seeing the art or money.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

Just speaking for myself not Stellary. I don't agree with her methods and I've had my own run-ins with her so I'm really not defending her at all.

If you're not an artist yourself, or do something similar, it's very difficult to understand how feelings can affect how you draw. A professional artist, more so ones in the work industry as you're held to a higher standard, is able to push themselves despite it. However, sometimes you really just can't.

Just as an example, if you go into a depressed state for days/months, it may be impossible for you to draw. You try, but it just looks bad and there doesn't seem to be any way to make it look right and you certainly don't want to give commissioners a bad piece. Sometimes though, it happens that you only can't work but can draw for yourself. It's just a completely different feeling. Similar to how doing homework for school is tough, but doing similar like work just for fun is much easier to do, as well as when you draw for yourself, you're not trying to be perfect and feel more relaxed.

But in those situations, it's important to keep in contact. Whenever I'm having small delays, I always make sure to email commissioners every few weeks with an update and letting them know that they can ask for a refund if it would make them feel better, as not everyone asks if you don't offer the option. It also helps, of course, to not have such a huge list as Stellary does. If you stay with a small list, it won't be as much trouble to refund in an emergency.

[taasla.livejournal.com]

Well, it can become a cycle, really. I was there briefly, but bit the bullet and went without until I could catch up completely. It becomes a thing where you take on to make ends meet, but it becomes a little more than you've anticipated. Before you know it, you have to take on more to continue making ends meet, but you still have X before the last batch that hasn't been finished. You take on the next batch anyway in the hopes that you can dig yourself out fast enough, and then before you know it, you've got a huge pile of people and that's when it gets hard to just... do it. Mostly because it's a daunting task, and you think it will never be done.

Unfortunately, Stellary has to realize that she does have to go without or find a way to do a working schedule in order to catch up.

[mekania.livejournal.com]

I am... a little surprised at these comments. AB isn't a hivemind but the general thinking here is if there's a delay (for whatever personal reasons), you let your customers know and ask that they have patience while you're dealing with things. If the delay becomes longer than a few weeks or so, you refund (unless your customer agrees to wait, which they should be under no obligation to do).

Stellary did none of this. In the same sentence she mentioned the funeral she gave at least two other excuses for why she didn't do the work AND took on new commissions during this time (See all the notes from around Sept 10th in the second link). I can totally see why the OP lacked empathy in this situation.

[sbneko.livejournal.com]

I do agree with this a lot.

I also agree with how you should have some sympathy when something like this happens. But at the same time, I think the commissioner would have felt and acted very differently if Stellary had sent him a note (rather then have to ask for an update), explaining what's going on, keeping it short but still letting them know what's up, giving options and ideas on time frames even if it's not something concrete.

I'm honestly not too sure how I feel. I agree with both sides, with the commenters I mean. So I guess I'll leave it at that rather then add more points.

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

THIS.

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

ugh, i don't even know why i am replying to this because i don't feel like debating. just my .02

okay, i feel like the OP had every right to be frustrated over the situation. and think about this, if you were the OP and you had been given the run around for over a year by an artist with an extraordinarily bad reputation already, wouldn't you be suspect too?

i do hope the artist was being sincere about their father.

i took a couple weeks off after my father died, but after awhile i needed to get back to it. i needed to go back to my life. and it gave me something besides him to focus on.

i kept my commissioners informed the entire time that he was ill with twitter, FA journal, and personal email. even dealing with my grief i was able to keep them in the loop.

i know everyone is different and everyone handles their shit differently, but this is just my experience here.

[houndofloki.livejournal.com]

IMHO - delaying your commissions for a long period is completely understandable if you've had a major life trauma like losing a parent, and the buyer could've been more tactful.

But offering refunds is the right thing to do in that situation. At the end of the day, it's still a business transaction and while it's understandable if your personal life takes precedence or your motivation to work deserts you while going through something like that...you still have to take care of your obligations one way or the other.

Most people will probably pass on the refund and be okay with waiting anyway as long as you note them/tweet/post a journal/something to keep them in the loop.

[sintocat.livejournal.com]

Man, I dislike this women very much. Beware well warranted.

Though this has been discussed above, I want to make a comment about the note OP sent to stellary. I honestly don't see much wrong with it. Anyone who goes and checks her page can see this is not a person grieving. If they have enough energy to favorite explicit art and post journals asking about how to draw chibis - they are well enough to finish OP's commissions. It's just another excuse. And after the 4 others she's given him I can see why he would be cold and skeptical.

I've lost people in my life that were very important to me, but it's not something that my customers need to be concerned about. They can feel empathy for me, of course, but at the end of the day we are doing a business transaction. Stellary showed OP no respect and gave him nothing but excuses, I can see why he would snap back.

[ivorytigress.livejournal.com]

Personally, I believe this is a beware against OP and the artist.
Obviously, the artist in question needs to step up and either do the work she was paid to do, or refund. However, I feel like the aggressiveness of the OP in some of the notes and comments in this journal are extremely inappropriate.
I can understand being frustrated, as I'm currently having my own issues with getting a refund from an artist who is running around and making excuses, but, it's still a business transaction. You just gotta keep cool, and try to be professional.

[alex-dachshund.livejournal.com]

It appears that Stellary/MuffinButton/Absinthe has changed accounts again AND is open for commissions again. x.x

http://www.furaffinity.net/user/nancy

[foxwolf321.livejournal.com]

thank you for the heads up, I made a polite inquiry about my refund and was promptly blocked again. good to see she is still giving quality service

[lyrium-otogi.livejournal.com]

Might want to tag this with their NEW user name, Nancy, as well. http://www.furaffinity.net/user/nancy

And oh look, they are open for commissions....again.

[dragontripmon.livejournal.com]

How many accounts does this person have. At this point so many hoping from one account to the next would bring suspicion.

[dermutha.livejournal.com]

Just as an update. All of her FA accounts have been suspended. Not sure how long, but I went about to contact her and noticed that. I'm not sure if that applies to any of her other accounts on different sites, but every single one of her FA accounts is suspended.